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Speechless Sunday, Leaking Water Tower

Water Tower Leaking

In the 1800s, New York City required that all buildings higher than six stories be equipped with a rooftop water tower. This was necessary to prevent the need for excessively high pressures at lower elevations, which could burst pipes. Today the towers have become fashionable in some circles. As of 2006^[update], the neighborhood of Tribeca requires water towers on all buildings, whether or not they are being used.

iPhone Photo Courtesy of: Mitchell Hall, Associate Broker, The Corcoran Group

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Posted by Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate on 10/11/2009 05:25 PM

Comments (14)

Speechless Sunday Photos in the ActiveRain Channel

water towers, new york, city, manhattan, upper west side, tribeca

This post has been included in New York Information New York County, NY Information Manhattan, NY Information
Post is included in group: Urban Core - Returning to our Downtowns
Post is included in group: Speechless Sundays
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism
Post is included in group: Local History
Post is included in group: I Love NY

14 Comments on Speechless Sunday, Leaking Water Tower

OCT

Mitchell - that is cool. How old is that building? I look forward to reading more - my teenager is looking at NYU:)

Now that's an interesting tidbit. The one in the photo looks like it could have been a wine barrell in a former life.

Hi Mitchell,

This is way interesting! I'd also like to know how old is this building?

Hi Courtney,

Thanks, that building is 100 years old. NYU is a great school and in a great hip neighborhood Greenwich Village.

Here is a post I did about NYU a while ago. NYU owns a lot of real estate. They buy apartment buildings and turn them into dorms.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/186102/columbia-university-nyu-apartment-buildings-real-estate-empires

Wow. Now that is an interesting tidbit. But truly that one seem to be leaking.

Mitchell..I wonder how long it will take to get fixed?? It certainly would interfere with my long hot baths if i lived there//LOL

HELPFULHANNAH your friend in Philadelphia

Now thats a fascinating bit of trivia! :-)

Richard, You're right. The original water tower builders were barrel makers who expanded their craft to meet a modern need as buildings in the city grew taller in height.

Dorie, It's hard to see in the picture but I was walking by earlier and I saw people looking up. The water was leaking out the bottom of the barrel. The architectural style is early 20th century. Every decade or so had a distinct style. Now they build all glass. My favorite is the 1930's Art Deco.

Tim, It looked like someone poked holes in the bottom of the barrel.

Hannah, LOL. In most of the country washer/dryers are taken for granted. In Manhattan they are a luxury amenity. Many pre-war buildings do not allow them because of the water pressure getting up to a high floor. You can pay over $3 million dollars for an apartment but you can't have a washer/dryer.

Liz, Thanks I love trivia.

Mitchell, it looks like the tower is about to fly off the roof altogether! Look out below! And check out the Week in Review.

Hi Mitchell, That's really interesting. I had not heard of that. I'll have to notice that next time I am up there in your neck of the woods.

OCT

Mitchell,

Thanks for that bit of history. I'm thinking that would make quite a mess if it toppled or burst. :)

Steve

OCT

Very cool...love the architecture of this building also.. Washington D.C. has architecture like this.. beautiful

OCT

wow, i never knew that they were required or that they were actually considered part of the architecture now. Interesting stuff.

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