Decoding New York

Washington Heights and Rego Park

From Decoding New York

Introduction
Washington Heights
* Evolution
* Here v. There
* What's Real
* Economy
Rego Park
* Evolution
* Here v. There
* Economy
Comparison
* Photo Gallery
* Sources

New York City—Glittering Mecca of Rich Diversity and Culture

New York City is globally known as the Mecca of rich diversity and culture. But as one takes a closer look at each of the neighborhoods, which make up this colorful city, it is clear that New York City doesn’t have to be taken as a whole to appear interesting and exciting. Each New York neighborhood brims with an exhilarating history, exotic food, and enticing people, and two such neighborhoods in particular are Rego Park and Washington Heights. At first glance it appears that these two neighborhoods are quite different, however as one delves into each neighborhood’s past and present it becomes obvious that they share many similarities. For instance, Rego Park currently has a predominant Bukharian Jewish population, and Washington Heights, though mostly Dominican in the present, was once home to a significant Jewish population.

Three main “themes” are explored with respect to each of these neighborhoods: “Here Versus There,” “Evolution,” and “Economy.” “Here Versus There” refers to the differences between the neighborhood and the population’s (particularly the immigrant population’s) “mother country.” This encompasses anything from assimilation to the differences in architecture and food between the neighborhood and the population’s birth country. “Evolution” deals with how the neighborhood changes over time and also to what extent the neighborhood’s population tries to hold on to its past. Finally, “Economy” refers to the neighborhood’s shops and stores, and the extent to which the people living in the neighborhood contribute to the economy of their neighborhood in order for it to prosper. Looking at each of these themes with Rego Park and Washington Heights separately will help one to discern commonalities and differences between the two neighborhoods.


This section on Washington Heights and Rego Park developed by Irina Mullokandova, Karina Fatova, Quinn Marston.

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