Rough Justice
“The collection of elegant brick towers on Manhattan’s East Side hangs over one of the best river views in town. But in the twenties, when the complex was built, the East River was not as pleasant to look at as it is today. Where the United Nations Building now stands—its gleaming tower, its fluttering circle of flags, its shady park—there were only slaughterhouses, maybe a few breweries. Chester Daniels, the millionaire developer who erected the complex, built its apartments to face away from t...he water. The eyes of the wealthy would not see, their noses would not smell, the dirty business going on behind their backs.
Daniels arranged for the comforts of his tenants in other ways too. After clearing out the crumbling tenements that used to occupy the spot, he hoisted his little world on abutments over First Avenue. There, he laid out grassy parks, a playground, a golf course, a swimming pool, even a hotel for the River City folk to enjoy at leisure. Strolling on the bridge that crosses the broad, uncertain vista of Forty-second Street, you feel you’re in another town.MoreLess
Daniels arranged for the comforts of his tenants in other ways too. After clearing out the crumbling tenements that used to occupy the spot, he hoisted his little world on abutments over First Avenue. There, he laid out grassy parks, a playground, a golf course, a swimming pool, even a hotel for the River City folk to enjoy at leisure. Strolling on the bridge that crosses the broad, uncertain vista of Forty-second Street, you feel you’re in another town.MoreLess
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