Great NYC Apartment Buildings: 70 Little West Street, the Visionaire (pictured left), vs. 1 Rockefeller Park, Riverhouse (pictured right).

70 Little West Street (Visionaire) vs. 1 Rockefeller Park (Riverhouse): Two of NYC’s most exciting residential additions of the 21st century are also among the city’s most Earth-friendly.

The gold LEED certified Riverhouse condominium at 1 Rockefeller Park was one of the first “green” buildings to rise in Battery Park City in lower Manhattan. The 32-story condo was designed to be “the greenest residential building on the East Coast” with the first residential use of double-glass wall technology in the United States. Upon its completion in 2008, the building’s 264 apartments took advantage of innovative systems like daily air filtration, rotating rooftop solar panels, triple-pane windows, energy-saving rainwater re-use, dual flush toilets and modern, state-of-the-art finishes made from reclaimed and recycled materials. Apartments boast spacious custom kitchens, terraces, and well-designed modern living spaces while remaining sustainable and green. Amenities include on-site parking, a fitness center with a pool and a children’s playroom. The building’s location has made it a top choice for celebrities from Leonardo DiCaprio to Tyra Banks. Bordering TriBeCa with its notable restaurants and shopping, Riverhouse is also near the neighborhood’s Whole Foods grocery and the World Financial Center. The building is tucked in a quiet spot away from the West Side Highway; unobstructed river views are the rule.

Available apartments at Riverhouse include #10R, a 1,854 square-foot four-bedroom corner unit offering east, north and west exposures, Hudson River views and a built-in audio system in addition to the building’s energy-saving innovations, listed at $3,999,000.

You’d enjoy life at Riverhouse if:
you’re looking for a green building with every modern convenience.
you want your home to be an elegant, well-designed space while maximizing energy-efficiency and sustainability.
You’re a stickler for location and you love theTriBeCa neighborhood with its convenient shopping and culture as well as the area’s parks and playgrounds.
You’re seduced by stunning Hudson River views.
You get a kick out of having eco-conscious celebrity neighbors.

Also in Battery Park City, the award-winning 33-floor Visionaire condominium at 70 Little West Street is known as a category-killer. Built in 2008 and designed by noted architecture firms SCLE and Pelli Clarke Pelli, Manhattan’s first LEED Platinum residence is wrapped in a terracotta rain-screen curtain wall with reflective low-energy insulated glass and integrated photovoltaic solar paneling. Its 251 apartments offer breathtaking Hudson River views through energy-efficient floor-to-ceiling windows (pre-wired for solar shades); an endless list of amenities includes a state-of-the-art gym with a skylit swimming pool that’s every bit as impressive as it sounds, plus two landscaped roof gardens, a screening room and a lounge with a fireplace, a private dining area, a children’s playroom and a parking garage with 24-hour valet service.

Innovative green technologies include an air filtration system and dual flush toilets in addition to the above-mentioned systems. The building’s prime lower Battery Park City spot near 30+ acres of green space, playgrounds, a skating rink and running and bike trails is also convenient to the Financial District and TriBeCa. Proximity to subways (the 1 and RW lines are steps away) makes this stunning BPC residence a highly desirable choice.

Currently available apartments include #27D, a 1,737 square-foot three-bedroom unit listed at $3,950,000, offering open Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge views, a state-of-the-art open plan kitchen, custom closets and solar shades in addition to the building’s notable luxury amenities and innovative green features.

The grass is greener at Visionaire if:
you believe in investing in sustainable environment-friendly and sustainable technologies but don’t want to sacrifice convenience or comfort.
You love the idea of living in an architecturally distinct modern building at the forefront of green design.
you seek enviable amenities like a skylit pool, a gracious roof deck for entertaining and on-site valet parking around the clock.
you’d love coming home to the postcard-worthy river views, green spaces and friendly community vibe of Battery Park City.