Varick Street

Today, Varick Street is a highly relevant topic that has captured the attention of people of all ages and interests. With a significant impact on different aspects of daily life, Varick Street has generated debates, controversy and great interest at a global level. From its origins to its influence today, Varick Street has left an imposing mark on society, culture and history. In this article, we will explore different facets of Varick Street, from its origins to its impact today, analyzing its importance and relevance in different contexts.

Template:Attached KML/Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
KML is from Wikidata
Varick Street
Federal building at 201 Varick Street, home of the Environmental Measurements Laboratory and Village Station post office
Map
LocationManhattan, New York City, United States
North endSeventh Avenue
South endWest Broadway

Varick Street runs north–south primarily in the Hudson Square district of Lower Manhattan in New York City, United States. Varick Street's northern terminus is in the West Village, where it is a continuation of Seventh Avenue South south of Clarkson Street. It continues downtown through Hudson Square and TriBeCa until it reaches Leonard Street, where it merges with West Broadway. Motor traffic is one-way southbound. Major east–west streets crossed include Houston Street and Canal Street. Approaching Broome Street, the two rightmost lanes of Varick Street are reserved for traffic entering the Holland Tunnel, where backups often occur at rush hour.

History

Varick Street is named for Richard Varick, an early New York lawmaker and the mayor of New York City from 1789 to 1801, who owned property in the area.[1]

In 1853, Heinrich Englehard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway)[2] founded the first American Steinway & Sons factory in a loft at the back of 85 Varick Street.[3]

Varick Street was widened during the southward extension of Seventh Avenue in 1917. A number of old buildings were torn down during the widening project, including St. John's Chapel, which facilitated construction of the New York City Subway's IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and opened up a new vehicular route between Midtown and lower Manhattan.[4]

Transportation

The downtown M20 bus route runs the entire length of Varick Street (uptown buses use Hudson Street). Additionally, the crosstown M21 bus intersects Varick Street at Houston Street in the westbound direction and at Spring Street in the eastbound direction. The Houston Street, Canal Street, and Franklin Street subway stations on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line (1 and ​2 trains) are located under Varick Street.

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Downtown Street Names and the Stories They Tell". Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center. December 27, 2004. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2007. An extension of Seventh Avenue leading south from Clarkson Street, Varick Street got its name from Richard Varick, who served as the mayor of the city from 1791 to 1801.
  2. ^ Panchyk, Richard (2008). German New York City. Arcadia Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-7385-5680-2.
  3. ^ Goldenberg, Susan (1996). Steinway: From glory to controversy; the family, the business, the piano. Oakville, Ontario: Mosaic Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-88962-607-2.
  4. ^ "Seventh Avenue Extension Will Create Great Business Revival in Old Greenwich". The New York Times. September 24, 1911. p. X9. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Varick Street.


Stub icon

This article relating to roads and streets in New York City is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.