Results tagged “80s”

Last week the LES gentrification piece in New York magazine circa 1984 began circulating again, and now a look back to October 6th, 1985 when the NY Times published an article titled "If You're Thinking of Living In; The East Village." Ah, a time when buyers bargain shopped for run-down buildings in the now pricey neighborhood, seeking out "maximum space for minimal outlay." Even today residents are echoing the "Die Yuppie Scum" sentiment around the vastly changed landscape of the EV; as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Some choice quotes from the article:
• Catching the eyes of an increasing number of New Yorkers who view it as the next likely alternative to chic Washington Square, the trendy Upper West Side or the East Side.
• Condominium prices and rents for rehabilitated apartments, while lower than in established Manhattan neighborhoods, are rising fast and are likely to keep rising for the next few years.
• Crime, particularly crime related to drug abuse, is prevalent. Drug deals are made openly in Tompkins Square, the neighborhood's only park, and burglaries have risen markedly, according to officials of the Ninth Police Precinct, which serves the area.
• Quality-of-life problems abound. Residents complain that garbage remains uncollected for weeks, graffiti are endemic and the Fire Department says the East Village is among the most arson-prone areas in the city.
• The cultural mix has been further enlivened by an influx of an increasing number of students from New York University, Cooper Union and other colleges, as well as young professionals.

The article also touches upon the school district ("the presence of the children of the homeless makes a significant impact on the reading scores and truancy rates"), the "exotic meals" offered at low prices, the development of condos at 65-69 Cooper Square, and the redevelopment of the 500 city-owned properties in the area.

Remember that introduction to HBO programming back in the 80s, the one that soared over a lavish scale model of a Gothamesque cityscape, then out above the suburbs and beyond toward a seductive glow on the horizon, before abruptly blasting up into the cosmos where the HBO logo twirled like some benevolent entertainment monolith? Well, here’s a funny short documentary about how they put together that state of the art intro intended to "tease and tantalize your eye."