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Gansevoort Market
new york city, new york
saved
threat: inappropriate development
While the post-industrial service economy has transformed most of Manhattan, an approximately 20-block area in the northwest corner of Greenwich Village, the Gansevoort Market, remains a noisy and gritty mixed-use, mercantile district. One of New York City’s last remaining market neighborhoods, the area is today threatened by growing development pressure to tear down, replace or inappropriately alter its historic buildings, which would destroy the character of the district.
To protect this area, New York City historic district designation is needed to regulate and control alterations, demolitions and new construction. State and National Register listing can also add another tool to encourage appropriate development. In addition, variances need to be denied by the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals for projects that would significantly alter the physical fabric of the area or introduce incompatible uses. Innovative zoning tools to encourage the retention of existing and compatible uses in Gansevoort, and to limit development to appropriately configured, scaled and designed buildings, would also help.
Gansevoort Market reflects an important piece of New York City’s history and urban development; its preservation should not be overlooked because of the district’s mixed or commercial use, gritty characteristics, or because of alterations over time.
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