A “ridiculous cluster of tiny wooden sheds.” Alternatively, a “dirty, degraded little rat hole.” Sound like New York’s most expensive neighborhood?
Tribeca – now considered both cool and exclusive – has a varied and surprising history, in some way mirroring New York’s own.
For most of the city’s history, the area we know as Tribeca was known for its central hub – Washington Market. When it was first established in 1812 the market was outside the city limits and was both a site of serious commerce where merchants could trade, and a meeting place for locals to buy their groceries.
19th-century cities were pretty disgusting in general but, even by those standards, Washington Market was particularly chaotic. In 1872 the New York Times went so far as to publish Washington Market at Night, a scathingly critical but affectionate piece about the vibrant, dirty market. Despite the “rat hole” comment, the writer describes his fascination and grudging affection for the area.
However, changes in industry and the city meant that by the 1960s the Washington Market area had slowly become emptier, and the market was zoned for redevelopment. Although the neighborhood briefly became quiet, the large number of vacant industrial and commercial buildings created the perfect conditions for the neighborhood’s renaissance.
The area’s low prices attracted artists, who bought old industrial buildings and converted them into homes, galleries, and studios. The industrial conversions were characterized by their high ceilings, huge windows and were generally spacious and bright buildings – perfect for artists. Unsurprisingly, Tribeca’s new inhabitants quickly made it one of the most exciting neighborhoods in New York.
Nowadays, despite the rising property prices and cost of living, the area has retained its youthful, artistic feel. There are still a large number of beautiful converted industrial buildings, and there has been a concerted effort to keep artists in the neighborhood, including Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tours (charmingly referred to as “Toast”).
Tribeca is now a highly sought after Manhattan neighborhood, attracting the interest of a range of exclusive clientele. It is a fun neighborhood, with beautiful buildings and a great atmosphere centrally located in Manhattan – not bad for a 19th-century “cluster of tiny wooden sheds.”
