Surely, there's a middle ground.... I'd just like a sense that someone with some sort of power is able to say no when a new development obviously doesn't belong here. As for economic inclusion, it's not as if the towers sprouting up all around Tribeca are filled with affordable housing. — Erik Torkells on Help Save Tribeca Before It’s Too Late

I am currently working on an article about a small, magnificent hotel in Tokyo that is about to be destroyed so that the developer can build a new, larger, modernized hotel to accommodate the crowds expected for the 2020 Olympic games there. Because the hotel is very important to a lot of very accomplished people in the design field, its demolition is getting a lot of attention. The developer says that the hotel is simply too small and out of scale with modern Tokyo. There are many new hotels being built in anticipation of the Olympics, and those developers will reap large profits from them. The successful persons who are trying to save the sixties-built hotel are arguing that if the developers will preserve it and build their huge, modern hotel elsewhere, they will be rewarded because there are plenty of extremely rich people in the design world who will keep the old hotel filled to capacity, even if rooms cost many thousands of dollars per night. I'm not qualified to comment on the economic vicissitudes of that argument. But they are making an impassioned case that the hotel is a design treasure, and must be "preserved for future generations". Essentially, the plea being made to the developer is to preserve the hotel as a kind of museum piece - or perhaps a more vivid comparison is to an ant in amber. The developer is saying it is aware of the charm of the original, but they are not in the business of preserving charming museum pieces, they are in the hotel business. The current state of things is that they are at loggerheads, but it is likely the developer will prevail. I bring this up because it correlates with our situation in Tribeca. A city is a living, thriving entity. I don't question the impulses of those who would like to preserve antique, low-rise buildings because they are charming, or possess "character". I, myself, like some things that are utterly without value except as sentimental objects of adoration. But the argument that we are preserving something of value for future generations is disingenuous at best. The preservation will benefit only the tremendously wealthy, to preserve their exclusive community, to preserve their wealth. "Future generations" will have as much access to a preserved Tribeca as I have to Beacon Hill and other preserved neighborhoods like it. I can only stand at the gates and gaze. I don't think the economic reality should be ignored: Many have purchased extremely expensive real estate in this neighborhood. If developers build modern high-rises the population of the neighborhood will grow, the current "character" will be altered, and the value of the expensive real estate, which is highly exclusive in part because of its impracticality, will decline. I accept that as true. Impracticality costs, big time. The question is what one feels makes a city vital. Beacon Hill in Boston is largely an area no one of ordinary or even very substantial means can even dream of residing in. In order to live in the prime buildings there one must be connected to one of the so-called "Boston Brahmin" families, and one must possess huge, one could say Pharaonic, wealth. It's closed. It's a museum piece in a vitrine. It's lovely, but it no longer represents the vitality of Boston. It is a cultural dead zone. It is like Lenin's tomb. (He looks so darned lifelike.) I love this neighborhood very much, but can't abide living in Lenin's tomb. If you've read my rant to this point, I thank you. I wrote it mainly to get it off my chest, and appreciate the platform very much. I'm not looking to engage in argument. I've heard the opposing view, I understand it, but I'm unmoved by it. — David G. Imber on Help Save Tribeca Before It’s Too Late

Thanks for covering this, Erik. LPC has only agreed to hear us, which means listening. There is no agreement to actually do anything. So people should really speak up. Those interested in the issues should also go to our website and see our latest article about how "Big Real Estate" gets their way in Tribeca, and elsewhere. (www.tribecatrust.org/blog) — Lynn Ellsworth on Help Save Tribeca Before It’s Too Late

The upcoming meeting with the Landmarks Preservation Commission is the CRITICAL one, since there it will be decided if the Commission will consider extending the boundaries of the Tribeca Historic District. If they decide against such consideration, that is it. It's over. So if any of us have ever thought about writing a letter but put it off until later, now is the time to take a moment to do so. It only takes a minute, but if 500 Tribeca residents took that minute, our voice would be heard. Thank you. — joan kreiss on Help Save Tribeca Before It’s Too Late

Erik, Thank you for helping to bring this to a forum. We all need to speak up in order to save the neighborhood we love Thank you — Rohin on Help Save Tribeca Before It’s Too Late

Thank you Erik for posting this letter as well as encouraging residents to mobilize via letter writing and social media. You're right, it is not too late! — Andrea on Help Save Tribeca Before It’s Too Late

Luis - That's great. I have been filling out the request form for several years now, giving TJs the Food Emporium address (316 Greenwich)! — Andrea on Fairway Market Is Looking to Pull Out

Leopard Street? No, no, Leonard Street. — Jim Smithers on Where in Tribeca…?

I love the subtleties in Ms. Gallo's work. She makes the spaces come alive :) — Carol Rojano on Loft Peeping: Tribeca Gentlemen’s Loft

The new building 70 Pine Street would be a awesome location for Fairway or Trader Joe's! The ground floor level is currently open for retail space and is huge.We need a large-scale supermarket down there by the Seaport, I vote yes! — Lisa on Fairway Market Is Looking to Pull Out

This site doesn't have a calendar of events, but you can email tribecacitizen@gmail.com and it might get mentioned. — Erik Torkells on Your Neighbor, the Entrepreneur: Anca Toderic

Proves the old saying: When you don't know what it is it's art. — John on Nosy Neighbor: What’s the Supermarket?

How to post events in TriBeCa ? — Stacy Miles Designer on Your Neighbor, the Entrepreneur: Anca Toderic

A typical Manhattan centric view of someplace other than Manhattan. — Tj Healey on Field Trip: The Rockaways

Thank you so much! I love Tribeca, and I LOVE the TribecaCitizen!!! Best, Andrew — B. Andrew Torrey on Loft Peeping: Tribeca Gentlemen’s Loft

The loss of 31 Desbrosses would be especially sad, particularly if it is replaced by another modern dormitory-style building. But, is there anything we in the neighborhood can do to influence this process since it is not in the landmarks district (and Tribeca trust's laudable efforts may be too late for this one)? — McGee on In the News: The Winner of Battery Park’s Chair Contest

Thanks for the tip on the Monk concert and kudos to you for quoting the great Geoff Dyer book on jazz, "But Beautiful"! — Doc on Seen & Heard: What’s Really Happening at Citigroup

I have started a campaign on FiDi Fan Page to get as many people as possible to clink on the store request link at Trader Joe's to request that they take over the lease at 255 Greenwich for their FiDi store! Thanks Andrea for the link! I've already filled one out. :-) — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on Fairway Market Is Looking to Pull Out

Nice to have had it, but wasn't 255 a site where radiation treatments took place? Anyway, better location in the J&R space. For any big market chain. — jfrankp on Fairway Market Is Looking to Pull Out

Trader Joe's for the win! let's make it happen!!! i can't deal with going to chelsea on a weekly basis. — HH on Fairway Market Is Looking to Pull Out

I'm with cami. Here's the location request form from TJ's website http://www.traderjoes.com/about/location-requests-form.asp — Andrea on Fairway Market Is Looking to Pull Out

oh no! We were really looking forward to it. — Liat on Fairway Market Is Looking to Pull Out

This is very disappointing. Whole Foods needs some competition in the produce/meat departments. Personally, I would rather have a Trader Joe's in the neighborhood. — cami on Fairway Market Is Looking to Pull Out

Hope Authentic Pre-Owned is able to carry on. Great store! — SW on Seen & Heard: Peeking Inside Andrew Carmellini’s Next Tribeca Restaurant

It's a garage door on Reade street! I walked past it this evening. — Reademan on Where in Tribeca…?