The Secrets Of NYC's Fake Buildings - Cheddar Explains

Why does New York City have so many fake buildings? What’s their purpose? We looked into it.

Further Reading:

Gothamist

AMNY

Westview News

The Travel

Business Insider

Untapped Cities

The New York Times

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[answerinprogress]

great minds think a like! loved the deep dive on new york’s fake buildings - i wish we had gone to the brooklyn one in our video!!

[mr.spinoza]

It's cool for the person living aside. They don't have to worry about noise affecting the neighbours on that side.

[skyscraperfan]

What I also find strange is skyscrapers with fake windows and even fake lights in them. 220 Central Park South is an example. The staircases and elevators are all on the south side of the structure, because people prefer views norths towards Central Park. So the centre part of the south facade is just a concrete wall. That would have looked unpleasant. So they created those fake windows. That process was very visible during construction, but people, who did not see the construction, will never know that those windows are fake.

[kennyadvocat]

I always find it strange how every few years you see stories about this building then it suddenly goes trending gain. Then somehow everyone forgets again till someone else "discovers" it and reports about the building yet again. Glad he reported all the other buildings thought. Good video here!

[davesnothereman]

I think that substation is HIDEOUS! Its like two different styles squidhed together.

[kingsand]

This was a great video to watch on Urbanist: Exploring Cities' channel two weeks ago

[jamesblond]

I might add the structures in Los Angeles that hide oil derricks in the middle of the city. Most notable is the West Pico oil drill site, and the tower of hope at Beverly Hills High school

[FlackNCoke]

Wow this is such an interesting idea for a video, and it was even more interesting when I first saw it a month or two ago on Answer In Progress’s channel.

[Monado.]

I remember watching a video on this the other day! Cool to see this getting around

[JuniorExecutive]

Every industrial structure should be designed this way regardless of where it is

[drockjr]

You should cover the false buildings that are hidden Anti Aircraft batteries

[dmicah]

I saw one video about fake buildings/façades in Paris too.

[CopyLion]

What a coincidence, after Answer in Progress made a video about this not long ago, several other channels made videos of the exact same topic too?

[Megamean]

Cheddar. DUDES. What is this obsession you guys developed for NYC the last month or so? There are other places in the world to talk about.

[Mykasan]

must be a coincidence that i just saw a video on this exact subject on another channel.

[frogz]

does chicago have these too?? now i must know
edit: i guess it does, alot of them

[vod]

The last building looks like a serial killer wearing the face of his much prettier victim.

[EspHack]

most "unpleasant eyesores" have a natural function; they imply a very simple "fuck around and find out" which I think is very useful for a prosperous civilization, instead we'll soon have countless darwinian awardees attracted to these "mysterious" places, oh the irony

[dklimenok]

Except for the first example, which I understand, why do you call them 'fake'??

[wei]

Very interesting as a life longer New Yorker had no idea. It's frustrating to know there's so many ppl needing affordable housing, not even speaking of the poor but middle class to young professionals, yet so much of the space is not being properly used. What's worse are the developers only caring for money and the city allows them to build luxury buildings with tax or other benefits because it provides wealth to a few but not help the masses. They also hide behind having 1 apartment or 1 house that is affordable sometimes out of lotto system to meet a law yet most 10s to 50s of unit they build are out of reach. And often these homes are empty, but they still profit due to city regulations. I would like cheddar to dive into nyc real estate corruption and further educate us.