The Downtown Manhattan Renaissance

Manhattan's financial district experienced a radical transformation after September 11, 2001.

This used to be a "business hours-only" neighborhood. Back in the mid-1990s when I first started working down here, the area became creepy and deserted after around 7-8pm. Literally NOBODY was on the streets, and none of the stores or restaurants stayed open past 6 or 7. It was a breakfast and lunch (and maybe happy hour) scene only.

After 9/11, a ton of businesses moved out of the area, and many of the office buildings converted into residential apartments and condos. Rents in the neighborhood were still somewhat affordable, at least compared to the rest of Manhattan. They're not quite so affordable now, unfortunately.

Over the next few years, the residential population here began to reach critical mass. Residential conveniences which were previously lacking in the neighborhood began to appear: grocery stores, nighttime restaurants, cafes, etc.

Below is a photo of the Jubilee market, one of two grocery stores in the vicinity. For a New York City grocery store (an admittedly low standard), it's reasonably clean and reasonably inexpensive.

Also, the flowers outside the front door are fresh and only $4.99 a bunch. One of the best deals in Manhattan.


A decade ago, you'd be nervous being out in the evenings down here because the streets were utterly deserted. This used to be the one part of New York that actually slept!

Now there are women pushing strollers, young people, dog-walkers, tourists, etc, everywhere, at all times of the day and night.

Sure, every part of New York is in a constant state of reinvention and flux, but this district of Manhattan has probably seen more change than any other over the past few years. For somebody who remembers what this neighborhood was like 10 years ago, the transformation is quite stunning.