From The Peopling of New York City: Indian Communities
The built environment of a neighborhood includes the physical characteristics of the area, including the housing and the commercial architecture of storefronts that contain businesses. It is the canvas on which a new immigrant group can paint their cultural backdrop.
The built environment of an area also includes a composition of the signs of the existence of the group inhabiting the given area. In the case of Indian immigrant neighborhoods, the signs include stores, religious centers, and newspapers.
Facets of a Neighborhood's Built Environment
- Housing: The defining characteristics and history of these neighborhoods is also underlined by the structural development of each area. More often than not, it is the structure of the homes that create the atmosphere of these neighborhoods that either encourage an influx of residents, especially those of immigrant origin looking for opportunity, or repel those who have the means to afford something better.
- Businesses: The commercial structures in which Indian immigrants house their businesses tell a great deal as to how that business will operate, and to what degree it will adhere to tradition. Functionality, for instance, often impedes desired style, to some extent. The result is a fusion between American architecture and tradition from the home country.