The United Nations

The headquarters of the UN, located on the east side of midtown Manhattan adjacent to the East River,

is one of those buildings that make New York special. 

Built by a team headed by Wallace Harrison in 1952,

on a site notorious for having previously housed slaughterhouses, it soars gloriously to the sky. 

It’s beautiful both with and without its flags. 

When I worked nearby sometimes during my lunch hour, I would sit in the garden and read

These days so many large buildings are surrounding it that it’s a good thing it has a fair amount of lawn and open area in front. 

Recently the city made a deal with the powers to be for a swap. 

The city gets the land along the river so that the 32 mile greenway that will line the entire shore of Manhattan may be completed. 

 And, the UN gets the land currently being used as playground on its south side for a new tower.

Sounds like a win win.

Ciao,

PJ

© 2013 PJ Lehrer