South of Chambers Street: In the late 1980s, our local community group pressed the Landmarks Commission (LPC) to create one large Tribeca HD, following Andrew Dolkart's carefully considered boundary map. However, we soon learned disheartening news through an intriguing confidence shared between friends. LPC Chair David Todd and his wife were close with two members of our group, Oliver and Deborah Allen. At a dinner together with Mr and Mrs Todd, Oliver and his wife learned that then-Mayor Koch had told Chair Todd to NOT designate ANYTHING below Chambers Street. It seemed that Wall Street donors to the mayor imagined the area as a northern extension of the Financial District, complete with massive new towers featuring huge trading floors. Working with the Tribeca Community Association and CB 1, our group had already documented the rich architectural history throughout the southern areas under the direction of Joan Olshansky, Marjorie Pearson et al at LPC. Learning that the many contributing buildings south of Chambers Street would be summarily excluded from any consideration at a public hearing was a serious blow, but at least there was research and photographic evidence of what should have been protected. By the early 90s four (small) districts were designated, leaving out anything south of Chambers Street. Between them there was just enough room for a bulldozer to pass through. There was then a new group formed with CB 1 member Roger Byrom: The Committee to Expand the Tribeca Historic Districts. We successfully lobbied LPC chairperson Sherida Paulsen to work with us to expand the district south of Chambers Street. The encouraging but meager result was that several buildings were included in the expansion from Chambers to Warren Streets. However, what Paulsen imagined as the beginning of a larger expansion effort never happened, as Ms. Paulsen was followed by Meenakshi Srinivasan as Chair of LPC. In 2015, a report was prepared by Gregory Dietrich on behalf of the Tribeca Trust: Tribeca Southeast and Southwest Extensions: A Proposal for Historic District Designation It was submitted to LPC and summarily rejected by the LPC Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan, who stated the LPC was 'done with Tribeca'. Last year, HDC requested an expedited LPC Emergency Calendaring/Designation Request for 80 West Broadway and 72 Warren Street – Block 137, Lots 1, 3 (aka 7506) and 7 (aka 7507) Tribeca, Manhattan Borough, New York The response from LPC staff member Margaret Herman : June 05, 2025 Frampton Tolbert Executive Director, Historic Districts Council 231 West 29th Street, Ste. 707 New York, NY 10001 Re: Tribeca West Historic District Extension Dear Mr. Tolbert: Thank you for your recent Request for Evaluation of the Tribeca West Historic District Extension, consisting of buildings on Warren Street, West Broadway, and Hudson Street. LPC has previously surveyed this area of Tribeca multiple times since the 1980s and has never identified it for inclusion in a historic district due to a lack of consistent historic character, integrity, and cohesion with nearby designated blocks. In response to your request, we resurveyed the area, comparing each building’s current condition to its appearance in the 1940s tax photographs, and comparing the block to the Tribeca West Historic District to which it is proposed as an extension. Research staff found that the requested buildings have been substantially altered from their original design, including entrance and cornice modifications, a rooftop addition, a vacant lot, and storefront changes. Additionally, the proposal’s location on only one side of the street along West Broadway detracts from the proposed area’s sense of place. Based on the level of alterations and lack of cohesion, these buildings do not appear to rise to the level of a New York City historic district extension. Staff also determined that 80 West Broadway, requested separately, does not possess on its own the level of architectural quality and historic significance necessary for consideration as an individual landmark. Please understand that in a city the size of New York, LPC must be very rigorous in determining significance and merit for designation as a New York City landmark, especially when considering historic district extensions. We thank you for your commitment to historic preservation and appreciate your interest in the work of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Sincerely, Margaret Herman Margaret E. Herman, Ph.D. Director of Research 253 Broadway, 11th Floor | New York, NY 10007 p: 212.602.6392 | mherman@lpc.nyc.gov www.nyc.gov/landmarks The reference by the LPC that they have "previously surveyed this area of Tribeca multiple times since the 1980s and has never identified it for inclusion in a historic district" does not acknowledge the failure to identify the area or include it in an historic district was due to the Koch administration pressure on LPC chairperson David Todd to not even consider the area or permit the merits of the area to be heard at a public hearing. While perhaps Ms. Herman is unaware that LPC was ordered to not designate anything south of Chambers Street, her response also fails to acknowledge that there were historic district extensions below Chambers Street in years following the original designations. This begs the question of how those extensions could have happened if, as she claims, there was a "lack of consistent historic character, integrity, and cohesion with nearby designated blocks"? The statement that there are cornice modifications is sadly false. Further, the referenced 'alterations' are largely reversible: enclosed cast-iron columns, storefronts, etc. While architectural historians differ with Ms. Herman's view that there is a "lack of consistent historic character, integrity, and cohesion with nearby designated blocks", it is ironic that LPC would pose such an argument, since the loss of historic fabric from 1988-2025 is due to the original failure of LPC to designate the area south of Chambers Street. A comment from Gregory Dietrich is on point: There does appear to be a self-created hardship on the part of LPC here; namely, that the agency could designate the buildings if they possessed the requisite integrity but they do not possess the requisite integrity because the agency has refused to designate them. The original proposed historic district boundaries, as identified on Andrew Dolkart's mapping circa 1986, were based on the architectural similarities in style, period, materials and, in many cases, architects, that were clearly identified in buildings both north and south of Chambers Street. The Chambers Street demarcation does not represent anything more than a line of pure political interference in the work of the Landmarks Commission, a practice that sadly has grown worse over time. While the continuing failure of the LPC to uphold the NYC Landmarks Law is painfully obvious, what is also clear is the dilemma caused by LPC's original failure to designate areas in new historic districts that merit inclusion. Today the Tribeca community is shocked and saddened by the cumulative losses, most recently at College Place. Alas, the LPC failure to uphold the Landmarks Law to identify, preserve and protect the city's historic landmarks and neighborhoods from alterations or demolition is nothing new; it dates to the 1980s. Hal Bromm — hal bromm on Erasing the 19th Century brick by brick

