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Robert Ripps book
History of Tribeca Buildings
Field Trip: Hudson Square (with an expert)
Freeman Plaza West
THE DESTINATION
Hudson Square (in my case, a tour with the president of the Hudson Square Business Improvement District, Samara Karasyk)
THE JOURNEY
Just cross Canal Street, but stay west of Sixth Ave.
THE DETAILS
Hudson Square is defined by the BID as the former Printing District between Canal and and Clarkson, Sixth Avenue and West Street. The BID estimates there are 60,000 workers at 1000 businesses and 3000 residents, plus several thousand students. There are more than 30 bars and restaurants, plus another 35 grab-and-go or coffee shops, like Maman, Shake Shack, Jerrell’s BTR Burger, etc. The BID is also home to Downtown’s only Trader Joe’s, the Jackie Robinson Museum, New York City Fire Museum and The Greene Space.
THE BACKGROUND
I’ve been meaning to take stock of Hudson Square for a while, and an email chat with Ned Baldwin at Houseman led to an introduction which led to a fun stroll around the area’s blocks with Samara, who became president/CEO in fall 2021. I rarely wander that far up — well, I do for Houseman for sure — but for you Pier 40 mavens, this post should be a good resource.
The tour made me realize a few important things: 1) there are a lot more places to eat and hang out in Hudson Square now than there were even a couple years ago. And 2) having a BID makes a big difference for the little forgotten spaces around a neighborhood. They have made lemonade out of a bunch of streetscape lemons: the leftover corners of the Holland Tunnel, traffic triangles, curbside patches. It made me think of both Finn Square, which needs new sidewalks and new fences to help it come to life, and the totally ignored Barnett Newman Triangle just south of the Roxy. Who knows when they will get any real attention, despite the efforts of local residents.
Freeman Plaza East
“You can do so much in unexpected places,” Samara said. “People can use them and they will. They want something close by.”
I think their most inspirational streetscape addition is the seating and planting area along Hudson, just north of Canal. It completely transforms the pedestrian experience. And there are hidden treasures: the Noguchi sculpture on loan in Freeman Plaza; a mural of the Lincoln sparrow from the Audubon Society.
Of course things are really going to change around there with the Disney folks move in — that building should house up to 5000 workers.
The BID was founded as a not-for-profit in 2009, one of 76 business improvement districts in the city. The BID is funded primarily through an annual assessment on commercial property and has an annual budget of $3.2 million.
Port Sa’id
PITSTOP
We didn’t stop! But I noted a few places that are definitely on my return list: Port Sa’id, the new Israeli restaurant, for the Burning Potato and the turntable; Maki Maki for sushi; Altro Paradiso for outdoor dining (it’s not on a through-street); Adora Lei for pizza making events; and of course Houseman for creative and casual fine dining. See the full list of restaurants here. Also: there’s a rooftop at the Arlo but I did not realize there’s also one at the Hotel Hugo, open daily at 5p with a happy hour till 8p.
Spring Street park
Disney HQ
13 Comments
Comment:
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This may have been addressed in prior articles, but what is stopping Tribeca businesses (and supportive residents) from forming their own local BID?
There are plenty of commercial establishments, and lots of potential improvement/beautification projects that are (for some reason) too small for the city but too big for locals to address.
Hudson Street north of Canal really is such a pedestrian gem; kudos to the Hudson Square BID on a total transformation of what was once an uninspired part of the city.
BIDs are supported by property owners, not by businesses. And they are supported by legislation from the city — and then the tax is collected by the Department of Finance. A while back there was a proposal for a “PID” — a park improvement district that would have supported Hudson River Park and one block east of it, improving lighting and streetscape in that one block. But local residents fought it.
Thanks for the additional background!
Perhaps if the formation of the Tribeca BID (or PID) were tied to specific initial deliverables (i.e., creating and upgrading particular pocket parks, streetscape overhauls, pedestrian safety improvements, etc.), the neighborhood’s residents would get behind it (and there are a lot of new residents!).
I get that property taxes are already high for most New Yorkers, but would be great to have neighborhood BID dollars go directly to hyperlocal neighborhood improvements that we all use with our families and friends.
Agreed!
Oh, please, don’t glorify or try to revive the ridiculous NID (neighborhood improvement district) that turned the BID program into a pretzel to try to fund HPR. It would have taxed all property owners and turned over control of the streetscape from Chambers to 57th St, West St to W. Broadway down here (the western edge varied) to a completely undemocratic “elected” board of unspecified size (co-ops got 1 vote since they are 1 corporation but condo owners each got a vote). The plans did not have any requirement or mechanism that the funds raised in one neighborhood had to be used to improve that neighborhood, the whole far west side was one “neighborhood”. In retrospect, those of us who fought it suspect the whole idea was floated to attract opposition so that NYS would be open to amending the HRP authorization legislation to allow the sale of Pier 40’s air rights and other changes desired (which is what ultimately happened, with the supporters never actually submitting a formal proposal to the NYC Small Business Services department, which approves and monitors BIDs).
That said, I would support a legitimate Tribeca BID along the lines of the Hudson Square BID if the business owners feel a need for one and I encourage everyone who enjoys Bogarus and Duane Park to support them financially, as I do.
Oh gosh, no glory there! Just simply I love the park and it seemed like a good way to secure maintenance dollars.
The Hudson River Park is a critical natural and recreational resource for the community. A Park Improvement District, such as the one proposed in 2010, should receive a thoughtful review.
Oh boy, let’s not go there again with that absurd NID proposal that the brainiacs at HRP thought would give them a bondable revenue stream to build infrastructure uptown. HRP is a critical resource for the ENTIRE CITY and should be funded accordingly by tax dollars. Not by a NID using random borders where neighbors paying that additional tax have no control over how its spent. But yes, if its a Tribeca BID that invests in trees, our local parks and plazas, and in safety around the tunnel entrances (which a huge amount of the Hudson Square BID budget goes to fund), count me in!
Regarding the ignored “Barnett Newman Triangle”, what is the status of DDG’s commitment to renovate?
https://patch.com/new-york/downtown-nyc/lower-manhattan-cb-wants-updates-promised-plaza-tribeca
Perhaps this would make a good “Noisy Neighbor” post.
Yes, though I have never been able to make progress with DDG. Will try again!
The founder is trying to dissolve the firm, so good luck trying to get them to follow through on the commitment. The community board fell down on this.
https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/06/17/co-founder-sues-to-dissolve-ddg-partners/
Maybe time to get our City Council Representative involved?
Maybe now with the Google and Disney buildings opening – the MTA can improve bus service on the M20 and M21 buslines that serve this neighborhood. No one in Manhattan should have to wait 30 minutes for a bus (or an hour if one is missing)!