Varick Street NYC In 1984

Varick Street is named for Richard Varick, an early New York lawmaker and the mayor of New York City from 1789 to 1801, who owned property in the area. The street was widened during the southward extension of Seventh Avenue in 1917. A number of old buildings were torn down during the widening project, including St. John’s Chapel, which facilitated construction of the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line and opened up a new vehicular route between Midtown and Lower Manhattan. Today, the downtown M20 bus route runs the entire length of Varick Street. Additionally, the crosstown M21 bus intersects Varick Street at Houston Street in the westbound direction and at Spring Street in the eastbound direction. The Houston Street, Canal Street, and Franklin Street subway stations on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line (1 and 2 trains) are located under Varick Street.