George McAneny and Modern New York

Service Description

On March 19, 1913, Manhattan Borough President George McAneny signed “The Dual Contracts” a landmark deal that doubled the size of the city’s subway network, tripled its capacity, and changed New York forever. The Dual Contracts linked the city together, made possible the development of the outer boroughs, and was the basis of McAneny’s vision for Greater New York, a rationally planned world city that would prize light, air, human scale and healthy density over profit. Throughout his exceptional civic career, McAneny shaped New York City more profoundly than any other individual of his generation. He was known as “the father of zoning in this country,” and hailed as “a friend beyond compare” to the city of New York. On this tour of Lower Manhatttan, we’ll explore George McAneny’s New York, and see how this planner, preservationist and civic pioneer left an enduring mark on the city.