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52 Varick Street
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(1)
Manhattan's Secret Streets
Story
While Manhattan's streets were largely laid out with the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, this grid system was only implemented between Houston and 155th Streets. The plan left Greenwich Village with its long-established mews, alleys, and courts, many of which date to the city's early colonial period, intact. While not exclusively in the Village, most of the secret streets on this list are located there among the organically developed 18th-century street plan. While some changes have come to these streetscapes in the last century, in most cases their concealment and a healthy dose of historic preservation work have aided in their continued survival in the 21st century.
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(3)
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13-15 Laight Street
13-15 Laight Street, New York City, undated.
17 Laight Street
Manhattan: Canal Street - Varick Street Canal Street (cars driving eastward thereupon), at Varick Street (right center) as viewed southeastward to show the New York Telephone Building across the roofs of buildings that face on the south side of Laight Street, extending from Varick Street to West Broadway (extreme left and "El" thereupon). The small alley-way dividing these is St. Johns Lane. This view at an earlier date would be impossible as a triangular block (No. 220 .. Bromley) was cleared in the widening of Canal Street for the Hudson Tunnel traffic. Note the signs at the right, at the mouth of the east bound tube (Manhattan exit). View No. 2 is similar, tho it does not show Varick Street at the right. April 2, 1932. View 2: July 4, 1938. P.L. Sperr
17 Laight Street
Manhattan: Canal Street - Varick Street Canal Street (cars driving eastward thereupon), at Varick Street (right center) as viewed southeastward to show the New York Telephone Building across the roofs of buildings that face on the south side of Laight Street, extending from Varick Street to West Broadway (extreme left and "El" thereupon). The small alley-way dividing these is St. Johns Lane. This view at an earlier date would be impossible as a triangular block (No. 220 .. Bromley) was cleared in the widening of Canal Street for the Hudson Tunnel traffic. Note the signs at the right, at the mouth of the east bound tube (Manhattan exit). View No. 2 is similar, tho it does not show Varick Street at the right. April 2, 1932. View 2: July 4, 1938. P.L. Sperr
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