West Village

In Greenwich Village every narrow, winding, tree-lined street, each picturesque building, and every old-world shop serves as a reminder of this neighborhood’s legendary bohemian history. The area became known as the primary residence of avant-garde and alternative culture from the beginning of the 20th century when small presses, art galleries, and experimental theater first began to flourish here. Once a hotbed of political rebellion, home to the Beat Generation in the 1950’s, and birthplace of folk music in the 1960’s, the Village has traditionally been a focal point of new movements and ideas, whether political, artistic, or cultural. In lower Manhattan, the Village is bounded by 14th Street in the North to Houston Street in the South, Fourth Avenue in the East to Seventh Avenue in the West. Washington Square Park is the center of the Village, adjacent to the main campus of New York University, with other small parks scattered throughout the neighborhood. The area has retained its historic charm due to the multitude of owner-operated boutiques, bakeries, intimate restaurants, and book stores. 



While the Village has become much more main-stream than it was in the past, it is still home to everyone from students, to professionals, families, artists, celebrities, and academics. Even though most of the residences are older buildings and townhouses, there are also beautiful new modern buildings, making it easy for anyone to find their ideal home.



The West Village is the western portion of Greenwich Village. Here you will also find the area known as the Meatpacking District, which simultaneously embodies the cutting-edge urban lifestyle with the gritty backdrop of New York City’s industrial core. Originally known as Gansevoort Market, the area just south of West 14th Street and from Hudson Street to the Hudson River, was once home to 250 slaughterhouses and meatpacking plants. The transition from a sea of unsightly warehouses to a coveted area of stylish restaurants, trendy bars and fashionable boutiques began in the 1990’s. The transformation of this neighborhood has certainly not gone unnoticed by real estate developers. As masses of people inundate this newly trendy locale, property is quickly being acquisitioned and prices are climbing. In reaction, a number of preservationist groups are seeking historic landmark status for the area, to prevent overdevelopment so as to preserve the true essence of the original meatpacking district. 



The West Village is the center of the bohemian lifestyle on the West Side, with classic artist's lofts and new residential towers designed by American architect Richard Meier facing the Hudson River. Also, a grand picturesque promenade, The High Line - currently an elevated railway, is intended be maintained as a 1.5 mile long park along Hudson River, providing residents with a verdant escape from the hustle and bustle of this urban amalgam of proletarian and avant-garde style.