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Holdouts: A NYC Architecture Walking Tour

icon 2 to 3 hours Mobile ticket Free Cancellation
Tickets from € 92.72

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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.
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  • Professional guide
  • Gratuities
Departure Point

875 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA Lower level lobby

Return Details

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

  • 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.
    15 minutes
  • Lipstick Building, New York, NY 10022, USA
    A fascinating ego building
  • Citicorp Center, New York City, New York, United States
    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.
  • 201 E 49th St, New York, NY 10022, USA
    An old buggy whip factory, and a holdout.
    5 minutes
  • Amster Yard, New York City, New York, United States
    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!
    5 minutes
  • 210 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017, Verenigde Staten
    This notorious site of a mob hit is next door to an interesting holdout.
    5 minutes
  • Chrysler Building, New York City, New York, United States
    Stunning views of this stunning landmark are had along here.
  • United Nations Headquarters, New York City, New York, United States
    We view the Secretariet Building down the block as we continue to pass and discuss holdouts and how they've influenced the streetscapes today.
  • 42nd Street, New York City, New York, United States
    We end our downtown part of the walk at 42nd Street, where a single holdout survived history.
    5 minutes
  • Grand Central Terminal, New York City, New York, United States
    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.
    5 minutes
  • 1 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
    This city-in-a-building was still under construction at this writing.
  • Brooks Brothers, New York City, New York, United States
    This historic New York City institution had a holdout as a neighbor.
    5 minutes
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Diamond District, New York City, New York, United States
    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.
  • 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, USA
    Rockefeller Center's rich history includes a number of interesting, thought provoking holdouts.
    10 minutes
  • 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.
    5 minutes
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • 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.
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.
Bouwensc
17 Oct 2019
This tour was an amazing way to see the city. Even though it was my first time visiting New York, I feel like I know the city even better than many lifelong New Yorkers. I’d definitely recommend this tour to anyone interested in history or understanding why New York City looks the way it does. Rob’s tour is wonderful, full of information, enlightening, and entertaining.
This tour in New York City is organized by Manhattan Unlocked Historical and Archit

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