Holdouts: A NYC Architecture Walking Tour | La Vacanza Travel

Holdouts: A NYC Architecture Walking Tour

Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Destination: United States, New York, New York City
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  • 2 to 3 hours
  • New York City
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

This 2.5 hour walking tour around the Midtown Manhattan shows-and-tells the fascinating stories of holdouts—the intriguing side effect of Manhattan's pressure cooker real estate industry: when a property owner (or lease holder) refused to sell to a developer, forced them to rework their plans, and forever changed the city streetscape. Stories, like the elderly lady who never knew any other home; or the poker player-like landlord who overplayed his hand; or the restauranteur whose long term lease (justifiably) demanded budget-busting sums, all add a human dimension to these transactional anomalies. And personal stories that were otherwise lost, are awesomely amplified by the everlasting impression left behind: seemingly ill-planned entrances for skyscrapers, odd shaped buildings, 20-story tall notches in office towers, are just some of the 16 examples of holdouts we'll see.

This tour is based on the book, Holdouts! By Alpern and Durst.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: TPR Holdings, 875 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA

We start in lower lobby of this distinctive building where we'll lay the groundwork for the tour, where we'll go and what we'll see. The building itself is the result of holdouts, and our first subject.

Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: Lipstick Building, New York, NY 10022, USA

A fascinating ego building

Pass By: Citicorp Center, 601 Lexington Ave, New York City, NY 10022-4611

Not a holdout, but a fascinating story is associated with the construction of this building, whose main pillar supports are not in the corners, but in the middle of the side.

Stop At: Wollensky's Grill, 201 E 49th St, New York, NY 10022, USA

An old buggy whip factory, and a holdout.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Amster Yard, 211 E 49th St, New York City, NY 10017-1501

If this oases is open at the time of the tour, we stop in for a moment. A time capsule where histories clash and the city meets the suburbs - - a much earlier one!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Sparks Steak House, 210 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017, USA

This notorious site of a mob hit is next door to an interesting holdout.

Duration: 5 minutes

Pass By: Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington and 42nd St., New York City, NY 10174

Stunning views of this stunning landmark are had along here.

Pass By: United Nations Headquarters, 405 E 42nd St, New York City, NY 10017-3507

We view the Secretariet Building down the block as we continue to pass and discuss holdouts and how they've influenced the streetscapes today.

Stop At: 42nd Street, New York City, NY

We end our downtown part of the walk at 42nd Street, where a single holdout survived history.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Grand Central Terminal, 89 E 42nd Street, New York City, NY 10017-5503

As we make our way to the west side and the uptown portion of the tour we will pass through Grand Central. While not associated with a any holdouts, a mini-tour of this iconic landmark is very possible.

Duration: 5 minutes

Pass By: One Vanderbilt, 1 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA

This city-in-a-building was still under construction at this writing.

Stop At: Brooks Brothers, New York City, NY

This historic New York City institution had a holdout as a neighbor.

Duration: 5 minutes

Pass By: Bank of America Tower, 1 Bryant Pk, New York, NY 10036, USA

We view this crystal shard-iceberg mashup of a building from the side

Pass By: The Roosevelt Hotel, 45 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, USA

We pass by this sole survivor of Terminal City, from a time before air travel when Grand Central linked to three hotels to receive cross-country travelers.

We continue our tour passing fascinating ways holdouts have changed the look of the city.

Pass By: Diamond District, Ave of the Americas & W 47th St, New York City, NY 10036

Worth noting the block where $440 million in diamonds are traded daily. The entrance a block to the north as we cross Fifth Avenue is flanked by 12' diamond sculptures.

Stop At: Rockefeller Center, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, USA

Rockefeller Center's rich history includes a number of interesting, thought provoking holdouts.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Papillon Bistro & Bar, 22 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022, USA

We end the tour here, one of the most compelling examples of a holdout, and is more appropriately a hold-IN. Here a restaurant proprietor negotiated additional square footage to expand his restaurant into the future skyscraper. You can enter the skyscraper today and stand within the walls of a 19th century brownstone.

Duration: 5 minutes

Inclusions
  • Professional guide

Exclusions
  • Gratuities
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

875 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA


Return Details

22 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022, USA

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

2 to 3 hours


User's Reviews

702lorir

04 Feb, 2024

Rob is so knowledgeable about the history of nyc and these very special properties called holdouts. He enables us to see our cherished city in a new way.

Jonah_H

17 Nov, 2023

Guide is very knowledgeable and funny! I'll never see Manhattan the same way again. I can't recommend this tour enough!

683beverlys

02 Nov, 2023

We had such a great time!! Our guide was so extremely knowledable and we learned so much!! Thank you!!

aisling_c

16 Mar, 2020

Thank you Rob - we really enjoyed the Holdouts tour it was very informative. It was great to walk around and enjoy the city.

Tracy_F

24 Feb, 2020

This was a great tour with a lot of NYC history. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and kept up a good pace. Definitely recommended for anyone with an interest in urban history or urban planning.

User's Picture Gallery

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Very knowledgeable

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Wonderful!

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My sons did not miss the Xbox!!!!!!

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