NEW YORK—The last condo in Riverdale over 80 feet high has been built. The developers of Solaria squeezed in right before a law protecting local views closed the gates on tall buildings the area.
“On our rooftop you see no building looking down on us,” says Arc Developer founder Joseph Korff. “We are the tallest rooftop in the area.”
Solaria, which combines the words for sun and air, stands 20 stories high at the top of a hill. Highest at 410 feet above sea level, it stands in no shadow. Its designers took advantage of its lofty locale to outfit it with floor-to-ceiling windows. With one sweeping glance from any outside room, one can take in the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, Manhattan’s skyline, White Plains, and the Palisades with Van Cortlandt Park. A multitude of brick apartment buildings lay below, snuggled among an abundance of greenery. Shut every window, and you enter an island of stillness and natural light.
Inspired by Light
Korff’s inspiration for the building’s design came from his wife’s love of light.
“We both work long hours and were reluctant to buy a place upstate because we are based in Manhattan,” says Korff. They settled on a penthouse on Park Ave, which they completely redid with window walls. “The experience of living there created the inspiration to do the same here. Natural light is something unique—it adds to your sense of well-being.”
Because of the wide streets, even the lowest floors are bathed in light. Korff not only drew from his own experiences in designing Solaria, but spared no detail in its construction. This includes Café Imperial countertops, covered light switch plates, double-drawer dishwashers, casement windows, radiant heat in the bathroom tiles, Argentine hardwood floors and cork underneath to absorb sound.
Amenities
Each of the 65 units have outside space, whether it be a terrace or a balcony. Almost all units have corner living rooms (with glass walls, of course) to maximize the view. Because of the slight angle of the building, the Hudson River is visible even from the eastern units. Coming through the speedy elevators and sound-insulated halls, it’s hard to believe that it’s a 20-story building shared by 65 families.
“It’s like having a private home without the difficulties of a private home,” says Korff. Aside from the 24-hour front desk and porters, Solaria also comes with a gym, enough unbundled parking to accommodate all residents and their guests, a cold storage for grocery deliveries, a lounge, and a playpen, both indoors and outdoors.
Then there’s the observatory on the roof that is operated in conjunction with the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York City. When weather conditions are right, residents can take advantage of the fact that their rooftop is closer to the stars than their neighbors’.
Located at 640 West 237th Street, Solaria is close to schools like Horace Mann, dining, and 25 minutes from the high-end Westchester Mall. The building will provide a shuttle to the 1 subway train. It is one block from an express bus and Metro North will take you to Grand Central Station in 30 minutes.
