The intersection of Vesey and West Streets was the site of the Washington Market, the city's main produce market. Established in 1812, its location near the docks facilitated the movement of goods.[3]
Prior to the construction of the World Trade Center it ran as a continuous street from Broadway to the Hudson River. As of 2013, it is still a continuous street, but it has four discontinuous segments with mixed uses:
From Church Street to West Street for authorized motor vehicles and pedestrians. This portion was widened during construction of the World Trade Center, and separates WTC on the street's south side from the Verizon Building on the street's north side.
In Battery Park City, from West Street to North End Avenue for motor vehicles and pedestrians.
From North End Avenue to River Terrace and the Irish Hunger Memorial, for pedestrians only.
The eastern extension of the street at Broadway is Ann Street.
The Barclay–Vesey Building occupies the entire block bounded by West Street to the west, Barclay Street to the north, Vesey Street to the south, and Washington Street to the east. Built in 1923, it served as the corporate headquarters of New York Telephone Company (NYTel).[3] Verizon maintains a presence at this location, although its headquarters is now in Midtown. The Art Deco building was designated as a New York City landmark in 1991[5] and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[7]