Streets that Bend - Before there was a grid
It was the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 that organized the famous street grid of Manhattan, but below 14th Street, with a few notable exceptions, the street layout was left undisturbed.
There are obviously very famous big streets that bend: Broadway, Bowery, and Riverside to name a few. However, they have mostly been realigned to bend at street intersections. These photos are taken of streets that bend mid-block, often along the boundaries of former colonial land grants, each developed separately before the city devised an overall street plan for Manhattan.
GREENWICH VILLAGE
St. Luke's Place
This street bends twice off 7th Avenue. The park to the left is named for Mayor Jimmy Walker who lived on this street.
A row of 15 Italianate town houses lines the north side of the street overlooking James J. Walker Park. The one to the left of the white one, No. 10, was made famous for being the Huxtable residence on the Cosby show.
No. 6 St. Luke's Place was the home of Mayor Jimmy Walker.
Morton Street
Barrow Street
Although Barrow Street bends at the intersection of Commerce Street, I included it anyway because it's such a great little street.
Last edited by NYatKNIGHT; May 1st, 2006 at 04:53 PM.
Streets that Bend
Fabulous photos. *I lived in the West Village for a year, and still remember how charming and atypical the streets were. *I would frequently take a side-trip along Commerce street, just to follow the bend. *Interesting observation on the Minetta Brook, will have to remember that one.
Streets that Bend
Great stuff. That corner on Commerce is my favorite place in the Village.
Streets that Bend
Mine too. I take people there from out of town to show them just how quaint Manhattan can be. Plus its right there by Chumleys, a required stop on any Village (bar) tour.
Streets that Bend
Great tour, NYatKNIGHT! *Now which way to the gift shop? *
Streets that Bend
I cannot praise you enough for this presentation.
Streets that Bend
You're a gem, NYatKnight. *This is a wonderful post. *Thank you for the gorgeous photos and informative commentary. *This has made my (birth)day.
I've got a photo somewhere of that Cherry Street scene strewn with rubbish. *Glad to see things have improved (well I guess cars are better than garbage...).
(Edited by Merry at 4:59 pm on Mar. 26, 2003)
Streets that Bend
Some very quaint pics! *A couple of those photos reminded me of Eureka Springs.
Streets that Bend
Happy Birthday Merry, and thanks everyone, I'm glad you enjoyed.
Neat thread. You know, West 28th Street and West 24th Streets between 8th and 9th Avenues bend as well (though I don't have any pics).
I've been on that part of W28 and I didn't even think it was a street; it looked more like a cul-de-sac-ish road in a complex..
Excellent, excellent photos! Thanks
Re: Streets that Bend
Yeeeah... we have to do that again sometime. :wink:Originally Posted by NYatKNIGHT
Very nice job. The Five Points bit was especially good-it's always been one of the more fascinating parts of Manhattan's history.
Re: Streets that Bend
OkayYeeeah... we have to do that again sometime. :wink:
I've been on a few movie studio lots, and each of them have a "street" made up to look like NYC, and I gotta tell you, any one of those curved streets from the village could be one of them if you hadn't told me otherwise. Pretty weird.
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