Category Archives: Project #3

A Million naked citys

4 Replies

Different experiences of New York leads to different perspectives, just because some one has seen something on a particular street and its not there anymore doesn’t make them entirely wrong. The city is always changing and with those changes comes different points of view or routines might change. Its almost as a string is connected to all of the past buildings that use to be there and it always leaves a little part of it self when it leaves. New buildings get made constantly and put under construction rapidly as the city grows as time passes and moves forward. My personal experiences for this city has changed me and made me grow as a person, the city’s not perfect but it is a place I’m use to compared to other states or countrys, I tend to have a bitter sweet feeling twords the city, as much as this place feels like home I cant say I want to live here forever. Sure the attractions and the fast paced lifestyle might be fascinating for some and I can definitely see the appeal, I don’t think I can live my whole life that way.

I’m not going to give you my whole life story on how I see New York or I can explain it a million different times but it will never convey how I truly see this place. I have gotten use to the speed and adjustment of the city on how it works. They’re will be places you love and places you hate, areas you think that will stay there forever in your mind subconsciously even when they disappear. I’ve lived in the city since I was born and have yet to see what it still has to offer but I tend to miss the simplicity of just living in a quiet neighborhood and having the ability to travel somewhere with my friends or family. Everything is so close together that the destination becomes more important then the journey to the destination. I tend to find a lot of the time that I focus more on where I’m going rather then where I am now. Most of the time I am going somewhere I think to myself “where am I going, How will I get there” my mind wants to rush and tell me to get there at an expected time rather then look around me and the changes of  how A place looked when I was younger or what store use to be there. One example is my journey to Barclays Center in Atlantic ave.

It was a rather cold day. I had originally had no plan or location to go to so I decided to just walk straight out of the atrium building exit and just went to where my legs took me. From all I could hear was the traffic passing by me on my left side, walking down Tillary St. As I walk pass McLaughlin park as i start wondering what might have been there before. Its very odd to think about it but to realize how old an area must be and how it holds so much history to it makes me start to realize what this project starts to be about. I then made a right turn down Flatbush ave. and saw that it was more of a fast pace neighborhood and thought how long it must have taken to make it such a place. Because it was so close to Manhattan people are moving both in and out and passing by fair amount of university’s on the way. being close to Manhattan the place must have been similar too it and as you go lower into Brooklyn you start to feel the authentic Brooklyn experience . To me it almost feels like I’m in Manhattan. Once I saw the tall building and the giant odd shaped center I made it to Barclays center and decided this is where my perspective should lie. the place was littered with the noise of cars and people trying to get passed one another on such a busy street. The bright light wrapped around the loop, it was almost like a Manhattan style building. It was festive and full of life then the last time I remembered of it. Brown old warn down residential buildings. It was a lot more dangerous back then it is now with the high crime rate. It was a more dead and un-lively place that always tend to frighten me while I passed by it when I was little. apparently during that time there was a protest opposing the development of said Barclays center for the fear of people losing their houses and businesses. leaving a both positive and negative outlook on the area that sums up my feelings about the city of New York. Just because people say its an improvement twords the area does not mean that people wanted to sacrifice their jobs or living space.

I chose Barclays center as my point of interest because I really find that this was the place I began to understand the message behind the project. I truly find this was the place I started to comprehend the message behind the task. That everybody’s version of New York is distinctive as a result of the experience they have in the city, they create this picture of their own particular perspective of the city one more unique to the last. One persons experience could be the complete opposite of another.I understood its sort of an fascinating thought blended in conclusion and basically demonstrates the people identity towards their feelings over the city. For example Colson Whitehead’s  “city limits” essay at one point explains in the third paragraph: “only skyscrapers visible from your stroller were the legs of adults” that even at an early age an idea of a personal New York can exist. one individual could love the clamor and happiness of the city and consider it to be a place for circumstance, others can be the opposite twords the city and think that its misrepresented and the city does not fit the cliche of what others think. I’m some where in the middle. As much as I enjoy living here there are things I do dislike about it. That is how I see my New York. How crime rate is climed significantly and much of the controversy tends to drive people over the edge, homelessness, addicts, ect. much I would enjoy changing.  Another perspective of New York and the difference between them is also in “City Limits” is a passage found in the second page “There are eight million naked cities in the naked city — they dispute and disagree. The New York City you live in is not my New York City;” further explaining that no ones version of the city is exactly the same and how the city overlaps with one another showing the juxtaposition of the buildings that use to belong there. They may be similar but never the same. The ideas can argue with each other of what New York is really about and to appreciate that we are here and be grateful before our versions of New York change, the city is always having new buildings and tearing down others. That we should not take things for granted.

