No meetings on that Safe Haven shelter on top of the school at south street? How can this really happen to school, residence or the seaport!! — Native on Community Board 1 agendas for July

It's taking Jane's spot on west Houston, which apparently closed! Signs for Sarabeth's were up on their outdoor seating area — Stefanie on Sarabeth’s will close tonight

Wow. Really miss the days when TriBeCa was home to City government offices, quirky stores and restaurants - and not just a super rich residential area. Riverrun. Delphi. City Hall restaurant. Ellen’s. Civil Service bookstore. Ruby’s bookstore — book on Nosy Neighbor Update: 101 Franklin / 250 Church has sold

I'm guessing because rents are high and revenues are not enough to cover costs - Just a guess though — Robert on V Cafe has closed permanently

I will really miss V Cafe. Whether eating at the restaurant or ordering in they could be counted on for a great meal. I’m craving the lacquered duck and calamari in chili sauce right now! And the Pho in the winter? Unbeatable. Good luck Lan, whatever you do next! — SW on V Cafe has closed permanently

Living Legend! — Banksy on The architect whose conversions sparked the loft movement

The "adaptive reuse" of NYC buildings was something that came arguably out of 40-50 years of trends prior to the 1970s. This includes both "commercial / office to residential" and "industrial / warehouse to residential". The Great Depression, suburban sprawl / urban flight, the automobile (and large 18-wheeler tractor trailers that could not navigate through narrow streets) and the construction of interstate highways, the destruction of Penn Station and the Landmarks Law, ill-fated and community-opposed "urban renewal" efforts like the 1964 RPA plan and Robert Moses' Lower Manhattan Expressway (LOMEX) that would have built a 10-lane highway across Manhattan from the East River bridges to the Holland Tunnel, right through Lombardi's Haughwout Building in Soho on Broadway and Broome. Demand for commercial and industrial space plummeted in Manhattan, as it had elsewhere in NYC. Yet, there were all these areas and structures that could not or would not be rebuilt, whether because of landmarks preservation or commercial uncertainty about government's eminent domain efforts dissuading private investment in these areas and structures. The most successful adaptive reuse is arguably the loft conversions. Artists and other pioneer residents succeeded in spite of the City's restrictive building codes and zoning resolutions*. Opposition by The Department of Buildings and Fire Department was fierce. Politicians refused to accept the reality of the decline of industrial use because of the fear that it would offend labor unions; look at the decades it took to rezone Soho and the on-going denial in the Garment District. The 1980s Loft Law was a necessary modification of the City's codes to facilitate the conversion of commercial space that was infeasible to legalize by removing a lot of the unnecessary requirements to make safe, habitable space, e.g., the requirement of a 30-ft deep rear yard behind residential buildings. It seems the unintended consequences of many prior code reforms and the bureaucratic cowardice of our present government means that limited housing gets built and even less housing is created in an environmentally friendly way (by adaptively reusing existing structures). For example, NYC has been unable to legalize basement apartments in the outer boroughs, because adding a legal third apartment to a 2-family home causes the structure to become a "multiple dwelling." This effectively doubles the cost of the conversion in order for homeowners to comply with state laws meant for apartment buildings. *As an aside, the Zoning Resolution is arguably more effective as a description of NYC in 1961 than a planning document that balances economic innovation and limits on chaos. For example, some of the enumerated uses of retail space in "Use Group 6" include: Bakeries, provided that floor area used for production shall be limited to 750 square feet per establishment; Dry cleaning or clothes pressing establishments or receiving stations dealing directly with ultimate consumers, limited to 2,000 square feet of floor area per establishment, and provided that only solvents with a flash point of not less than 138.2 degrees Fahrenheit shall be used, and total aggregate dry load capacity of machines shall not exceed 60 pounds; Shoe or hat repair shops; Automobile supply stores, with no installation or repair services; Carpet, rug, linoleum or other floor covering stores, limited to 10,000 square feet of floor area per establishment; Fishing tackle or equipment, rental or sales; Furrier shops, custom; Loan offices; Millinery shops; Record stores; Sewing machine stores, selling household machines only; Stamp or coin stores; Telegraph offices; Travel bureaus; Typewriter stores; Wallpaper stores; Watch or clock stores or repair shops. — James on The architect whose conversions sparked the loft movement

Very sad -- we loved ,as so many others did, her "pop-up" at the tennis club in East Hampton that just got better and better each year it was open; as well as Lan's place on Greenwich -- had a great birthday party there last year for my wife's birthday. Will be really missed. — Richard Kurtz on V Cafe has closed permanently

CNN had better views and their own soundtrack. — Bec on Where to watch the July 4th fireworks

Hope no conversions to homeless Shelters. — Sandra on Nosy Neighbor Update: 101 Franklin / 250 Church has sold

What A loss what is going on on Greenwich Street? Why are we losing so many businesses specially, restaurants. — Sandra on V Cafe has closed permanently

Right, thanks. — Tribeca Citizen on The architect whose conversions sparked the loft movement

Josh , agreed !! It’s only going to get worse — Native on City proposes another Safe Haven shelter for the Seaport

The third image from the bottom is 1 York Street Condos and was designed by Mexican architect Enrique Norton. — Heide Fasnacht on The architect whose conversions sparked the loft movement

This is an insane comment — W on The Great Tribeca Deli Resurgence

Good question. I know my building -- converted in 1978 -- was empty after its former life as a jobs office in the '60s. So I would guess it was the fiscal crisis of 1975 that drove businesses out. — Tribeca Citizen on The architect whose conversions sparked the loft movement

I’m crushed. Just moved back to the neighborhood and was looking forward to this being a go to spot. All the best. — Priya on Khe-Yo has closed permanently

Fascinating. Thank you for this. What was the impetus in the 70s for such commercial-to-residential conversions? Was there a glut of office space and shortage of residential space at that time (as there apparently is now)? — Marcus on The architect whose conversions sparked the loft movement

Thanks. I couldn't tell that from the deed, but knew something was off! — Tribeca Citizen on Nosy Neighbor Update: 101 Franklin / 250 Church has sold

The $1.4B was for a portfolio of properties including this building, not this building alone. — person on Nosy Neighbor Update: 101 Franklin / 250 Church has sold

At least you could see fireworks, we were in the city and could only see a quarter of a firework. All of us were highly disappointed!!! NYPD closed the roads with the best views so no one could be close to even see the fireworks. It was the worst July 4th celebration I've ever been to. — Aranda on Where to watch the July 4th fireworks

I have tried several times on this one. Citi is just a tenant and they told me they (both the branch and corporate) do not know. I have tried folks I know who live in the condo, but they do not control the space. I have tried the building's manager. There is nothing on the DOB website for work, and I have tried the DOB. No one has an answer! — Tribeca Citizen on Nosy Neighbor: Who do we call to get the wooden structures on the street removed?

Absolutely was disappointed with the Macy’s 4th of July show. Too much focus on singers. I wanted to see the fireworks. After all, that is what should have been the main focus. Instead I mostly saw performers on stage and poor camera coverage of fireworks. So sad!! — Ricardo Corrales on Where to watch the July 4th fireworks

Your last name is delicious. — Meredith Baconeater on Catching Up with New Kids: Nofar Method

Jersey City Festival and Fireworks details here https://freedomandfireworks.com — JPL on Where to watch the July 4th fireworks