In another installment of our series celebrating Tribeca’s people, places and past, we chat with Jenny Hartman about her experience growing up in Tribeca and why she chose to raise her daughter in the neighborhood, too.

CFDC: How did you come to live in Tribeca? 

JH: I was born here. When my mom and dad moved to the neighborhood in the 70s, so many people said they were making a poor decision. But my parents felt differently and bought an apartment on Greenwich Street. The neighbors in this apartment building created such a tight-knit community. I remember going into the elevator as a child and thinking, hmm, I don’t know which button to press tonight. I want to eat dinner with Lily on 8, but I also want to see Hallie on 9. I didn’t choose Tribeca, but I’m so grateful that I was raised here and feel lucky that Tribeca is still home to me today.  

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

JH: I took dance lessons in the building across the street before the Issey Miyake store was there. Now, I’m teaching my toddler what I learned in those lessons. I have a memory of a talent show at Bubby’s that was so cute and fun. There was so much support for living an expressive life, and there was a tradition where many of the artists who lived here were also incredible educators. They opened their lofts to tumbling, dancing and art classes for kids. Another memory is from Early Childhood Center. There was a Halloween costume contest, and someone dressed as a big book titled “Boo Book.” Now I live with that costume, because the owner is my husband. After we got together, I saw the costume that had been saved in his mom’s apartment, and I suddenly remembered seeing it at ECC. When I was growing up, we also had music venues right here like the Knitting Factory and Wetlands. The Roots were essentially the house band at Wetlands. I started to learn how to play music because of loving music there. 

CFDC: What keeps you here?

JH: Tribeca is built for kids now, more than it was when I grew up. We would have to hang out on the stairs. Here, my two-year-old daughter can learn that the world is reliable. She has familiar faces that smile at her, and the streets are really stimulating. They’re all about autonomy and walkability. She’s seeing that she can make her own choices in a safe environment, becoming more independent, little by little. The parks are wonderful, and we love the pier. In the summer, it’s great to be near the water. The galleries being here has been a great change, too. My daughter can just wander into a beautiful place where people invest time in working with materials. 

CFDC: How has Tribeca changed over the time that you’ve lived here?

JH: It has changed so much, and I’m grateful for that. There were obviously intense reasons why Tribeca had to have a rebirth after 9/11. When I was a 4th grade teacher, I really plugged into the history of New York. This area is so important to its history. When you walk around here, you can think about what life was like when all the waterways were here and through the industrial era of the 1800s and 1900s. It’s had to change so much over many years.

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

JH: Well, last Halloween was like a huge festival. There were so many people and children out celebrating. It made me realize how many families live here now. I think we’re going to see more things develop that match how many kids there are in Tribeca. There are already wonderful baby, ballet and music classes, and the pediatricians are excellent. You can see the neighborhood adapting to support young families. 

CFDC: What are your thoughts on super tall tower developments in the neighborhood? 

JH: It’s hard, because I’m super romantic about the cast iron buildings. And the other senses of history that are still here, like the ghost signs that leave traces of the factories, the old brick buildings, the vault lights on the sidewalks. A lot of the sites are landmarked, thank goodness. For the changes that are going on, I want to make sure that I stay informed, and that people who are going to be impacted are informed, as well. 

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

JH: I’m just so grateful to my mom for having moved here when she did, and that I got to grow up here. And I’m so happy to be raising my daughter here. It’s a great place to live. If I can be involved in making sure that changes here continue to be positive, I’d like to be a part of that. 

Interview and photos by Linda Buongermino