The Lower East Side is defined as the area below Houston, above Delancey, and east of Bowery (NYbits).  Less than a decade ago, the area was considered to be a “seedy” part of New York; gritty, and far from glamorous.  While it still does not have the completely polished look of Soho, it has definitely shaped up. The Lower East Side is now the home of countless artsy boutiques, bars, restaurants and galleries (NYbits). These changes may be due to the significant shifts in the area’s demographics during the last 12 years. According to the online magazine Bowery Boogie, “On the Lower East Side, whites now make up more than a quarter of the population. Hispanics accounted for 44.4% of the population in 2000. Now, they account for a little more than a third.”  The picture along with the article is of a stop sign, with the word ‘gentrification’ under ‘stop.’ I think the collision of these two groups is a definite conflict story, especially considering the booming night life found in this area (more on that in my Reporter’s Notes).

The male to female ratio in the area is 1:1, and the percent of married couples are 50% (Areavibes). Based on the place of birth by citizenship, 47% of the people in the L.E.S are considered foreign.  37% are in state residents, 8% are out of state residents, and the other 8% are out of the United States residents. The median household income is around $46,000, most people gathering this money directly from their salary, as opposed to social security which comes in 2nd as a source of income. These incomes directly correlate with the price of rent, which is an average of $1,600. The apartments in the Lower East Side vary. Some are brownstones, but most do not have the most glamorous outer appearance. However, as explained on NYBits, the outside of apartments are among the last things to get renovated. So, while many apartments in the Lower East Side are undergoing renovations and becoming more refined and modern, this fact is not always reflected on street-level.