Tribeca is a very well-known neighborhood in New York. It has some very interesting architecture to see while you drive by with your New York car rental. The streets are known for their culinary, architectural, and cultural flavor. Some of them are world famous, others are hidden gems that only residents know about.
Tribeca is the “Triangle Below Canal Street”. It is bordered by Canal Street to the north, Broadway on the east, the Hudson River on the west, and Vesey Street to the south. When Manhattan was originally settled, the area was mostly farmland. As the 18th century progressed, it was increasingly settled as people moved north. Until the middle of the 19th century, the area was almost completely residential, with 2-3 story buildings that were made of brick and wood. Today, you can see one of these historic buildings with your New York car rental if you visit Harrison Street. Over the years, these smaller building were replaced with larger commercial structures. This change altered the look of the area and changed the atmosphere. Many of the buildings during this time were also inspired by Italian architecture. You can see this as you drive through with your New York car rental in the classic Italian lines, limestone and marble facades, and use of cast iron.
By the 1880s, the eastern section of Tribeca was largely devoted to commercial activities, and soon the western portion was being taken over as well. The new style of architecture that was popular at this time was a Romanesque Revival. Building were usually made of brick and had characteristic arches. They looked more like forts rather than Italian palazzos. The forts looked grittier than the older buildings, giving the area a new feel. As you drive through the area with your New York car rental you can see the distinction between the two types of architecture.
From that point until the 1950s, people world come to Tribeca for many of the foods they bought, but other than that the area was largely ignored.
Tribeca was once a neighborhood that was neglected and dismissed as a place not worth investing in. However, over the past two decades there has been a rebirth, and it has also become one of the city’s sought-out residential districts.
As you drive through the area, you will notice its characteristic lofts. This has been a popular choice of property for people to live in and work from, explaining some of the rebirth of the area.
Interesting Neighborhood Activities
One of the most interesting activities Tribeca is known for is its film festival, which takes place once a year and the Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour. The area has many artists and community members who are involved in making the neighborhood a great place to live and work. When you visit with your New York car rental, there are sure to be plenty of events taking place, so be prepared to spend some time here and get to know the locals.