It was the latest example of how New York has been uniquely shaped by the idiosyncrasies of the superrich. Sometimes the results, like vanity addresses on buildings, are seemingly harmless. Other times, they have changed how New York looks and feels. Here are a few other instances:Stephen A. Schwarzman’s libraryIn 2008, the Wall Street financier Stephen A. Schwarzman donated $100 million to the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, resulting in his name’s being inscribed on the building five times. Robert Moses’ two-mile detourThe Northern State Parkway on Long Island bypasses the neighborhood of Wheatley Hills because, according to the historian Robert Caro, very rich residents persuaded the master builder Robert Moses to redesign his roadway plans.

Source: New York Times March 12, 2019 09:56 UTC