Honey, I Blew Up The Townhome...and now it's going green!

Just when you think there's not one more parcel of land in Manhattan to develop on, somebody creates one. Recall, Dr. Nicholas Bartha, who intentionally blew up his $6 million townhome on the Upper East Side (34 East 62nd Street), as an act of retribution against his ex-wife, who had won a divorce judgment.

Now, RIGroup is building a green townhouse on the site of the (once inhabited) vacant lot. Greening the townhouse is cost-effective (lower energy bills) and should add significant value to the property. In particular, RIGroup plans on installing water conservation and energy efficient features and finishes, and using formaldehyde-free products and recycled materials, in the hopes of earning the coveted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation. According to The Real Deal, it will be a 6-story, 8,000 square foot single-family home.

Only in New York City...