Just buzz me in
Buildings court birds and bees to land buyers
LET’S talk about the birds and the bees … of real estate.
The latest spin on green amenities is landscaped areas with beehives that produce honey for residents and spaces that attract migratory birds.
“Now, instead of just having pretty gardens for residents to spend time in, buildings are being more deliberate about the kind of nature experiences they offer,” said Corcoran real estate agent Tara King-Brown.
The Solaire, new residences for sale in Battery Park City, has a thriving community of hives on its rooftop that are managed by the bee servicing company Best Bees. Harvesting honey is part of their job. Aaron Goed, the building’s director of sales, says that all prospective buyers are gifted a jar when they take a tour.
The Helena, on 57th Street, hosts seven hives on its 5,000-squarefoot rooftop park. They also produce honey that beekeeper Andrew Cote harvests and jars for residents. The Durst Organization owns and runs the Helena, along with the adjoining VIA 57 West, and shares the bounty between the two buildings.
Developments are also creating stopovers for migratory birds.
The Belnord on the Upper West Side tapped the acclaimed landscape designer Edmund Hollander to design the courtyard garden. With guidance from the Audubon Society and Hollander Design, the oasis was planted with trees and dense flower beds that draw birds. These include red maple trees, rhododendrons, azaleas and Christmas fern.
And then there’s Flatiron House, a condominium with a courtyard garden and planted loggias designed by the landscape architect firm Future Green Studio. The lush greenery in the space includes agastache, a nectar plant that is a favorite of hummingbirds, and blueberry and strawberry plants, a lure for birds in general as well as butterflies. Fragrant lavender is also part of the mix and known to attract honeybees.
“These pollinators are crucial species, from both an ecological and economical perspective,” said Sophie MuschelHorton, a designer at Future Green Studio. ...........