The Historic NoHo (north of Houston st.) district of New York City has become famous across the United States and abroad as one of the finest neighborhoods in Manhattan, full to the brim of old legacies and historic charm, as well as an appeal that is all modern and cutting edge. The area, placed between the Bowery, Astor Place, and (of course) Houston St. has tended to deal a bit more with the fashion and industry conscious than the artistic community of Greenwich village, which it borders, starting all the way back in the 1950’s and even well before. Merchants and artists alike have populated the lofts common to the area, and signs of their prosperity give it a truly unique charm.
Where else in New York can you find something as marvelous as the Colonnade Row, three stories of Corinthian columns decorating a row of 19th century town houses on an otherwise normal street? A row which has housed John Tyler, Warren Delano, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Washington Irving? And what about the modern 21 Astor place, home of Avi Oster, a fashion and media resource for the city, and pop music producers Sandy Wilhelm? Where else is there such an explosion of ornate detail from the same period in marble, iron, brick, and mortar? Greek revival architecture, decorative storefronts, terracotta, and high facades are everywhere; a legacy of the area’s mixed history as an upper-class retreat, shopping center, and manufacturing district. Few other areas have been so well preserved, even as the character of the residents has changed so much.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 9th, 2011 at 5:48 pm and is filed under fashion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.