Excellent article. There is an additional reason for the high number of vacancies--Tribeca is a neighborhood in transition and both the potential tenants and the landlords are aware of the situation so both parties are holding back on consumating deals until the transition happens. Another factor is the amount of construction and resultant scaffolds (particularly on the Broadway corridor) that discourages deals from being inked at this time. Be patient and you will see the Tribeca storefronts blossom in the near future. — Larry Fink on Ghost Town: The Growing Number of Vacant Storefronts in Tribeca

Someone said this earlier when a similar article came out and it really stuck with me: very soon, residents of Soho and Tribeca will not have a place to eat lunch or dinner due to crazy high rents and being forced out. If you want a meal, you will have to taxi, walk or subway somewhere in midtown. How many burgers or salads do you have to sell each month to offset a rent of say $15-30K?? That's a LOT of burgers! The ONLY reason this is happening is greedy landlords who have been assuming, wrongfully so, that trees can grow to the skies and that they can just keep raising rents each and every year and assuming tenants will just have to suck it up. I have the view that this trend will end up biting landlords in the arse with more and more empty retail spaces and more and more businesses bringing their business elsewhere. If landlords/managing agents in Tribeca/Soho charged more realistic rents, they would not be stuck with so many vacant spaces. The worst thing a landlord can have, besides a place that's not rentable for months, is a space they thought they leased with a long term agreement only to have a tenant bail on them because the business model didn't work. More often, than not, the culprit is a small businesses' ability or inability to make the monthly rent demands. Perhaps its time for landlords to rethink the business model on their end and look to work with their tenants and offer up lower rents vs the inevitable empty space, but this being NY real estate, something tells me that will never happen. — Bob Jacobs on Ghost Town: The Growing Number of Vacant Storefronts in Tribeca

Storefronts may be vacant but greedy landlords are not dropping rents yet, but they will soon, as banks and retail clothing stores drop retail locations in the face of online buying. — Lewis Gross DDS on Ghost Town: The Growing Number of Vacant Storefronts in Tribeca

Those buildings are coming down for a new condo development. Unclear how much vacant retail the new building will have — J on Ghost Town: The Growing Number of Vacant Storefronts in Tribeca

... not to mention the block where Racoon Lodge et al have been evicted. You just KNOW nothing will happen and it will be a boarded up eyesore in the heart of Tribeca for years not months. Neighbourhood should be a mecca for small businesses, not this worsening state of affairs. Good journalism — Triebca_Brit on Ghost Town: The Growing Number of Vacant Storefronts in Tribeca

Good Summary thanks — joey joe on Ghost Town: The Growing Number of Vacant Storefronts in Tribeca

At this link is a photo of the same corner circa 1916 from the MCNY: http://collections.mcny.org/Collection/[Southwest%20corner%20of%20Hudson%20Street%20and%20Harrison%20Street]-2F3XC5IW8R2B.html X2010.11.2204 E. L. D. (Edward Loomis Davenport) Seymour (1888- [Southwest corner of Hudson Street and Harrison Street] DATE:ca. 1916 — James on In the News: The Constant Street Construction