The city is always changing whether the residents want it or not it is going to happen, as much as I love the city I also dislike a lot of its features, which is why I cannot see my future in staying in here. my perspective of New York has changed over the years I’m sure but I do not feel like my feelings twords the city will change in the future, in a way it is my first home. Not perfect but a place that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Image result for barclays center

works cited:

Whitehead, Colson. “City Limits.” The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts. New York: Random House, 2004. 1-12. Shared Google Doc.

Chinatown’s One Sided War

Leave a reply

Nicknamed “The Melting Pot,” New York City has become home to many communities of immigrants who have formed their own “Little New Yorks.” These “Little New Yorks,” were created to help immigrants of similar cultural backgrounds survive the harsh and competitive environment during the 1980s. For example, Chinatown has become home to many Chinese immigrants that have worked together to overcome their struggles. “Little New Yorks,” have since become an identifiable trait of New York City. The overlap created by communities interacting, as outlined by Colson Whitehead in “City Limits,” have created what we define as New York City. Colson Whitehead and Charles McGrath described these overlaps as a positive influence on New York City. However, as New York City has aged, these overlaps are seen as the destructive force known as gentrification.

To see an example of how gentrification has affected New York City, we can take a look at a small section of Chinatown. The corner of Canal and Essex Street was once a lively center for Chinatown’s working force. My father was among these hungry workers. Countless mornings were spent sharing meals with co-worker from the restaurant across the street and drinking soda from the nearest bodega. This corner was a staple for Chinatown’s blue and white collar workers. It didn’t matter if you worked in the tallest office building in Chinatown or if you worked in the basement of a noodle shop. This corner was where you shared a meal with friends, laughed, and gossiped. Unfortunately, all golden ages come to an end. Since then, this bustling corner of Chinatown’s history has become commonplace for the Lower East Side’s privileged. They are people who live leisurely and don’t have to worry about putting children through school. Now when I pass by this corner on my commute, I no longer get a sense of productivity and unity, but an unsettling sense of melancholy.

It’s no secret that Chinatown is getting smaller and smaller by the year. Due to high rent prices, businesses and homes are being vacated. The community recognizes this unfortunate reality surrounding them. As a response, many of the first generation are moving to more favorable communities such as Flushing and 8th Avenue. The sad reality of this is that it leaves behind the elderly, the ones who established Chinatown. The elderly that remain have few options to combat the rising rent and new tenants. This leads to gentrification being as rapid as it is. As opposed to parts of Brooklyn that are also affected by gentrification, Chinatown is one of the few communities with few fluent english speakers. The language barrier makes it extremely difficult for Chinatown’s elderly to understand and defend themselves against new greedy landlords and rising rent prices.

Another contributing factor is the alienation of Chinatown. East Asians are a very exclusive people, we often reject foreigners. However, this is to not only the fault of East Asians. While emigrating from China to America we have faced much discrimination, and have chosen to fence ourselves in. The combination of seclusion and unfamiliar culture causes us to be viewed as weird and alien. The outside-in perspective only perceives the East Asian culture as various fads that are perversions of the real culture. It’s apparent in online food blogs like Zagat, that Chinatown’s highest ranking restaurants serve Americanized food. Whitehead suggests that Americanized food is a sign of positive overlap. If you’ve ever spent time in one of these restaurants, you’d know that this food panders to non-East Asian people who have just finished clubbing. Other than these few staple restaurants, the Lower East Side views Chinatown as a tourist novelty. As time goes on these fads die and New York City’s Chinatown will be pushed aside to make room for new cafes and trendy brunch joints.

So, what can we do about it? We can try our best to preserve what is remaining of Chinatown, but in eight to ten years it’s unlikely that Chinatown would be any bigger than Mott Street. Like tending to an old grandparent nearing their end, we can sit by their bedside and comfort them. But in the end, we can really only try to make the transition as painless as possible. Take photos of the lunch joint you eat at with your friends. Make memories and have no regrets, because like Whitehead said, “At some point you were closer to the last time than you were to the first time, and you didn’t even know it.”(Whitehead). In a way, Chinatown has a very poetic meaning in it’s death. My father and mother told me that they immigrated from parts of China, and that their hope was to create a better life for their children. So as the first generation has moved on to college and begin integrating with other New Yorkers, fathers and mothers retire knowing they succeeded. While the decline of Chinatown is unfortunate, It succeeded in its mission of creating a better life for its first residents and their offspring.

Sources:

McGrath, Charles. “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport.” The New York Times, December 6, 2006.

Whitehead, Colson. “City Limits.” The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts. New York: Random House, 2004. 1-12.

Manhattan

Leave a reply

Edwin Contreras

Prof. Rosen

English 1101

 

   The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a place where people come to relax and enjoy the view of Manhattan. Observing Manhattan then looking at the area around me, I could see the big difference in height. Manhattan is the place for opportunities, they say if you can make it in New York then you could make it anywhere in the world. Having the chance to explore the area around City Tech, I believe the Brooklyn Heights Promenade has one of the greatest view in New York City. Everyone has their own perspective of the city we all love. Colson Whitehead wrote an article called “City limits” in which he explains that you have the ability to view the manhatten in your own individual way.

