The Gansevoort Market Historic District was landmarked in 2003 thanks to efforts by Village Preservation. In 2002 Village Preservation wrote: "Gansevoort Market is one of Manhattan's defining neighborhoods - gritty, hard-working, low-rise, with its own special character, and a rich collection of buildings and history that cannot be replaced." Since 2002 much of the grittiness has been replaced with luxury. The High Line has transformed from abandoned to desirable. The world-renowned Whitney Museum of American Art has replaced blue-collar meatpackers. But thanks to landmarking, the rich collection of buildings still define the area and remain (mostly) low-rise. The architecture of the district tells the story of an important era in New York City’s history when it became the financial center of the country and when its markets were expanding to serve the metropolitan region and beyond.