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The 'Flatiron District' is a small area in the Midtown area of the New York City borough of Manhattan, and is named after the Flatiron Building. The Flatiron Building, while now not as impressive in height as some of its neighbors, is notable for its triangular shape. This design was necessitated by the angle of the land that is created by the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway.

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Area features

Context

Area features

★ Prior to being renamed, the same general area had been referred to as the "Photo District" due to the large number of photographers' studios and associated businesses located there.

★ Baruch College of the City University of New York, is located on E. 23rd Street and Lexington Avenue. The College sits on the former site of the Free Academy (now City College of New York), which was founded in 1847 and was the first institution of free public higher education in the United States. Baruch's Newman Vertical Campus as well as the Zicklin School of Business, the largest collegiate school of business in the United States, are also located on 24th and 25th Streets between Third and Lexington Avenues.

★ Madison Square Park, a small green area with an old-fashioned shake & burger stand known as the Shake Shack, is located in this district between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue on 23rd Street. Madison Avenue begins in the Flatiron District at 23rd Street and runs north towards its famous Midtown section.

★ The "Toy District" is also located in this area. A number of toy manufacturers have trade showrooms in buildings across from Madison Square Park, and the headquarters of the Toy Industry Association which puts on the American International Toy Fair yearly are located here as well.

★ Giving this area a bit of color are the Museum of Sex and the Gershwin Hotel, both located on 27th Street. The Gershwin is a tribute to the late pop artist Andy Warhol, and features some of his art and memorabilia throughout the hotel.

★ There are also many stores around the area, such as Ann Taylor, Victoria's Secret, Club Monaco, and Origins.

Context

Flatiron is more or less the "gap" between Midtown East and the East Village. It is mostly commercial, but is not technically located in the bustling Midtown commercial zone.