There is a hidden world of suburban-style rooftop homes in Manhattan

When the city gets too tough, we head for the suburbs: the land of green lawns, good schools and open spaces. But some Manhattanites say you can have it all. Across the city, quirky suburban-style homes are hidden on the vast roofs of buildings.

On West 85th Street Near Columbus Avenue, a whole community lives across the roofs of three buildings. They garden, barbecue and host movie nights in their own private “suburb” above NYC.

“There’s something about being able to get to a private outdoor space, instead of going to the park,” Lee Larson, a resident of the community, told the New York Post. “This is a special thing. I never would have guessed it possible in New York.”

Nearby on another roof on the Upper West Side, a man has built a small home that resembles a ski chalet.

“It does feel like a little house with a backyard,” architect Andrew Tesoro told the Post. “The ability to step outside is very magical.”

Tesoro adds that he hosts inflatable-pool parties and barbecues in his outdoor space. [NYP] —Christopher Cameron