Tribeca, New York: A Neighborhood That Looks Out of Place

Tribeca is the perfect representation of old New York mixed in with the new contemporary architecture. While there are cutting-edge buildings in the neighborhood, its charm is largely attributed to the cobblestone streets and old industrial buildings.

History of Tribeca

TriBeCa is short for ‘Triangle Below Canal’ Street but it’s really shaped like a trapezoid more than a triangle. Still, the name, which was coined in the ’70s, has stuck.

A New York Times profile on Tribeca dating back to 1985 details that this part of Lower Manhattan was originally farmland. Eventually, cast-iron buildings started popping up left and right. Most of them have been torn down but some still stand in Tribeca’s neighboring village, SoHo.

What has remained intact throughout generations are pre-Civil War buildings and of course, old warehouses that have been converted into residences and commercial properties. The district served as a major storage area for food, textile, and dried goods—until artists came into town and made Tribeca their artistic hub. 

Things to do in Tribeca

Don’t expect to come out of Tribeca with shopping bags. It is very different from the über modern Fifth Avenue, where it’s all about stocking up on the latest, most opulent trends. It is now a mostly quiet residential neighborhood where the arts are celebrated in both audio and visual form.

One of the most exciting places in Tribeca is The Django, an underground jazz club found in the Roxy Hotel. The entire hotel has a jazzy aesthetic, with theatrical lighting, exposed brick walls, heavy furniture, and dark hardwood floors. It comes to life every night with the live jazz performances downstairs, which almost feels like taking a step back in time.

Tribeca is also home to many art galleries. The Tribeca Art Factory hosts events every Friday and is a great meeting place for artists and art enthusiasts. Art galleries who have moved to Chelsea are being priced out of the buildings, which is one of the reasons why they are moving back to Tribeca. The avant-garde displays are a great contrast against the mid-century architecture in the neighborhood.

This is also where the annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) is held which has been showcasing works from independent filmmakers since 2002. If you don’t happen to catch it while you’re in town, you can still check out the Tribeca Film Center for available screenings. Fun fact: TFF is the brainchild of actor Robert De Niro along with producer Jane Rosenthal. De Niro is often seen in Tribeca, as he is one of the many celebrities who live here. He also co-owns the popular Tribeca Grill. Other celebrities you might bump into include Meryl Streep and Taylor Swift.

Clearly, Tribeca is one of the more pricier neighborhoods in Manhattan and wealthy buyers are snapping up the real estate. The area is home to a lot of industrial lofts, which are generally more spacious than your standard NYC apartment. Many of the lofts have a rustic appeal that can be truly appreciated when you see them in person. In Yoreevo’s ‘NYC Buyer Guide’, they state that when you explore the neighborhoods in the city, it’s better to actually check out the buildings and units in person. The main reason for this is that looking at photos of them usually doesn’t present you with a realistic picture of what they are truly like in real life. Properties in Tribeca are not your typical minimalist-themed spaces and they have a lot of character that might not be so evident in pictures.

All things considered, it’s easy to see that Tribeca has such an old world allure that’s becoming rare in an urban region like New York. Don’t forget to take a camera or sketchpad, as the trip might even bring out the artist in you.