       Being able to live in New york City is a privilege, it’s the city that never sleeps, the city where your dreams come true, a place that I call home. Being able to see the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is great because it’s not to far away from my school. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a long walk way, right over the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. People come onto the promenade for a light jog, to take pictures, and to sit down on a benches to enjoy the view of the Manhattan skyline. Standing in the Promenaded other then seeing the Manhattan Skyline, you also able to see the Brooklyn bridge and also the Statue of Liberty. Depending on the weather conditions, if it gets so foggy or misty then only the Manhattan is visible with the top of the skyscrapers covered by the mist or fog.  

       The Brooklyn Heights Promenade has a spectacular view of Manhattan. Juxtaposing Manhattan to Brooklyn, Brooklyn seems like a small neighborhood compared to the tall skyscrapers that Manhattan contains. Being able to see them both from a view, I can see how Manhatten stands tall and proud while Brooklyn just stands still, without no motion of growth. In the article “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead, he states “The New York City you live in is not my New York City…”, the author states that not everyone sees the same New York. Everyone has their own perspective of New York City.

       Being able to look at something in a group, I notice that not everyone thinks alike. My friend Citlalli came with me once to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and I told her about the project I was doing and asked for her help. I told her to to tell me what she sees when she looks at the Manhattan skyline. She said she saw “sadness” and a place where she “lost an opportunity to do something in life”. This was nothing compared to what I saw when I looked at Manhattan. I saw the opportunity to become someone in life and also a place where my dreams can come true. Citlalli told me that she saw sadness because one of her family members has cancer and she goes with her to Manhattan for her treatments, she also stated that her dream were crushed because she was not accepted to a college which is located in Manhattan. I on the other hand see a place for better life because my parents migrated from our homeland and came to New York for better opportunities.

     The manhattan skyline is always changing with time. In the late eighteenth century the manhattan skyline didn’t contain any buildings taller than ten stories high. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade contain pictures of the Manhattan skyline made out of stone, here you can see how manhattan has changing over time. The most recent change to the Manhattan skyline was the incident in 2001, when the twin towers were knocked down, in its place the Freedom tower now stands. When I see the Manhattan I see the Freedom Tower while someone who much older than me imagines the Twin Towers standing tall and proud. This reminded me of a quote in “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead which states “You are a real new Yorker when what was there before is more real and solid than what is here now.” Someone older than me would imagine the Twin Towers standing rather than the Freedom tower. Since I was not old enough to see the Twin Towers it’s difficult for me to imagine them in the Freedom towers place.

     When I see the Manhattan skyline, I see a place where anything is possible in life. In “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead argues “ … You have your own personal skyline“, not everyone sees the same Manhattan, we all think differently and have our own personal viewpoints. Citlali and I have two different viewpoints of the same city and someone else could have a different viewpoint from both of us.

References:

 

  • Whitehead, Colson. “City Limits.” The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts. New York: Random House, 2004. 1-12. Shared Google Doc.

 

 

Before and After Project 3

Leave a reply

New York is a very fast paced state that is always changing due to gentrification and other various things. This could be for the better or for the worse. Juxtapositions happen all the time especially in our state New York. A juxtaposition is basically the act of placing two things side by side and comparing them. There are a lot of similarities and differences for this juxtaposition. These past and present pictures may look similar but they are more different than you may think.

As I walked down Brooklyn Heights, which is right near the Brooklyn Bridge, I saw a lot of different looking buildings. I came across this Peculiar looking Brick Building. This building looked totally different from the others in the area. The building was “standing out” from all of the others in the area. At first glance I had no idea what it was but it looked like it was built in the early 1900s. The building is called the Brooklyn Eagle Warehouse and Storage company And it is located on 28 Old Fulton Street. There was a plaque on the building that was given to Walt Whitman, that intrigued me to do some research on it later that day. After doing research I learned that there was actually a lot of history behind this building.

