The New York Times: How New York’s skyline is changing to give the wealthy a better view

The New York Times, June 14, 2019: How New York’s skyline is changing to give the wealthy a better view

In 2014, the Empire State Building lost its title as the tallest tower in New York City to One World Trade Center.

Many of the new buildings in NYC are luxury residential high-rises, part of a trend in major cities around the world fueled by increased land and construction costs and by more demand from high-end buyers. Taller buildings yield more return on the investment for developers. Higher floors also come with more privacy, better views and much higher sales prices.

Others see the changing skyline as a reflection of a changing New York; these new towers, with their luxury apartments designed for foreign investors and the superwealthy, can feel like a feat of inequality.

As in most American cities, New York’s zoning rules show little concern for the aesthetics of a building or how it might obstruct its neighbors’ views.

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