That Thing on the Roof
By Laurie Lewis
They are so ubiquitous and familiar that New Yorkers don’t even think about them. But visitors admiring the city skyline often are dumbfounded by the big, round, rather ugly, gray structures that they see on rooftops. What are these weather-beaten eyesores?
They are water tanks or water towers (the names are interchangeable). Water tanks are a necessity for any building more than six stories tall, which is about as high as the city’s natural water pressure enables water to go. Very large buildings have more than one tank to meet the needs of the occupants. Many buildings hide their water tanks inside enclosures made of structural materials like brick that blend in with the façade. But rest assured, if the building is taller than six stories, it has at least one water tank.
They are so ubiquitous and familiar that New Yorkers don’t even think about them. But visitors admiring the city skyline often are dumbfounded by the big, round, rather ugly, gray structures that they see on rooftops. What are these weather-beaten eyesores?
They are water tanks or water towers (the names are interchangeable). Water tanks are a necessity for any building more than six stories tall, which is about as high as the city’s natural water pressure enables water to go. Very large buildings have more than one tank to meet the needs of the occupants. Many buildings hide their water tanks inside enclosures made of structural materials like brick that blend in with the façade. But rest assured, if the building is taller than six stories, it has at least one water tank.
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Also available as a custom tour.
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Also available as a custom tour.
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Also available as a custom tour.
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Interview
Hear Alan Cohen's Sept. 10 interview on WVOX Radio. Alan discusses Central Park, his experiences as a tour guide and being part of Take A Walk New York, working as a docent at the Museum of the City of New York, and a fascinating story about an unofficial statue in Central Park.
About "Take a Walk New York" Tours
We are a group of New York City licensed tour guides offering a New York experience that is beyond the standard fare. Let us take you on a walk through the greatest city in the world and discover why New York is a place like no other.
