I think the Meatpacking District is a fascinating neighborhood filled with history and innovation, a perfect blend of the past and present! I believe that the Meatpacking District located in lower Manhattan approximately from 14th Street to Gansevoort Street is a unique place and in my essay I will be analyzing what makes the area different and special. It is a lively neighborhood filled with upscale boutiques, big businesses, glitzy hotels, and extravagant restaurants. However, in the midst of what has become a luxurious area and popular tourist destination are preserved meat warehouses and factories. It is quite strange to have a high end boutique right next to a building advertising poultry, and yet that is the special element, a feeling of going back in history with all the commodities we are accustomed to. The Meatpacking District has become gentrified however the history is preserved. The questions I am going to be answering include:
- What makes the Meatpacking District unique?
- How has the are been gentrified?
- What is the history of the Meatpacking District?
- What are the future plans for the neighborhood?
- How can an area be both new and old at the same time?
- Will the history last/remain visible or will time erase the unique atmosphere?
I think the Meatpacking district is a great area and I encourage everyone to spend some time exploring the neighborhood!
Thanks for reading!
-Angelika P.