This Old Brick Building used to be the home of the Brooklyn Eagle. This was a very popular newspaper company at the time. One of the papers editors was a man named Walt Whitman. Walt Whitman was an American Poet and journalist that had different views and beliefs on topics from others. His boss and the readers didn’t totally agree with his views. He didn’t become popular until a couple years after he stopped working there. He basically didn’t get the recognition he deserved at the time. The Newspaper company moved and was purchased by The Brooklyn Eagle and Warehouse and Storage Company. The Renovations were completed in 1894 and cost them around $300,000. In 1977 the building was turned into a Landmark. This is one of Brooklyns most Iconic structures. As you can see in the two past pictures, the times were definitely different. People back then were dressed in suits, in the first picture there is a local hat cleaning shop which you probably won’t ever see in Brooklyn today. In the Second picture you can actually see the warehouse after it was renovated in 1894. All of those local shops that were near the Brooklyn Eagle were gone to make space for the huge warehouse. Even back then Brooklyn was being modernized and changed. This juxtaposition actually reminded me of another juxtaposition that happened two years ago in Manhattan. It reminded me of the Old Toys R us building in time square. I remember going there as a kid ill never forget the Huge Ferris wheel that used to be there. This actually used to bring in a lot of tourists and now they turned the building into a lot of different retail stores. Colson Whitehead said this perfectly in his article From the Colossus of New York “You are a New Yorker when what was there before is more real and solid than what is here now”.

In 1980 the Building was renovated into condominiums, this renovation cost them around $3 million. Currently the Apartment buildings are going for an “arm and a leg”. Right now there is a 2 bedroom that is going for $1.6 Million.This just goes to show how anything in New York can change in the blink of an eye. One Positive thing is that the Buildings outside look didn’t change from turning the warehouse into apartments. When we look at the building now we can still see some of the history behind it for those who know about it. I am also glad that they have that Walt Whitman Plaque up there to inform people what was once there before.

 

Manhattan -Draft

Leave a reply

 

Draft

Brooklyn is one of the oldest cities in New york, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a place where people come to relax and enjoy the view of Manhattan. Looking at Manhattan and then looking at the area around me , I could see the big difference in stature. Manhattan is a place for opportunity, they say if u can make it in new york then you could make it anywhere in the world. Having the chance to explore the area around City Tech, I believe the Brooklyn Heights Promenade has one of the greatest view in New York City. Everyone has their own perspective of the city we all love. Colson Whitehead wrote an article called “City limits” in which he explains that you have the ability to view the manhatten in your own individual way.

       Being able to live in New york City is a privilege, it’s the city that never sleeps, the city where your dreams come true, a place that I call home. Being able to see the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is great because the location is not to far away from my school. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a long walk way, right over the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. People come onto the promenade for a light jog, take pictures, and to sit down onto a benches to enjoy the view of the Manhattan skyline.

       The Brooklyn Heights Promenade has a spectacular view of manhattan. Juxtaposing Manhattan to Brooklyn, Brooklyn seems like a small neighborhood compared to the tall skyscrapers that Manhattan contains. Being able to see them both from a view, i can see how Manhatten stands tall and proud while Brooklyn just stands still, without no motion of growth. In the article “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead it states “The New York City you live in is not my New York City…” The author states that not everyone as the same image of manhattan. Everyone has their own perspective of New York City.

       Being able to look at something in a group, I notice that not everyone thinks alike. My friend Citlalli came with me once to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and I told her about the project I was doing and asked for her help. I told her to to tell me what you see when you look at the Manhattan skyline. She said she saw sadness and also her dreams crushed. This was nothing compared to what I saw when I looked at Manhattan. I saw an opportunity to become someone if life and also a place where dreams come true. Citlalli told me that she saw sadness because one of her family members had cancer and she goes with her to Manhattan for her treatments, she also stated that her dream were crushed because she was not accepted to a college which is located in Manhattan.

     The manhattan skyline is always changing with time. In the late eighteenth century the manhattan skyline didn’t contain any building taller than 10 stories high. The brooklyn heights promenade contain pictures of the manhattan skyline made out of stone, where you can see how manhattan has changing over time. The most recent change in the manhattan skyline was the incident in 2001 when the twin towers were knocked down, in its place the Freedom tower stands. When I see the manhattan skyline i see the Freedom Tower while someone who much older than me imagines the twin towers standing tall and proud. This reminded me of a quote in “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead that states “You are a real new Yorker when what was there before is more real and solid than what is here now.” Someone older than me could imagine the twin towers standing rather than the Freedom tower. Since i was not old enough to see the twin towers then it’s difficult for me to imagine them.

     When  see the Manhattan skyline, I see a place where anything is possible in life. In “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead states “ … You have your own personal skyline“ Not everyone sees the same Manhattan Skyline, we all think differently and have our own personal viewpoints. Citlali and i have two different viewpoints of the same city and someone else could have a different viewpoint from us.

The overlapping piers

Leave a reply

As our country’s economic rises, changes started to happened whether it’s new construction happening or new project getting planned to replace an old department or a house. Ever since our country is discovered, changes and development start to take place to create a community for us to live in. For new developments to happen today, our community will often strike down an old building for a new one to rise one, we replace the old one for a better and improved one. Though some old buildings are being replace, there are also mass amounts of old building being kept for ages. With the changes, it bought some major effects to the community and the area. Whether what kind of effect it is, positive and negative outcomes will alway comes with it.

