During the 1970s through 1980s, except for a few select neighborhoods, NYC was a dystopian “armpit of a town”. During the 1990s NYC improved dramatically and with gentrification in the 21st century was able to accomplish much. This included the repurposing, often through rezoning, of industrial neighborhoods like Soho and Tribeca and down-trodden residential areas in the East Village and Lower East Side. In the 21st century it resurrected Harlem in what can be termed the Harlem Renaissance II, as well as other neighborhoods north of 14th Street like Hell’s Kitchen. Residential exclusivity now went far beyond the traditional Blue Blood confines of the Upper East Side.
Neighborhoods that cabs avoided and where no one wanted to admit living are now hot spots. Now residents are proud to tout them. Ironically in a perverse twist, transportation gentrification, these cabs that dared not go to these neighborhoods, are being pushed out by private car companies like Uber and Lyft.
Brooklyn may be the destination borough in NYC and those priced out of Manhattan now residing in Brooklyn (and Queens) are rather happy and content. But secretly those non-Manhattanites wish they could live on that small island. Even a short-term living arrangement in Manhattan is like having that one time romantic dinner date with the supermodel babe or the GQ/former Special Forces hunk even if the evening ends with only a peck on the cheek. Its upfront profile is a high-density, 13 x 2 mile island with a frenetic 24/7 pace, noise and air pollution, and offers claustrophobic units at stratospheric prices and limited views. Yet residents yearn for the Manhattan experience whether for a couple of years or couple of decades and are willing to engage in aggressive bidding wars.
Even for those priced out of Brooklyn and return to Manhattan sound more disappointed than bitter because they want to catch the Brooklyn ‘New Wave’ while it’s still hot & exciting. Because after this period of frenzy, Brooklyn and Queens will eventually settle down demographically and become predictable boroughs. On the other hand Manhattan will never cease having a unique newness and excitement. You can’t duplicate Fifth or Madison Avenues. And let’s not forget the almost impossible to acquire platinum level ‘212’ area code. Former residents may have complained about all those upfront and well-known “inconveniences” but they never regret living there.
Manhattan is one of a handful of living experience places in the world such as Paris, Hong Kong, Ibiza, Almafi Coast, Monaco, or wherever that one possesses that once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s one of those places that when you wake-up, you just feel more glamorous even in the not-so-glamorous neighborhoods. It’s still Manhattan. It’s a cultural Mecca that attracts more songs, more movies, more fashion, more iconic photos than anywhere else in NYC. Manhattan is not better, it just has better historical p.r.
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