What de Blasio could really do for retailers and restaurants is reduce startup hurdles and ongoing red tape, whether with Dept of Buildings, Consumer Affairs, Health, Landmarks, etc. — James on In the News: De Blasio Wants a Subway Tax on the Rich

How about price and wage controls too? Should we abolish the minimum wage to protect retailers also? How about a maximum wage, then? (And then there are the inevitable unintended consequences- WW2 era wage controls directly led to the employer health insurance model we have today in this country.) The epic change in retail has surprisingly little to do with rent increases. Just a small loss of the gross profit and sales to the internet can drive retailers out of business given their high percentage of fixed costs (rent, labor, utilities, etc.) that don't drop with a drop in sales. — James on In the News: De Blasio Wants a Subway Tax on the Rich

Erik, you are correct. The nursery was in the spot that hotel now stands. The plant store was a thriving business...it seemed a little out of place but it survived. — Ruben on Tribeca Then & Now: Part 2

The nursery immediately proceeded the hotel. The nursery owner was Bob Berg, who passed away from cancer a few years after selling the nursery. He was young. His family still resides in Tribeca. I will not give their names or address out of respect for their privacy. — George on Tribeca Then & Now: Part 2

Can any building with apartments averaging 2,500 square feet be considered high-density? (Personally, I don't mind tall buildings if they're well-made and attractive. This one has me very concerned....) — Erik Torkells on First Look at the 42-Story Building Planned for Broadway

I'm pretty sure they're not taking reservations yet, and even if they were, I'd be wary of reserving anything until it's definitely open. Rare is the restaurant that opens when it thinks it will. — Erik Torkells on Introducing Frenchette

how do i go about making a reservations in September for my boss Bruce Eichner — ALISA BALIC on Introducing Frenchette

I agree completely, and breathed a sigh of relief when I read your comment, that there were still people being reasonable about this topic. The building is completely uninteresting from an architectural POV, it's true. But that it's tall and dense is simply inevitable. People forget that before 1940 the race to build tall buildings centered on that neighborhood because it represented the civic and financial center of NYC, which role has become more decentralized as business moved to midtown during the depression, and much later began to move elsewhere (viz. Jersey City, etc.). But tall buildings have always been the architectural currency of that area. The Woolworth Bldg. down the street a few yards was the tallest building in the world until 1928. The fact that most of the new high-rises are not especially worthy is another matter. Sadly, that is true of most contemporary construction in this city. I'm always amazed when I read comments by NYC residents about new architecture. I can't understand why people imagine the direction should be toward lower density, and that architects should be restricted to building squatty, low-density buildings with outdated materials and techniques. Cities are a technological invention to accommodate population growth and migration. How a person can live in NYC and resent a building for "enormity" completely escapes me. Does anyone think that in 100 years NYC will be characterized by 5-story row houses? — David G. Imber on First Look at the 42-Story Building Planned for Broadway

Here's an article from the NYT about the opening of the Tribeca Grand hotel in 2000: http://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/11/garden/forget-the-architecture-the-fun-s-inside.html. I believe the nursery (plant store) immediately preceded it. (The hotel's owner, Leonard Stern, paid just $8 million for the lot.) — Erik Torkells on Tribeca Then & Now: Part 2

Does anyone know when the building that currently houses the Roxy Hotel was constructed? I've tried to research the intersection and have come up with a gas station and possibly a greenhouse / flower market in the past but have been able to confirm very little. Curious to know when the hotel was built and what preceded it. — Chris Horoschak on Tribeca Then & Now: Part 2

Re: empty storefronts How about rent control/caps on commercial real estate? (I do not believe "the market is always right") — Marcus on In the News: De Blasio Wants a Subway Tax on the Rich

This is the third time he has proposed a tax on the "rich" both of the other times it never got through Albany and neither will this one. Just going through the motions to make it look like he is actually doing something. — TribecaMom on In the News: De Blasio Wants a Subway Tax on the Rich

Agreed. Can someone (anyone!) please run against him? — John on In the News: De Blasio Wants a Subway Tax on the Rich

Taxing the "rich?" How original. He's such a dodo. — Janet on In the News: De Blasio Wants a Subway Tax on the Rich

Re: Bouley... A meal at Bernardin is wonderful and delicious, same for Daniel or Union Square Cafe, but at Bouley it was a meal you never forgot. The preparation, the fabulous tastes and flavors, the bread, desert added to the excellent service....what memories. Plus the cake you took home. Can't wait for his return! — Claudine on In the News: Summer Streets Kicks Off This Saturday

I don't see what's so horrible about this. A 40+ story building in an area with awesome subway connections seems appropriate. The use of glass is a normal thing for modern buildings, and it's not like the existing buildings on this block are architectural wonders. Personally I prefer this over 30 Park Pl's attempt to blend in. People have to live somewhere. — Larry Greenfield on First Look at the 42-Story Building Planned for Broadway

They seem to always close for a week or two during late July/early August. Not worried at all. It's the best place. Great staff, ambiance, and pizza. — Matt on Seen & Heard: Walk-Up Windows

Notice how the present day photo of the two photos - Sixth Avenue, looking north from Franklin 1927 - is still a construction site! — Heide Fasnacht on Tribeca Then & Now: Part 2

Perfect New use for this space. Fred Parvin' Newstand never did any business there. — PerryR on Le Dû’s Wines Is Moving to Tribeca

I'm sure the owner of that penthouse will be upset but when you have lot-line windows, as those are, light and air is never guaranteed. Frankly, he should have done a better job of due diligence before spending that much money on opening up lot-line windows. — Makes You Go Hmmm... on First Look at the 42-Story Building Planned for Broadway

Another horribly designed building in FiDi. Too bad that area around City Hall is not landmarked. FiDi is a real mess. — Randi on First Look at the 42-Story Building Planned for Broadway

Thanks! — Huck's mom on Tribeca Then & Now: Part 1

HAHAHAHAHA Hello Gym..... I just realized that it was 11:32pm when you were conducting your Name Spell Check.....How sad!!!!! — Ruben on Seen & Heard: Walk-Up Windows

commenting from a window facing directly north from Warren / Broadway: this will be a real eyesore! I'll bet the owner of the large windowed unit (the one featured here http://www.stevenharrisarchitects.com/projects/TriBeCa-Penthouse) has a few things to say about this construction. — Broadwayer on First Look at the 42-Story Building Planned for Broadway

BRING IT BACK. — Dave on Acappella Is Moving After 23 Years