In the summer of 2009. City Limits took a deep look at one neighborhood—Bushwick, the geographic center of New York City—to gauge the successes and failures, the winners and losers, of early 21st Century New York City.
This is a look at some of what has happened in one ZIP code since 2001. What follows might not encompass the full story of the wider city. But it is part of that larger tale.
When asked to reflect on the past eight years, people in 11237—be they residents, real estate agents, pastors, activists or politicians—first point to the reduction in crime.
Even 10 years ago, garment-making was still an important source of work for Kelly’s congregation. But then it began to disappear.
Bushwick’s contribution to the city’s pre-Bloomberg image of educational failure emanated not from its elementary or middle schools but rather from the large building on Irving Avenue that hosted Bushwick High School.
Almost any discussion of housing in Bushwick tends to begin with July 13, 1977. That night, the blackout that hit New York City sparked widespread looting along Broadway
The recession and immigration status are bigger concerns, says Father Kelly, than whether arugula is going to appear at the greengrocer’s.