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Fight To Save Anti-Slavery Site

Cheslea residents are fighting to landmark a townhouse that newly discovered evidence indicates may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.

The W. 29th Street home was once owned by Abigail and James Gibbons, two prominent 19th Century abolitionists with ties to Harriet Tubman’s famed escape route for slaves.

Construction on a penthouse addition to the building has been ordered stopped by the city as the Landmarks Preservation Commission considers whether to declare the townhouse a landmark.

It’s a Dog’s (High) Life in Chelsea

Pampered pooches seem to be recession-proof—at least in Chelsea.

There may be no neighborhood in the five boroughs in which residents take their love for their furry companions more seriously. This is evidenced by the proliferation of parks, bakeries, salons and high-end boutiques, all whose sole demographic is the canine sect.

As people throughout the city and the country brace for what seems like an imminent recession, these niche businesses—whose merchandise and services are surely considered by some to be superfluous or luxury—seem to be some of the most vulnerable to decreased consumer spending. However, storeowners are confident in their indispensability.

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Tavern Dives Across The Street

When a W. 14th St. bar was faced with relocation, its owner had to appeal anew to neighbors that had not looked kindly on him in the past.

McKenna’s Pub was displaced from 245 W. 14th St. — which is slated for demolition — but its owner, Brian McKenna, didn’t have to look far for a new location. The bar is set to occupy a new space in 250 W. 14th St. across the street. And his neighbors, who in the past have complained about the bar’s noise and disorder, can’t be pleased.

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