New York Looks at Gentrification in 1984

Even back in 1984 there was mainstream media attention on the ever-changing landscape of the Lower East Side and East Village. Real estate was "exploding," chain stores were popping up, and galleries were abundant. The New York Magazine cover story on May 28th of that year was titled: The Lower East Side -- There Goes the Neighborhood.

Luckily, someone recently scanned the entire article, which could almost read like it was written today, if some more commas and zeros were added. One story in the piece focuses on two young entrepreneurs, Harry Skydell and Samuel Glasser, who purchased the Christodora House (on Avenue B overlooking Tompkins Square Park) in 1983. The man they bought it from paid $62,500 in 1975; they laid down $1.3 million, and by 1986 the building housed luxury condos. Iggy Pop was one of the first to move in, writing his “Avenue B” album there.

The luxury wasn't sweeping the neighborhood just yet, however, and the Christodora condos reportedly sparked "neighborhood anti-gentrification demonstrations" around that time. Long time residents and new pioneers were converging, and as one woman told New York Magazine: "I've lived in my rent-controlled apartment for years and pay $115 a month. I live on the Lower East Side. The young kids who just moved in upstairs and pay $700 a month for the same space -- they live in the East Village."

Check out the entire article here, complete with some great old photos of the neighborhoods. [via Lowlife]

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on June 12, 2008 10:42 AM

Comments [rss]

sonyactivision

The drugs were better then, that's all.

plk779

bitch bitch bitch

esquared

"There is no longer an 'Alphabet City'.

Yes! there is only Alphabet Quads now -- Quad A, Quad B.... and the main College Dorms and Student Union would be located in StuyTown.

kcin122

I love using inflation calcs so I did the numbers on the two rentals they listed.

$2000 in 1984 is $4112.66 in 2007 - 1200 sqf apt on 2nd ave.

$1200 in 1984 would be $2467.59 - 850 sqf loft on 1st and 1st.

those numbers are pretty crazy even if they reflect the high end.

Think2wice

Classic, classic cover.

Re: #4

"Listen to this chaps!" said Phineas whilst reading the upstart New York magazine, "It appears that Negros are moving to Harlem, post-haste!"

The other members of the Metropolitan Club twirl their handle-bar mustaches with grave concern.

JP Lynch

There is no longer an 'Alphabet City'. That's only a suburb of Sesame Street now...

nsolomon

Great article. I would also like ot see the article under Best Bytes - where to Buy Your computer. I remeber shopping for my first mac in '84 - no idea where the place was but it was structured like an auto dealership. Private desks for each of the salespeople ... 2 -3 computers on display as floor modesl. Ages ago ...

blablanyc

The article reveals how revolting the developers and the new not from New York residents. The quote by the man from Aspen saying "The local people will be forced out. They'll be pushed east to the river and given life preservers" sums up how unruly these out-of-towners are towards New Yorkers. That's why I refuse to call the area the East Village.

fakenewyorker

and you sound like it kiddo.

matty

"I wasn't born in 1987"

groan

aveB4life

very cool cover

SP

shut the fuck up.

Pharmer

I wasn't even born in 1987..

At least the lack of trains in Alphabet City slows down gentrification.

The East Village still strikes fear in some people. I was sitting in Tompkins Square Park with a friend last week. He got freaked out by the bums and said he never wanted to come back to Alphabet City.

SP

The difference is, if this photo was taken today, those two douchebags would actually be hedge fund managers and/or lawyers, owners of the multi million dollar building being repainted. That's how they dress on weekends.

janelle

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

matty

I remember reading this very same article in 1887.

ThisCharmingMan

Photographed by Steve McCurry.

Steve is the guy who photographed the famous Afghan girl Nat Geo cover, which at this time, had not come out yet. He was not even a Magnum guy yet in 84...