A historical dive into Google's soon-to-be New York property, Chelsea Market

Google is acquiring New York City's Chelsea Market, a retail-and-office space in the Lower West Side of Manhattan, according to the Real Deal.

The deal is expected to close in April for a reported $2.4 billion. That would make Chelsea Market the second most expensive single-building sale in New York history, surpassed only by the GM Building, which sold for $2.8 billion in 2008.

But to fans of Chelsea Market's architecture and ambience, the building is more than just pricey real estate. Here's a closer look at the property's history.