Snapshot: Cobblestone Streets Of New York
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Here’s a selection of cobblestone streets in New York. Â Most are the rough, generally unmaintained variety that has simply been left in place since the street was first cobbled – the kind you dread to ride over on a bike. Â In a few places, smooth or generally smooth streets and sidewalks have been redone and bike riding is much easier. Â In all, there are about 15-miles of cobblestone streets remaining in New York City.
Sometime later, I’ll post an example of a re-cobbled street in the West Village and the new specially “euro-cobbled” Wall Street. Â In New York, a street with historic paving like cobblestone must be replaced in kind when it’s torn up for repair or utility work. Â It’s pretty impressive seeing a completely brand new cobbled street.
The NY Times had a nice article about cobblestone (pros and cons) streets this summer. Â We’ve talked about cobblestone streets on Broken Sidewalk, too.
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Clark Embree
September 26th, 2010
1:44 am
Lousville has similar rules about rebuilding cobblestone streets if I recall
Branden Klayko
September 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
You’re right, Clark. It’s part of the Landmark Ordinance and applies to historic districts. Any historic material must be replaced in kind.
Brendaj
October 27th, 2010
8:54 am
Is that true? I’m so relieved. Does anyone know how many cobblestone spots still exist in Louisville?
Porter Stevens
October 27th, 2010
9:23 am
I know that there are a number of cobblestone streets in and around the Clifton neighborhood, at least when I was growing up there in the mid 1990′s. I always loved it when a trip to school or the doctor’s office took us over those old pavers; but I also remember how we would always have to slow to almost a crawl so the poorly maintained cobblestone wouldn’t rattle our old car to pieces. Guess that just highlights the importance of proper maintenance!
Mark
February 10th, 2012
5:27 pm
A correction to a common mistake: the pavements shown are “Belgian block” or “sett” pavements, which use quarried granite. Cobblestone pavement uses flat stones that are naturally shaped by the flow of water. I’m not aware of any original cobblestoned streets in NYC.