While you taking your sweet slow walk through your neighborhood, you’ll probably will notice there’s some changes in the community you live in. Whether it’s the deli across your house use to be another house or the apartment next door turn into a laundromat. These changes take times, it can be a year or less or maybe more. Not only just a community that changes, New York City is often evolving. One area contains the biggest change in my opinion is DUMBO. When you first enter DUMBO, you’ll notice the peaceful and quietness in that area but also it’s the most popular place for tourist to visit. DUMBO is a really huge park, when you’re standing in front of the entrance, the first view you’ll see is Manhattan, which the where tourists gather together and take a picture with the view. The park is divided into two different part in my opinion and each part has it’t unique environment. When you make a right turn in front of the entrance, you will enter the peace and quiet part of the park. This part is where most tourist gathers around and take pictures. There’s a indoor merry-go-round. Beside that, there’s a giant yellow sign of the word “ON”. This part of the park is best for people who want to relax, there’s a lot of grass field around, whenever you’re tired, you can lay on the grass and enjoy the breeze.

My first time visiting DUMBO was three years ago when my friend decided to give me a tour. When I first step out the station, I notice the peacefulness around the neighborhood. There are variety of restaurant around the area but most of it are closed during daytime. It’s a peaceful community and very high classed until all the bars open up at nighttime. Even though it’s winter, the park is still fill with locals and tourists. The breeze coming from the river gives me a chill in the vein. There’s a restaurant at the entrance, they have their own little garden seats which attractive tourists to have a brunch there and which bought some light to the area during nighttime. While I was walking down towards the pier, I saw some wooden docks are standing still in the water, some of it are covered in green seaweed. The wooden docks has a strong existences at DUMBO, it’s like a ugly duckling in the swans groups. There are larger amount of piers, each pier is a different sport. I was surprise at the size of the pier. Aside from the size, when you’re tired from playing, there’s benches at the end of the pier for you to sit and enjoy the view of Manhattan.

The DUMBO we see today are totally different centuries ago. The piers we see today used to be shipping docks. Long ago, ships traveled through the ocean, enter the East River and stopped at the piers to drop the gigantic packages and that’s the reason why the size of the piers are big. The wooden docks we also use to be part of the docks. It’s hard to imagine the pier we stood on today used to be a place for trading and labor work. Every new developments brings either positive or negative outcomes to the area.

In my opinion, replacing the docks into piers does not completely affect the community. DUMBO is a quiet community, with ships coming in can chase the peacefulness away. It might be the easiest way for the ships to drop packages because the East River is right next to it. However, the noise can affect not just DUMBO but also Manhattan. East River is between these two boroughs, if DUMBO is affected by the noise, Manhattan have a high chance of getting affect also. No one will like to live around the shipping docks. With that thoughts, the area will turn into a no man’s land anytime soon. The price of the community will decrease which will brings negative affect to the economic. The DUMBO today is choose as one of the best view for wedding photoshoots.

There are a lot of overlapping in our city but we never bother to stop and clearly look at it. Our community change frequently, what might be across your house might be gone the next day for new constructions. Some overlapping can bring negative or positive effects for the community but it all base on one’s opinion. In my opinion, turning the docks into a sport place has a positive outcome. The noise that’s occurred by the ship can ruined the peacefulness in the community and tourist will no longer stop by DUMBO and enjoy the view.

An insight to the Brooklyn Bridge

Leave a reply

An Insight to the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge can be perceived in many different perspectives. Like the first chapter of “The Colossus of New York”, City Limits, Colson Whitehead talks about how those who are not from New York City may not be able to see the “changes” that the city itself has made, however, those who were born and raised in the city may have been able to see the progress in the city’s changes. The Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York City’s prominent monuments in which it attracts tourists from all over the place. Those who are traveling to and from Brooklyn to Manhattan would use this bridge. Being a “true” New Yorker, born and raised,  I have been able to witnessed the changes that have been made to the bridge itself throughout the years. The bridge is known to be able to see the Manhattan skyline and that is why it may attract tourists. Moreover, since I have lived here all my life, I have been able to truly understanding its history and what the bridge means to those who have lived in the city all their life.

Those who are visitors to the area may be clueless to know of any information about the bridge. They may see the bridge as simply just a “bridge.” Many tourists take pictures on the bridge and would just look at the view of the skyline of the city; or they may only think of it as something that is used for transportation. However, those who were born and raised here may know things about the bridge that others don’t. For example, those who are considered as “true” New Yorkers may know how long it takes to cross the bridge or when it would be the best time

to cross the bridge for a great view, no traffic, or simply just to take pictures of the view. Another example could be that they know what time the bridge is busiest or the attractions they hold at the end of each side of the bridge.

