In 2008, I predicted that West Chelsea would be one of the hottest new neighborhoods in the city. With the development of The High Line and all the construction activity – this was a no brainer. I also felt that West 19th Street would eventually become one of the most architecturally significant streets in Manhattan. Lined with residential buildings by Frank Gehry, Jeanne Nouvelle, Suga Ruban and Annabelle Selldorf, this prediction has become a reality. There was very little residential housing in the area and when I first met Annabelle Selldorf, she was not well known to the public. She was introduced to me in 2006 by John Jacobson, who, with his brother Keith and the City Investment Fund, developed 520 West 19th Street. This was the first residential condo project in West Chelsea and it was a huge success. Today, Annabelle is one of the most prolific and successful architects in New York and a household name. She was my first interview, and I thought it appropriate to review her interview for #throwbackthurdsay. I hope you enjoy it the second time around.

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Lockhart Steele and Shaun Osher in September 2008

In honor of the new internet tradition (yes, an oxymoron), I thought I’d replay my interview with Lockhart Steele, creator and founder of Curbed, from more than four years ago. I interviewed Lockhart over lunch when Curbed was just in its infancy, and it was an entertaining meal, to say the least. Curbed has come a long way, now with a global reach of over 2 million global readers, (and so have we).

I hope you enjoy this the second time around.

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