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Trinity Church and real estate go together in many people's minds, with good reason. As one of the largest landholders in Manhattan, the revenue from Trinity's real-estate holdings makes the parish’s mission and work - in New York and throughout the world - possible.
In 1705, Queen Anne of England granted the "Church Farm" to Trinity - 215 acres of what was then, and would remain for many years, farmland north of the city center. The parish had only been established by charter and a much smaller land grant from King William III seven years earlier, in 1697. Queen Anne’s generous gift allowed Trinity to begin leasing lots and offer its own land grants - the first of which was given to King’s College, later known as Columbia University. Today, Trinity owns 15 acres - or 8 per cent - of the original 215 land grant acres.
Trinity continued offering land grants to other institutions, including new churches and chapels. From 1784 - 1814, Trinity gave away 143 lots to other churches. Trinity owned or leased land for commercial and residential buildings throughout the 19th century. When the Great Depression hit in 1929, Trinity’s buildings were leased long-term to developers. These buildings were configured exclusively for commercial use, mainly to accommodate printers who wanted to be close to their financial customers on Wall Street.
Trinity began converting its manufacturing spaces to premium office space in 1983, in an area that became known as Hudson Square. This district, in which Trinity Real Estate holds six million square feet in 18 buildings, is a bustling center of business, new residential projects, galleries, shops and restaurants. It's hard to believe that 300 years ago this same busy downtown area was quiet farmland on the northern edge of the city.
Recent News
Trinity Real Estate Goes Green
It's hip to be green—but what does that mean? For a building—or, in the case of Trinity Real Estate, a portfolio of buildings—going green means retrofitting old buildings with new technologies designed to reduce energy consumption and cost.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation at One Hudson Square
The Jackie Robinson Museum is coming to Hudson Square.
Hudson Square in 2010
From sacramental wine-making to welcoming TED to the neighborhood, 2010 has been a busy year.