In contrast to a “true” New Yorkers perspective, those who are visiting, tourists, perceive the bridge differently. Tourists usually take pictures and they enjoy the skyline. Tourists may not know the history of the Brooklyn Bridge however those who were born in New York. The Brooklyn Bridge is a popular tourist attraction and destination. Those that are visiting may not know where to explore and look for popular attractions online, thus the Brooklyn bridge being on the list of top 10 popular attractions in New York.

From my experience as a New Yorker, the Brooklyn Bridge was a great experience because I used to walk on the bridge, take pictures, and have a lot memories there with my family. A lot of buildings around the Brooklyn Bridge were in construction and one of those buildings was a coffee shop. The coffee shop was unfortunately torn down for an office building where high corporates took over the property. The coffee shop was completely demolished and it was something that was special to me. What I’m trying to get at here is that to those who are visiting, the buildings and popular attractions really has no meaning to them; where as the coffee shop made an impact on my life.

Our city is constantly changing with its buildings, sightseeing attractions, demographics, and economic status. Tourists are blind of how they see New York’s change in development because they’re only here for the attractions and the aesthetics of the city itself for about a week or two. However, a New Yorker who has lived here all of his/ her life sees the changes New York has made. Another interesting experience of mine is when I was an amateur photographer in the summer on Brooklyn Bridge. It was very interesting because New Yorkers and tourists would ask me to shoot a photo with them on the Brooklyn Bridge. When I’m with a tourist, their reactions of seeing the bridge are different from that of a New Yorker’s because it was their first time seeing the skyline and exploring the Bridge. For me, the view didn’t excite me because I’ve been there a countless number of times. Another interesting contrast of my experience was when I was taking photos with a different tourist and he told me that the bridge was a very long walk. It was important to me because a New Yorker in the city would have to walk long distances and it seems like they don’t know how long they’ve walked for a day in the city.

Throughout this essay, I’ve explained the perspective of how a New Yorker may perceive the Brooklyn Bridge and the perspective of how a tourist may perceive the bridge. New Yorkers grew up here and are aware of the history behind the prominent monuments, such as the Brooklyn bridge. Where as in tourists only come to New York City because they enjoy the aesthetics of the city and/ or because it is very eventful.

Citations

  1. “Walking the Brooklyn Bridge | A Visitor Guide.” Free Tours by Foot, 6 Dec. 2017, www.freetoursbyfoot.com/walking-the-brooklyn-bridge/.

 

New York City’s Alteration

Leave a reply

Old buildings are being transformed into newer ones and new buildings are being constructed in order to maintain a modern outllook. In one instance there’s a large skyscraper under construction in the city of Manhattan that overlooks a shabby factory building located in Dumbo, Brooklyn. This is a good example of how , although the city of New York is advancing in architect there are still buildings that still stand from years ago. Many overlaps such as mine are described by Colson Whitehead and Patrick Mcgrath. Both giving their own perception on how New York goes through changes thus relating to my own juxtaposition.

Although New York is a modernized city there a still instances of pieces of history scattered all throughout the city. I came across an example of this while journeying through Downtown Brooklyn’s “DUMBO”.  On Water and Main Street there is a shabby and decrepit factory building that seems as if it were there from the 1800’s. At first it peaked my interest because Dumbo has already fell victim to gentrification and most buildings around it has already been modernized to fit the lifestyle of incoming yuppies and hipsters. What really got me interested was the large high-rise building being constructed in the distance. It precisely overlooks the factory building in such a way that it seems as if were meant to be built that way. It was my first time being in Dumbo so I was curious to see how long that building was there for. I went to google maps and I was amazed. I searched the address of the building and the latest image of it that came up was in September 2014. As I analyzed the photo the factory building was still in the same tattered and run-down fashion. What really amazed me was that the skyscraper that was being constructed wasn’t there.  This really appealed to me because it shows how fast a large change can be made in a city in just a matter of years.

 

In this day in age, especially in the city of New York, new buildings are being constructed in order to keep up with the modern era. An example of this is the skyscraper that overlooks the old factory building located in Dumbo, Brooklyn. The skyscraper is the Moinian’s Hudson Yards office tower located in 34th street Manhattan with a colossal height of 1,050 feet. The construction of this building began in 2016 (which is the reason why I couldn’t find it on Google Maps) and is projected to be completed in Fall of 2018. This building is being constructed in  the Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan which is known for its vast amount of actor and actresses and acting opportunists and also a hub for gay culture. I have been there once to watch my cousin perform at cousin perform at a cafe. I was really young at time and i’m pretty sure the are is nothing like what it used to be. ” Maybe one day we become New Yorkers the day we realize that New York will go on without us.” This was said by Colson Whitehead and he’s trying to say that as New Yorkers we shouldn’t fall victim to the change and keep traditions and cultures the same.

