New York's Industrial Skyline
New York's Industrial Skyline

We’ve talked about New York’s renaissance dozens of times before on this blog; but we’re mostly talking about the dramatic changes in the city since the 1980s when large swaths of city were crime riddled and examples of modern urban neglect. The city has undoubtedly risen from that period to an era of prolonged economic prosperity, but often forgotten among this generations stories of an idealized 1960s and the vilified 1980s are the stories of New York at the turn of the last century, when today’s transformations seem minor. The 1880s to 1920s was full of watershed events; perhaps none more monumental than the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, an event that altered US Labor and urban development forever.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory burned 100 years ago. The industrial fire cost over 140 women their lives, many of whom were killed after jumping from a fatal height to escape the flames. Shockingly, Most of the workers were killed because they couldn’t escape the burning building due to the locks placed on doors and stairwells by management to prevent workers from leaving early. The fire led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards became a rallying cry for workers unions in the United States and abroad.  In commemoration of the event, and New York’s sweatshop past, New York University is hosting an exhibition with a large collection of the past century’s memorials to the fire, which range from public art to journalistic investigations. This exhibit is held on the site of the actual fire—then called the Asch Building.  The safety and fire standards of New York buildings are some of the best in the world in large part due to the impact of the TSFF. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Centennial is held until early July. Visit nyu.edu for details on the event.

New York Habitat’s list of vacation rentals in New York as well as furnished apartments in Manhattan keeps growing and there are still many available in the coming months; below are a few to help get your search off the ground:

– This studio in Midtown West-Chelsea, New York (NY-9067) is bathed in direct sunlight and features hardwood floors, a large and modern open-kitchen and an ideal Westside location.

– This 1-bedroom rental in Midtown West-Chelsea (NY-14136), in the center of Manhattan’s hustle and bustle, is housed in a building offering a concierge, on-site laundry, a game room and a library.