Brutal New York - 1965/95

[desertpunk]

Under the West Side Highway - Matt Weber 1985


http://weber-street-photography.com/...-highway-1985/

[flapane]

Originally Posted by Bogframe

And in the basement of that 5 story building, was The Hellfire Club!

Meatpacking seems to be one of the few areas of Manhattan (maybe together with LES) which hasn't changed that much compared to decades ago. A way more genuine experience than Times Square.
I get what you mean, it's sad to see how Bubba Gump rather than another random commercial activity dominates the landscape of the square. Nonetheless, still better than peep shows and drug dealers...

[Bogframe]

Originally Posted by flapane

Meatpacking seems to be one of the few areas of Manhattan (maybe together with LES) which hasn't changed that much compared to decades ago. A way more genuine experience than Times Square.
I get what you mean, it's sad to see how Bubba Gump rather than another random commercial activity dominates the landscape of the square. Nonetheless, still better than peep shows and drug dealers...

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon your POV), both the LES and Meatpacking districts have been undergoing gentrification over the last few years. Orchard Street, which, for decades has been a destination for people looking for clothing bargains, has been becoming proliferated with trendy and overpriced boutiques, chi-chi bars and cafes and upscale chains.

[flapane]

Besides the gentrification which is inevitable (some houses in Williamsburg are already being sold at over 1-1.5M$, I wonder if the area will become as expensive as Manhattan in the next years), I was referring to the overall feeling.
Meatpacking, for instance, is posh and full of expensive boutiques, but with its red brick buildings, IMHO it's lovely and it's still looking better and has more character than "tourist attractions" like Times Square.
Also, if I'm not wrong, LES still hosts some housing projects that are far from being gentrificated, with hydrants and parks full of graffiti and dilapidated street sidewalks (by Manhattan standards). Here's a crop from a pic I took (the upper part of the photo was non relevant)

Clearly, Manhattan has gone under heavy changes in the last decades, and overall the positive aspects outweigh the negative aspects. However, I think that there still are areas which better preserved their past and resisted better the assault of upscale chain stores (except Starbucks ).
As everyhitng else, gentrification has its negative aspects.

[namani]

Very fascinating!

[LucianPopa1000]

Originally Posted by flapane

Besides the gentrification which is inevitable (some houses in Williamsburg are already being sold at over 1-1.5M$, I wonder if the area will become as expensive as Manhattan in the next years), I was referring to the overall feeling.
Meatpacking, for instance, is posh and full of expensive boutiques, but with its red brick buildings, IMHO it's lovely and it's still looking better and has more character than "tourist attractions" like Times Square.
Also, if I'm not wrong, LES still hosts some housing projects that are far from being gentrificated, with hydrants and parks full of graffiti and dilapidated street sidewalks (by Manhattan standards). Here's a crop from a pic I took (the upper part of the photo was non relevant)
Clearly, Manhattan has gone under heavy changes in the last decades, and overall the positive aspects outweigh the negative aspects. However, I think that there still are areas which better preserved their past and resisted better the assault of upscale chain stores (except Starbucks ).
As everyhitng else, gentrification has its negative aspects.

There are lots of areas that improved .Remember up until 10-20 years ago the only place where rich people lived was Uptown.Now theyre everywhere,Downtown and Midtwon have made a hell of a comeback,most of them were boring dusty average slums .Now theyre high-priced.
Williamsburg will become even more expensive,but i doubt it will reach Mamhattans level.