New York is home to many buildings that juxtapose one another. The denotation of juxtapose is to place two different things side by side as to either compare or contrast or to create and interesting effect. The Water and Main Street old factory building versus the Moinian Hudson Yards office tower is a suitable juxtaposition that emphasizes old vs. new. Although they are not exactly side by side, the angle in which the skyscraper is being built overlooks the old factory building in such a precise way it seems as if they are right next to each other. These two buildings are a fitting example of how city can be modernized but still withhold instances from history. New buildings are being created everyday, while old ones are being renovated to be replaced with a Starbucks or Trader Joe’s. Gentrification has been victimizing small pockets of the cities for years now and Dumbo, Brooklyn certainly is one of them. This old factory building is abandoned but still stands today. Why is that so? This building may become a historic landmark in the near future if it’s not transformed into something newer and up to date.

Although these two buildings are of far distance from each other, the overarching size of the sky scraper seems as if it is very close to the old factory building. This juxtaposition really is a good example of how old things will eventually be replaced with something of a more modern taste. Also it compares and contrast Old vs New , and it’s an instance of gentrification. Many people would just walk past this and pay little to no mind to this juxtaposition but this can be made into a bigger picture. A perspective on how cities are advancing and adapting to modern technology.

Whitehead, Colson. “City Limits.” The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts. New York: Random House, 2004. 1-12. .

McGrath, Charles. “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport.” The New York Times, December 6, 2006.

The Before And After Of Barclay’s

Leave a reply

The juxtaposition of the old and the new of gentrification impacts negatively to the community of Atlantic ST- Barclay’s Center. The old and the new creates another juxtaposition which is the poor and the rich. While I was looking up pictures of Barclays Center, I was filled with nostalgia. Seeing old picture of Atlantic yard (before Barclay Center) and the past and present pictures brought back memories. It is astonishing to me because my memory of Atlantic Yard is vivid and the gentrification of this community is obvious to see. There are still brown-stoned buildings that have been in this community for so long, yet the luxury building seems to be overtaking the community at a fast pace. According to the website Merriam Webster defines juxtaposition as, the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect. The old and the new of this community is a great example of a juxtaposed community. As I walk throughout Atlantic Yard, I can see that the old and the new is not just about the buildings, but also the people that live there.

The brown-stone buildings that are still left in Atlantic, screams the old Brooklyn. Seeing the luxury buildings being built all around the community, screams gentrification. The brown-stone buildings that are trying to survive in a community that is being renovated, is disheartening. It makes me wonder about the old residents that were kicked out or are in the process of being kicked out of their homes. A community that is no longer bringing them an authentic culture. A neighborhood that is becoming even more hard to survive financially than before. This reminds me of what Mr. Self said, from “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport” by Charles McGrath. He said, “There is a deep sadness to American poverty, greater than the sadness of any kind. It’s because America has such an ideology of success” (3). This quote can relate to Atlantic Ave because the poverty of the old residents is not being seen and it is being brushed away. The ideology of it, is the success of a neighborhood that is being gentrified. The success of the gentrification would be the amount of money it will make for the privileged.

The luxury buildings are being constructed for it to look modern and is creating a new Brooklyn. This is targeting new residents and bringing them the things they expect to see in a community they are moving into. The changes I have seen are the new shops that have been opened and targeting the pockets of the new residents. In “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead, he said “I never got a chance to say goodbye to some of my buildings” (3). This is a feeling that I share with the author because the New Yorkers that were born and raised here know that feeling of not having a chance to say goodbye to the memories they shared. Old stores are being closed in order for new stores to be open. This is the flow of gentrification and it creates another juxtaposition within the old and the new which is the poor and the rich.

The creation of the juxtaposition of the poor and the rich is once again related to the old and the new due to the gentrification of the neighborhood. The poor are the old residents that can no longer afford to live in their neighborhood. The rich are the ones that are creating new plans for the neighborhood and profiting from it. While the rich profits from their new plans, they create a contrasting effect. It is contrasting the residents of this neighborhood. The effect of it all is the topic of gentrification. It is noticeable that the old residents are trying to fight it, but it is not a successful fight after all. Whitehead mentions in his article, “Maybe we become New Yorkers the day we realize that New York will go on without us” (4).  This is the realization that I made as I walked the streets of the juxtaposed neighborhood of Atlantic Ave- Barclays Center. No matter how hard we try for a neighborhood not to change, it is bound to happen. There is no turning back once gentrification has set their eyes on a certain neighborhood, such as this one.

