Battery Park City

Practically an island on the island of Manhattan, Battery Park City is a self-contained community on the southwestern tip of the city.

Built on a landfill, the 92-acre 1960s planned community is popular with foreigners, Wall Street suits and families who are drawn to the community's numerous green spaces.

And, speaking of green, Battery Park City is home to the country's first eco-friendly high-rise, the Solaire (20 River View Terrace). The building, which opened in 2003, features natural gas-powered air conditioning and filtered air. Studios start at approximately $2,500.

In 2000, the Battery Park City Authority, a quasi-governmental agency that oversees the area, mandated that all new buildings go green. The newest additions to the nabe have gone above and beyond the requirements: Riverhouse (at One Rockefeller Park, with units starting in the $800,000s), has its own water treatment plant and rooftop photovoltaic cells for solar energy. The Visionaire (70 Little West St., from $680,000), is projected to receive platinum LEED status.

With newer projects offering family-sized apartments, Battery Park City is a good choice for those seeking suburban-style living with a responsible urban-sized carbon footprint.