Love Eulalie, food is good but the service is what I totally respect and expect when dinning out. That said, I’ve been cutting back on eating out. Paying premium prices — and expected 20% tips — for inconsistent or underwhelming service and lower quality food against previous years just doesn’t sit right with me. NYC has become extremely expensive, and at times the quality and diversity don’t measure up to other major global cities. It’s still an incredible food scene, but there’s clearly room for improvement. At some point, the market will correct if expectations and value don’t realign. Expensive rents should have no correlation to rude service. — reality bites on Eulalie will cook for Dinner on Duane

As part of this upgrade they should be removing that long, concrete median so bikes making the turn can do it at a wider point instead of trying to make a u-turn at the narrowest point. — Matthew on Mayor will revive plan for Brooklyn Bridge bike path

Another reminder of the four years of paralysis under Adams, Lewis-Martin and Rodriguez. — malcolm on Mayor will revive plan for Brooklyn Bridge bike path

I guess you don't ride a bike? We need bike lanes — Peter on Mayor will revive plan for Brooklyn Bridge bike path

Wait, there's another harryh that comments here? What are the odds? - the harryh from beach st — harryh on Seen & Heard: Jay’s Pizza is open

I loved Frankly Wines- hope its true! — Merle Temkin on Seen & Heard: Stealing the TC logo

There is plenty of money, unfortunately most of it is either wasted or stolen. — Reademan on Mayor will revive plan for Brooklyn Bridge bike path

This is in anticipation of a lot of pedestrian tourists on the bridge. — Tribeca Citizen on Mayor will revive plan for Brooklyn Bridge bike path

The City's budget is in dire straits - impacts on NYC public schools, parks and playgrounds in low-income areas and many other impacts... Not understanding how bike lanes ASAP are a priority? Moreover, tourists here for the World Cup should be walking and taking the bus and subway - not bicycling in an unfamiliar place (nor using Uber) — Lia on Mayor will revive plan for Brooklyn Bridge bike path

Um, yeah... — Robert Ripps on A TC Style Change: Officially North Moore

I remember the Vietnamese restaurant on the Sixth Ave side- inexpensive, delicious, and they had a fish tank that was made to look like a suspension bridge as I recall... — Robert Ripps on Tribeca Pharmacy building plans are filed

