December 8, 2003: West Village 4
When I was working on the Chinatown Tenements series a couple of weeks back, I couldn't help thinking about all the historic buildings we lost to "urban renewal" during the last hundred years. In the West Village, the situation is a little different- thanks to Jane Jacobs and other activists, the neighborhood has largely been spared from large scale redevelopment. That doesn't mean nothing has been lost- 7th and 8th avenues were driven straight through the neighborhood by Robert Moses- and the southern half of the High Line, which used to run along Washington, was also torn down. [Related: south GV also due for protection, GVSHP on historic protection in the Village, GV bibliography from NYU, arguments against zoning changes in the far West Village, more on Jane Jacobs, excellent GV historic distric map PDF, Jim Kunstler interviews Jane Jacobs]
Comments
Seventh Avenue was driven through when they built the subway, when Robert Moses was a wee lad. Sixth was also for the subway, when Robert Moses had power, but he had nothing to do with the subway. As for those few blocks of Eighth Avenue, I don't know who did that.
once again, i have unfairly slandered robert moses- no wonder his ghost keeps visiting me at my apartment each night and calling me names. at least- i hope that's robert moses- otherwise it's just some crazy old man who keeps breaking into my place.
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