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