High fashion dangles from hangars where slabs of meat once hung from hooks. Could the world of New York real estate provide a less obvious analogy?
How did the land surrounding an old 19th century fortress develop into the city's mainline distributor for produce and meat? And how did that once bustling place transform itself from the dilapidated home of leather bars and transsexual prostitutes to a hot spot of high fashion stores and boutique hotels? Welcome to the Meatpacking District, one of Manhattan's strangest neighborhoods.
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Fort Gansevoort, built between 1808 and 1812, was the first significant structure building in the area that would become known as the Meatpacking District
The West Washington Market, circa 1936, although they had been opened since the late 1800s. There were actually ten of these buildings in a row, filled with thousands of pounds of meat, stored with the latest renovations in refrigeration. This particular shed specialized in poultry. The Gansevoort producer market would be directly behind the camerawoman (in this case, Berniece Abbott).
The absolute chaos is nicely depicted in this shot, with the West Washington Markets to the back.
Al Pacino in the film 'Cruisin', a rather dated but provocative thriller set in the Meatpacking District and using a few of its sex clubs and leather bars as backdrops
Jackie 60 was one of New York's most creative club nights, drawing an assortment of people brave enough to venture into the Meatpacking at night. Here, Jackie regular Deborah Harry hams it up with the Dueling Bankheads
Hogs and Heifers
An archetypical building of the neighborhood, this two-story warehouse was created by ripping down floors from taller five-story tenements in 1940
A few buildings still remain in the area that harken back to its days as rowhouses. Miraculously, this one still stands, as charming as ever.
The R&L Restaurant, after years as the beloved restauarant Florent, is back to its old self. Florent closed just last month.
The building to the left stands on the exact spot of Fort Gansevoort and the original location of the Gansevoort Market
Popular bistro Pastis, God love 'em, makes it home in a former stables and was also reduced in floors, from three to two
The neighborhood will be changed forever once the unique, crazy, foolish, beautiful High Line Building dangling over the former elevated train is completed later this year. Below the High Line itself is being transformed into a 'floating park'.
Thanks for the history and excellent shot. SAD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ReplyDeleteWas a fascinating podcast... Thanks for your time and effort. I am from Alabama and hope to visit NYC this year. I feel like I know much about it already from listening to your podcasts. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteactually your commentary of the building shown is incorrect. It is called The STANDARD Hotel. I should know I built the foundations...
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work...
sorry, I meant to add that the building you call the HIGH LINE BUILDING is incorrectly labeled. It should be called "The STANDARD Hotel"
ReplyDeleteit is the funky one located on Littlw W12th Street and Washington... 844 Washington Steet.
thank you for this! i'm new in NYC and i'm doing a school project on this and needed some history on the area! this is soooo enlightening! 2 thumbs up!
ReplyDeletesee www.goodbyenewyork.org for more photos of the meatmarket, early 1980s-2012
ReplyDeleteFantastic blog and particularly interesting to me since my family has been in NYC since 1648. For several years, I lived at Washington and Gansevoort in the blond brick building which was a former refrigeration plant. My windows are clearly visible in the eight photo. The railroad went directly through the building. Two floors of apartments were added including my apartment. This was way before the High Line was ever imagined when transvestite hookers roamed Washington Street.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if were aware, but the two story red brick building is opposite the location of the apartment of Glenn Close's character in Fatal Attraction. In the movie, you can get a quick glimpse of the red brick building across the street.
I just printed up your story about the NYC Breweries specifically the Ehrets. My mother grew up with Patricia Ehret and knew the house on Park Avenue.
Thank you so much for all your work.
Thanks so much for your blog. I just