I resided with my wife at 84 West Broadway for 42 years. My daughter resided with us till she went off to college. I loved my "loft" and enjoyed my neighbors. I moved into the fifth floor, 5N, and across the way was an artist who stretched canvas for Larry Rivers and did some painting and sculpture of his own under an open skylight. Below him was a guy who sold linoleum, and when he moved his business out, Buster Rhymes moved in for several years. Other artists and an architect lived in the building. We were a community. Those who lived on the top floors shared a freight elevator that sometimes worked and sometimes didn't, and so neighbors helped my wife and me up with packages when the elevator was out. On street level were two and sometimes three stores. Very early their was an elderly tailor who you could leave your keys with or a basket on wheels for the laundry for the laundry mat and used to shop in Chinatown because there was only Morgans for one's groceries. That tailor was replaced by a liquor store and finally a store that sold eyeglasses. Closer to Warren St was a series of coffee shops and a "kitchenette" that later moved to Chambers St. The building was run and owned by Mr. Jaffe, who was elderly and kind and kept the rents low. Today, my wife and I live next door and suffered as our wonderful building was knocked down. Soon , construction is scheduled to build another building next to us and on top of us. I don't look forward to it. — Larry Loonin on Erasing the 19th Century brick by brick

Wonderful history of Staple Street, which supplants the theory I had heard, that the Mercantile Exchange Building in the 19th century used the alley to offload commodities or staples from the ships docked at the Hudson River piers. — Jane Freeman on Nosy Neighbor: What is going on at Staple and Harrison?

There was also a great Vietnamese restaurant in that building as well. — JWM_NYC on Tribeca Pharmacy building plans are filed

It was called Magoo’s! — Jean on Tribeca Pharmacy building plans are filed

Way back before the pharmacy, it was an art bar…there were Paintings by everyone on the walls ( traded for tabs). It was rumored that the upstairs was a brothel. Someone out there must remember the name of the bar….great pit stop on the way from Spring St. Bar to Barnabus Rex. — Jean on Tribeca Pharmacy building plans are filed

Henry Lehr has been around for a long time (since the 70s I think). Christina is Henry's daughter. — DaniB on Jack’s Stir Brew on Reade will close next month

I lived in this building with my wife for 42 years. I resided in 5N, and my daughter was born here. I loved living in this spacious factory that made gloves and hats. On other floors, there was a store that sold linoleum. Buster Rhymes rented a space for a couple of years, and in another space adjacent to mine, an artist stretched his canvas and sometimes painted under a skylight. I felt as if we were in a community building. We knew each other and risked our lives in the same freight elevator. On street level, there were different restaurants, a generous tailor, followed by a store selling eyewear, oh, and I don't want to forget the liquor store in the very early days. I recall our original owner, Mr. Jaffe, who charged us very little rent and seemed to be happy about us living in one of his buildings and treating it like it belonged to all of us. — Larry on What will be lost with the demolition of 80 West Broadway

Is the 911 Museum a non-profit? If not it is a scandal. — George Bacon on Seen & Heard: Courtroom drama on Centre

Surely not a great building architecturally but also surely invaluable as a 'contextual' one. All of Tribeca should have been landmarked, as the Village was, and as Hal Bromm tried so hard to have done. More glassy 'luxury lofts', what a shame. — George Bacon on Erasing the 19th Century brick by brick

Isn't it ironic, or rather galling and insulting, that they are celebrating the Flag relating to both 9/11 and the 250th Anniversary of the USA, but for all these years they see fit to fly a minimalist Fkag over the utility room at the Memorial? There have been complaints about its underrepresentation, but they refuse to fly a BIG, BOLD, RESPECTFUL FLAG that both the country deserves, and the victims of 9/11 do. The over paid "leadership" of the Memorial should all be removed. — John on Seen & Heard: Courtroom drama on Centre

This is such a sad loss for the neighborhood! TLM was the most wonderful community with the most incredible instructors. They both physically and emotionally got me through my pregnancy and I am so bummed that they're gone! There's nothing else around here like it! — J on The Lotus Method has closed its Tribeca location

Is any of this being recycled/reused? I’ve peaked in and seen the size of those old floor beams. Makes my furniture making friends go starry-eyed dreaming of creative uses. — Mark on Erasing the 19th Century brick by brick

I share the deep sadness at seeing this building and others like it leave the neighborhood, but to be clear, the hotel that "wants an extra floor or two on the roof" DID destabilize the building next to it… and from what I saw in the CB meeting, still hasn’t made them whole on the damages. So yes, it IS a "big effing deal" — M on Erasing the 19th Century brick by brick