Discover the captivating stories of holdouts on this 2.5-hour walking tour of NYC’s Midtown Manhattan. Explore the fascinating side effects of the city’s real estate industry and witness the lasting impact on the city’s architecture.
- TPR Holdings - 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.
- Professional guide
- Gratuities
This 2.5-hour walking tour through Midtown Manhattan reveals the captivating tales of holdouts—an intriguing consequence of Manhattan’s high-stakes real estate market. These are instances where property owners or leaseholders refused to sell to developers, forcing them to alter their plans and permanently changing the cityscape. You’ll hear stories like that of an elderly woman who never knew another home, a landlord who gambled too much, and a restaurateur whose long-term lease demanded exorbitant sums. These narratives add a human touch to these unusual transactions. The tour highlights how these personal stories, which might have been forgotten, are immortalized in the city’s architecture: awkward skyscraper entrances, oddly shaped buildings, and 20-story gaps in office towers are just a few of the 16 holdout examples we’ll explore. This tour is inspired by the book, Holdouts! by Alpern and Durst.
- It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
