Jane Jacobs vs Robert Moses

Follow the story of two New Yorkers who changed the city forever

(Best suited for adults and most kids over 16 years old.)

Duration

2 Hours, 1.5 miles

(Walking tour around Greenwich Village and SoHo)

Overview

This walking tour tells the story of a series of epic fights over the soul of Downtown Manhattan between two legendary New Yorkers. In one corner is Robert Moses, the heavyweight urban planner and master builder. In the other corner is Jane Jacobs, the writer, urban theorist, activist, and scrappy neighborhood defender.

Our walk will take us through the Central Village and SoHo. We will visit the sites of the major battles over Moses’s monumental plans for these neighborhoods. Along the way, we’ll discuss some of the urban design ideas and planning theories of Jacobs and Moses as we follow the rivalry between these two influential figures.

Tour highlights:

• Take in the street scenes of Greenwich Village that captivated Jacobs and inspired her writings about cities
• Learn about the battle to save Washington Square Park from Moses’s plan to extend Fifth Avenue south through the park
• Visit Washington Square Village to see part of Moses’s grand urban renewal plan for Greenwich Village that was built
• Hear about Moses’s ambitious plan to build the Lower Manhattan Expressway (LOMEX) through SoHo, Little Italy, the Lower East Side, and Chinatown
• See the historic cast-iron architecture of SoHo that helped in the neighborhood’s defense against the proposed expressway
• Consider the legacies of these two individuals and their lasting impressions on New York City

Please Note

Tours take place rain or shine — dress for the weather!

Private Group*: Please contact us for pricing and availability

We can't wait to share New York's history with you!

Thank you so much for booking the Jane Jacobs vs Robert Moses with your guide Aaron Schielke. This is an in-person walking tour that lasts two hours.

The tour will meet at the northeast corner of West 4th Street and Grove Street in Greenwich Village, next to the entrance to Christopher Park (across the street from Stonewall -- see photo below).

• Please **dress for the weather**, as our walking tours are conducted rain or shine. After all, New York doesn’t stop for the weather!
• Please make sure to arrive at least **5 minutes early!**
• Please note that tips for the guide are not required, but always appreciated, especially after the financially devastating years that COVID-19 has had on tourism in NYC.

We look forward to welcoming you on the tour, but in the meantime, you can listen to a fun Bowery Boys podcast about Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses:

https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2016/03/jane-jacobs-saving-greenwich-village.html

https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2010/03/robert-moses-did-he-save-new-york-or.html

If you have any questions about the tour, you can email [email protected].

See you soon,

Bowery Boys Walks

Photo of starting point:

!Description of image