In our third of a series celebrating Tribeca’s people, places and past, Duane Park Patisserie founder Madeline Lanciani reflects on 33 years as a business owner and community member in Tribeca.

Interview and photograph by Linda Buongermino, CFDC Marketing & Communications Committee Volunteer

CFDC: Madeline, how was the business started here?

ML: In 1992, some intrepid people bought this building and needed a commercial tenant. At the time, I lived in the village. I walked down here and found this space with nothing in it, except for part of the floor. No plumbing, minimal electricity. It used to be a butter and egg warehouse. My kitchen was one giant walk-in refrigerator, and the retail store was the place that they backed their trucks to load their products into. I saw the possibilities, so I wanted to make it work. The partners gave me a very good discount on rent, because I agreed to build it out myself. 

CFDC: What is your connection to Tribeca?

ML: I moved down here in 1993, and I lived here, sadly, until two years ago, when my non-stabilized, uncontrolled loft rent got tripled and I could no longer afford it. I’m very sad that I had to move away. I’m now in Washington Heights. So, I’m a commuter. Never been a commuter in my life. 

CFDC:  What memories of your early days in Tribeca can you share?

ML: It was pretty deserted, but I kind of like that. Little by little, I started to understand the people who lived here, that there was a community. I had two little kids. There were lots of people with little kids, and they all went to the same schools. 

CFDC: Can you describe how Tribeca has changed over the years?

ML: Tribeca started changing a few years after 9/11. It changed the dynamic of Tribeca, in terms of the old-fashioned, small-town feel. Part of the NYC plan was to get people to come back downtown by changing zoning laws and building codes. More retail businesses were allowed on side streets, and residents could occupy ground floors. This attracted a whole new generation of people who wanted large spaces and to be near the two fabulous schools that we had. So, young people with young families came, and that changed everything. 

CFDC: The CFDC is challenging large-scale development in Tribeca that does not guarantee permanently affordable housing, including the proposed tower at IPN. What are your thoughts on this?

ML: Well, there are a lot of people for and a lot of people against. We all know that we have a housing crisis. I think that there’s always a happy medium somewhere. We need more housing, and we need more affordable housing, so that people like me could have been able to stay here. To make a good town a good neighborhood, you need all kinds of different people. And we need to have lots of different types of customers. Otherwise, you are just living in a bubble. I am okay with something being built here, as long as whatever can be done is earmarked for affordable or middle income. I am not sure that I like high height, personally. It’s out of character with the neighborhood. But I also understand that if a developer is going to invest this much money, there are tradeoffs to be made. I don’t believe that any new housing should be built here, unless it literally allows for affordable or middle income. 

CFDC: Speaking of your customers, how would you describe them?

ML: For my retail store, the customer base is 85-88% community. I would say the other percentage is made up of people who are tourists. People come down because they’ve heard Tribeca is cool. We’re in a lot of European guidebooks as a place to visit, plus we’ve been here for such a long time. 

CFDC: How do you see Tribeca changing in the next few years?

ML: Tribeca is not a destination place like Soho for shopping, although now, because we’re having a lot of new galleries pop up, maybe it’s going to be the next new Chelsea. 

CFDC: Is there a final thought you’d like to share?

ML: The only constant about New York City is change. Change is life. I have no problems with change. But I think that all the stakeholders who are going to be affected by change need to be involved in whatever that is. Like I said, we’re a town here. In a small town, if you were going to do something else there or change something or build something, you’d get all the town people together and they would weigh in. The people who are stakeholders in their town have to get involved, or else they just don’t have a say. Right? 

You can visit the patisserie at 179 Duane Street and online, here.