There is a lot about the early days of this building (as a part of the area's produce markets and trading) in one old industry journal online at Google Books: Title : The American Produce Review (aka New York Produce Review and American Creamery) Volume 53, Published:1922 (Nov 2, 1921 - April 26, 1922) Page 111: "QUICK ACTION IN FUTURES. Planned for New York Dealers at the New York Office of O. D. Gilman & Co. "New York traders in butter and eggs are to have the facilities for future dealings provided by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange virtually brought to their doors when the plans of O. D. Gilman & Co. for opening and equipping their New York office are completed. According to statements of these plans made by C. E. Cromer, president of the company, the New York offices, instead of being in the N. Y. Mercantile Exchange building, as first announced, will occupy the whole second floor of the building on the opposite (southwest) corner of Harrison and Hudson Sts., whence it is designed to operate a private telegraph wire directly to the Chicago office. The plan contemplates the immediate posting on blackboards in the New York office of all transactions on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as they occur and the acceptance of orders to buy or sell for immediate transmission through the Chicago office of the company. As before announced the New York office will be in charge of Harold L. Brown as soon as he has recovered from his illness, as elsewhere noted." Page 249: "AN INTERESTING INNOVATION. O. D. Gilman & Co. Brings Chicago Exchange Facilities to New Yorkers on the Instant. "O. D. Gilman & Co. have recently opened their New York offices at No. 1 Harrison St. consummating the plans recently outlined. H. L. Brown, who has fully recovered from his recent operation for appendicitis, came to New York last week to take charge, and the new venture is attracting much interested attention in the trade here. A direct private wire connects the New York office with the company’s Chicago office, from which a private telephone connection has been made with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. A clerk is stationed there and bids, Offerings and sales of butter and eggs on the Chicago Exchange are immediately transmitted and posted on the black boards of the New York office, together with other Exchange information of interest. The service is bringing the news of Chicago Exchange trading to New Yorkers on the minute and, by most of the trade, is highly appreciated." Page 1074: "NEW QUARTERS FOR O. D. GILMAN & CO "O. D. Gilman & Co., who have occupied the second floor of the building 1 Harrison St. since they opened the New York branch, have secured a lease of the ground floor and are rapidly getting settled in their new quarters. The entrance will be at 81 Hudson St. The room is being made very attractive, and the large blackboards and wire service keep their clients closely in touch with the Chicago market. Harold L. Brown and Frank A. McGrail are hustlers and they are laying plans for big spring business." Page 1388 TO LET—Office, about 20x50 feet, light all around, in a new 3 story building, 81 Hudson St., corner Harrison St. Suitable for brokers or manufacturers representatives. Also basement to let. For further information communicate with owner, A. Miller, Box 2, Arverne, L. I., or inquire in store of Gilman & Co." — James on In the News: The Constant Street Construction

Yes, Marcus, cobblestone streets are more dangerous to walk for older and/or infirm people as they're obviously not as flat as paved streets. Cobblestone is also bad for highheels for obvious reasons haha. I'm all for preserving them on Harrison and Staple Streets plus any other streets above Harrison tho, especially Harrison which is beautiful. No to light rail, a complete waste of money in the city with the most extensive public transit system in the country if not the world besides that it would be a traffic and pedestrian nightmare. It's bad enough the cost to ride the current transit system keep going up and up, light rail would only add to it. I think an elevated people mover a la downtown Detroit below Fulton Street would be cool. — Mike on Seen & Heard: Will Staple Street Ever Be Cobblestoned Again?

From the May 1991 Tribeca West HD designation report: "Date: 1919 [NB 85-1919] Architect: Schwartz & Gross Owner/Developer: Henry M. Day, Inc. Builder: Edgar A. Levy Construction Co [...] "Designed by the notable firm Schwartz & Gross, it was constructed in 1919 for Henry M. Day, Inc., replacing a three-story store and residence. [...] "The building has been used continuously for busines purposes and it continues to house offices on the upper stories. A restaurant is located on the ground story." — James on In the News: The Constant Street Construction

Although the area is landmarked, this has not prevented the paving over of cobbles such as on Cortlandt Alley or Franklin PL or here. This current view of Staple St. shows the (then)Merchant Marine Hospital on the right at Jay. St.(originally NY Hospital)and across the alley what was it's ambulance entrance. The bridge was used to wheel emergency patients to the operating room on the top floor of the hospital. These no doubt included those injured during U-boat attacks on merchant ships during World War II. In the 1970's during the artist heydays downtown the bridge was occupied by Mindy Stevenson, a local artist. The Fire Dept. once tried to demolish the bridge as a potential hazard but I assured them it was unoccupied. — Frank DeMarco on Seen & Heard: Will Staple Street Ever Be Cobblestoned Again?

