Washington Heights

Jump to Comments

The changes which Washington Heights is experiencing are irreversible, they have been a long time coming and it’s a feat that an area with so many cultural establishments and accessible public transportation hadn’t gentrified sooner. The hard part now is maintaining the current culture while making space for the new one in order to allow for the transition into a more integrate, racially diverse neighborhood that can embrace new culture without destroying the old one. Currently the Columbia University teaching hospital is the main factor increasing the speed of gentrification due to their rapid development which displaces people and businesses. Due to this they should slow down their rapid development until they can find a way of doing it that does not destroy the current culture.

“If the University truly values Harlem for its “cultural richness,” it must expand in such a way that ensures that the mostly black and Latino residents of Harlem and Washington Heights will not see their communities destroyed by displacement and their neighborhoods changed beyond recognition.” (Columbia SCEG)

 

     

At the forefront of this movement to maintain the culture is Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez who was a big advocate for the recently opened Plaza de las Americas, an outdoor market in 175^th street between Broadway and Wadsworth. This area has for a long time served as a market for farmers and other vendors to sells their products, the new plaza is equipped with water and electricity which will make it easier for the vendors to sell. It also has sitting areas and public restrooms which will make this area more of a cultural and social institution since it will allow customers to use it as more of a shopping and recreation space, Councilman Rodriguez said it will give the neighborhood “a new focal point.”