Nostalgia is a feeling that tries to hold on to the old, but it is not healthy to do so. The old and the new are linked because change is the contrasting effect of it. From this juxtaposition it may create a financial one which is the poor and the rich. Especially coming from a juxtaposed neighborhood that is having a dramatic change every day. There is always going to be mixed feelings when I walk by Atlantic Ave- Barclays Center. I hold dearly to the moments I would pass by there, as a child. These are the memories that I will hold and be able to observe the changes as a spectator. As Whitehead mentioned, “No matter how long you have been here, you are a New Yorker the first time you say, That used to be Munsey’s or That used to be the Tic Toc Lounge” (3). Memories are just memories and there is no way of going back to the old, once the new has started to make a move. Hopefully, I would have a chance to say goodbye to those brown-stone buildings that yells old Brooklyn! And welcome with a broken heart the luxury buildings. The biggest step is to accept the change of Atlantic Ave- Barclays Center.

Cite List

  • Colson Whitehead, “City Limits”; The Colossus of New York
  • Charles McGrath,” A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport”;Books.

 

project 3 draft

Leave a reply

A very important part of New York City throughout its history must be Governors Island also called Pagganuck (meaning land of nuts.) Many historic things have happened there, from it being a Native American burial ground when the isle of Manna-Hatta which sat between the twin rivers of Mauritius from the Lenape tribes meaning land of many hills and the river that flows both ways. There are two forts built on Governors island which were used during the Revolutionary war to defend against the British, one named Castle Williams and the other Fort Jay. These buildings still had the armature on the roofs as well as keeping everything else perfectly preserved. After the Revolutionary war the island was converted into a base for the Civil war and had many housing units made for the military that was stationed there, again these are still standing in almost pristine condition. Recently a high school was built on the island called The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School. I attended the school in its first four years on the island and as such had an almost exclusive opportunity to see the island in its untouched state before it was converted into yet another tourist spot.

During the time frame of 2010 – 2014 I attended the Harbor School. At this time many of the buildings were closed and boarded off. Due to having high levels of asbestos. The castle and fort were also closed due to many reports of them being haunted as there was distinct sounds of chains rustling along with moaning going on that could be heard at night time. When I attended the school my friends and I, like any responsible teenager, would go explore the island when we heard that it was off limits and that it was actually federally forbidden from being ventured into. Many of the houses that we entered was molded and had cobwebs absolutely everywhere. The buildings were still in the state that they had been in from the civil war. It was incredibly stunning and beautiful to see. We found books and diaries that were never moved, perfectly preserved beds and dinner sets. In a couple houses were broken as they were never repaired from the cannon fire that happened there. Most of the island was just a field with random bumps in the ground. We later learned that the bumps were actually mounds, made for the burial of the natives as they used the island for their graves.

The most intriguing part of our exploration would be when we explored Fort Jay. We had heard that it was haunted and explicitly forbidden for us to enter. So as responsible teens we snuck into it during one of our overnights we had. Our school had sleep overs rather often as we would sleep on our ships, school and sometimes even in the fields with the mounds. As everyone slept we went into the fort and through some rigorous climbing managed to get into the building. All of us were terrified as it was the most eerie thing, just like everything else on the island, it was perfectly preserved from the civil war. Come to find out, Fort Jay was actually a prison. There were many many jail cells and old looking handcuffs along with anklets with the big balls attached to them. The freakiest part though was… remember earlier when I said there was reports of a haunting? All of us were together just sneaking as quietly as we could when suddenly from the cell next to us, A LOCKED CELL, we heard chains rustling and moving. The amount of speed that overcame us was insane and I will never forget it. We ran to the nearest stairs we could and ran and ran and it turned out we ended up running onto the roof. While we were cursing ourselves for going up instead of down in all the confusion it ended up letting us see something magnificent. There were cannons lined up along the roof with cannonballs piled up next to them all. There also was such a gorgeous view though. We could see all the lights of Manhattan along with the lights of New Jersey and coming over the horizon of the ocean was the sunrise. It was a view that is unforgettable and am grateful for having the opportunity for it.

Recently the island was renovated for tourists, opening in the summer and closing on Labor Day.  All the buildings that were perfectly preserved were torn down and remodeled to be more modern. The mounds were flattened so the ground would have a more uniform appearance and many of the trees were removed to allow space for more buildings and playgrounds to be made. They then boarded up the Fort and the Castle. The last time I was there, I recall that they even had a farm that was growing chickens and pigs there. They added a playground for young children and added a bike stand from which bicycles and quadracycles could be rented. The part of the island that had all the trees was renovated into a golf course. Now the island is becoming a big tourist destination and the history of it is being slowly erased. Most of the people on the island during the summer don’t know that they’re eating on the graves of Native Americans. It would be bad publicity. The don’t know about all the barracks that was there as they’re all gone now. The only remnant is the castle and fort but those have also been changed drastically as they’re all decorated to look pretty and the cannons + cannonballs along with the handcuffs and footcuffs have been removed. The only good news is that according to the park rangers, they have to go in every morning and fix some of the decorations in the cells as they’re constantly being destroyed or changed every day.

All in all, the juxtaposition of these two Governors islands are saddening as the New York that’s being seen now is not my New York. There is no history anymore there is only a money grab.