8. The “tower in the park” vision inspired StuyTown

Stuyvesant Town Fountain
StuyTown surrounds an eye-catching fountain.

Architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, otherwise known as “Le Corbusier,” had a vision for urban life: a tower in the park, or high-rise apartments surrounded by greenspace. His vision has inspired many developments, including Unité d’habitation in Marseille, France and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in Singapore — although not all have been successful in fulfilling their utopian ideals. Le Corbusier’s urban dream also inspired the minds behind StuyTown.

Although the development has 110 buildings, they only cover 25 percent of the property’s 80 acres. Along with more than 10 parks and fields, StuyTown has wide pathways that wind between buildings and greenspace. Manual locks and swipe access prevent non-residents from accessing the development’s amenities.