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Named after the famous triangle-shaped structure located on the small plot of land where Broadway, Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street converge, it was once believed that the unusual form of the Flatiron building caused skirt-lifting ground currents which would take unsuspecting female pedestrians by surprise. As a result, the term “23 skidoo!!” was barked by policemen stationed in the area to keep traffic moving and the less subtle from staring. Today, the Flatiron District lies in the crux of all things downtown. Just about any taste or fetish can be fed by taking a 5 minute cab ride from the area to the various surrounding neighborhoods. Midtown is to the North, Gramercy Park to the East, The Village to the South and Chelsea to the West.
Once park of Ladies’ Mile, a stretch of glorious department stores and hotels at the turn of the last century, today Flatiron is primarily comprised of old warehouses, factories and former fashion venues. First turned residential in the 1960’s when artists and photographers such as Andy Warhol moved in and created livable working spaces, many of the industrial buildings in this area are actually full of loft apartments. High ceilings, huge windows and deep spaces force tenants to get creative with furniture and space allocation in non-traditional settings. Fortunately there’s a wealth of stores in the area specializing in everything from rare imported Portuguese tiles and Turkish carpets to cheesy “Blue Plate Special” tableware and lamps you’d see at Liberace’s. All provide residents with a variety of resources interior designers around the world would die for.
Being in the center of the city, the Flatiron District is as urban as urban gets. Aside from Madison Square at its northern edge and Union Square to the south, there are no parks, few trees and the streets lie in perpetual shadows from the industrial buildings above. Those wanting to work up a sweat are best directed to one of the area’s many gyms or to grab a subway elsewhere. Speaking of elsewhere, Penn Station is conveniently close for those wanting to escape from the city and take trains to places like Pennsylvania (hence the name). Poor souls unable to leave their concrete confines can always wander down to the outdoor farmers market at 16th Street and Union Square, where up-state New Yorkers come to sell their city cousins fresh produce and homemade goodies. It’s a great place for starving artists to grab free snacks by noshing on all of the samples. Just don’t bring your wallet unless you have cash to spare…most likely you’ll get tempted to buy something that would be cheaper at a less charming neighborhood store. Meanwhile, those able to really bust out the cash will be well fed in the Flatiron District. Home to some of the city’s most renowned restaurants, the neighborhood also attracts proprietors ready to try the latest hip twists in dining and dancing, constantly providing residents with new and exciting things to do.
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Metropolis Real Estate of Manhattan | 167 Lexington Avenue Suite 100 | New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212.696.1900, Fax: 212.696.0220 | Email: info@metropolisre.com
Our Connecticut Branch:
1200 Summer Street, Suite 105, Stamford, CT 06905
Tel: 203.653.1406, Fax:203.653.7219
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