81 Hudson is of course the location of Puffy's Tavern today. Puffy's opened in the early 1950's under the management of one Frank Delassante. The name referred to his waistline. It catered to the then Washington Market workers who breakfasted early with drinks served in coffee cups. Previously, it was known as "Jimmy's" a bar operated by an Anita Weiss a German immigrant who arrived here in the 1930's. Before that it was a food shop called "Wagners". The building dates from 1919, so this photo depicts a new building. Interestingly the top of the building shows the name of a "Rogers & Co." who may have been the original owners. Frank DeMarco, Puffy's owner/manager. 1977-2005 — Frank DeMarco on In the News: The Constant Street Construction

Mike - Thank you for the comment. Are cobblestone streets really that much more dangerous to pedestrians? Yes, they take a bit more care to navigate. The plus side is that (perhaps) that applies to cars as well, who have to slow down instead of driving as if on a highway (as they do on many avenues and streets of the city). As for 1916, there are some aspects of old cities that I miss. Streetcars (trolleys) are another one. Hopefully those will return to NYC, in a suitably modernized form as "light rail" (call it what you will) in the near future, as they already have in many other cities. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Will Staple Street Ever Be Cobblestoned Again?

All cobblestone would be aesthetically beautifully but practically terrible for infirm people, especially older ones. There'd be falls, twisted ankles etc. Also countless cigarette butts which would be a bitch to remove from between the cracks. 1916, sure, 2016...nah. — Mike on Seen & Heard: Will Staple Street Ever Be Cobblestoned Again?

Neapolitan pizza is typically soggy in the center, especially a pizza like Verace since it's made with bufalo mozzarella, which has a higher water content. Roman pizza, the inspiration for New York pizza, has a crispier crust. Marta is my favorite Roman pizzeria. Eataly is among the best Neopoltian. Great to have it in the neighborhood. — N on First Impressions: La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly

I recall one of your recent interviews, the interviewee was asked what they wished for in TriBeCa, and the wish was that all the streets were cobble-stoned. I would agree....The cobble-stones have an old-world beauty and charm that asphalt cannot match. Of course, cobble-stone is more expensive to maintain, which is presumably the (only?) reason for its scarcity in the city. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Will Staple Street Ever Be Cobblestoned Again?

She was guaranteed to show up to at least part of the election forum, if only to avoid the headline "Alice Cancels." — James on In the News: Tribeca Nanny Allegedly Assaulted Infant

Greenwich and Watts — Matt on Where in Tribeca…?

when bubby's opened in the nineties after several businesses had failed at that location, they had very nice dinner specials for $7. — j on Seen & Heard: Can We Have Our Sidewalk Back?

Funny you post this about Staple St. Lately Staple St. has become really dirty and littered from garbage (left by the kids getting stoned, and endless photo/rap video shoots) So while Staple looks like a garbage can's been dumped over- Collister St/Alley always looks immaculate. I'm not sure if it's the city or who is responsible for picking up all the scattered trash. — AndyR on Seen & Heard: Will Staple Street Ever Be Cobblestoned Again?

lulu, thank you for the tip about Saluggi's…Have you (or anyone else here) tried their vegan version? I will try it out... — Marcus on First Impressions: La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly

Saluggi's will make vegan pizza. — lulu on First Impressions: La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly

Erik Makes a great point though. Why can't DOB have them make a temporary sidewalk (plastic barriers) for the side they have taken on Greenwich. People will walk down that side of the street anyway and at least this way it will be safer. I don't understand how they got a permit to take EVERY SINGLE sidewalk adjacent to the building. Stranger still when there has been no building going on (stuck for permits I am sure) — Rohin on Seen & Heard: Can We Have Our Sidewalk Back?

Thank you! Xo — Crystal Torres on New Kid on the Block: Ethan Rose Salon

Anyone found good vegan pizza in the area? East Village has a few good spots (00&Co, John's, etc). — Marcus on First Impressions: La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly