Dumbo (Brooklyn)

Dumbo or DUMBO or D.U.M.B.O. is an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, translated "Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass ". It refers to a residential area in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area is located on the East River, and consists of two parts: One is located between the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, connecting Brooklyn with Manhattan, the other east of the Manhattan Bridge until after Vinegar Hill. The Brooklyn Bridge forms the border with Fulton Ferry. The area is by the mighty bridges and ramps that lead up to the bridges, dominates.

History

The first known inhabitants of the area on the East River were Canarsee Indians. In 1673, they sold a large tract of land on the East River to the Dutch settlers Joris Jansen Rapalje. The Rapalje family use the land until the end of the Revolutionary War as farmland. Since they were followers of the British colonial power, their land was confiscated after the victory of the thirteen North American colonies. In 1784 it was bought by the later bankers and members of Congress Comfort and Joshua Sands for $ 12,000. This began with the construction of roads in today's Dumbo, which was then still called Olympia. Subsequently, residential and commercial buildings were erected.

In 1830 changed the character of the former residential district, as the residential development has been gradually replaced by commercial buildings. The western part of the present district was known until the 1890s as Fulton Landing or Gairville. This laid the ferries to Manhattan before the Brooklyn Bridge was opened. The present building dates mainly from the period between 1880 and 1920 consists mainly of factories and warehouses, wood and later steel frame buildings with brick facades. At this time it is about to see an almost purely industrial and commercial area, among other things, there was Breweries ( Howard & Fuller Ale Brewery ), coffee roasters and sugar factories ( Arbuckle Brothers), machinery (EW Bliss ), footwear ( Hanan & Son) or cardboard manufacturers (Robert Gair Co.) as well as the company Brillo, the steel wool sponges produced. By 1900, more than 100,000 people found work in Dumbo. Some of these workers also lived in the neighborhood. Went in the course of de-industrialization of Brooklyn, as well as established companies in bankruptcy or subjected away from here and many of the former industrial buildings stood empty in part, were partially converted to mixed commercial facilities, created more and more homes and studios in the old buildings. In particular, artists and young people settled in the late 1970s, as prices, especially for large apartments were relatively low here.

D.U.M.B.O. The abbreviation was created in 1978 by pioneers of the new district, in the faith of unattractive name Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass city developers and investors would be deterred to invest here. Abbreviations for the name of the city quarters are in New York quite common, for example SoHo (South of Houston ) and TriBeCa ( Triangle Below Canal ) in Manhattan. With the approach of using art as a catalyst for change, succeeded particular Joy Glidden, founding director of the Dumbo arts center (DAC) to create a model for restructuring in Dumbo that has entered into similar developments of former port areas around the world. At the end of the 20th century living space in Manhattan was becoming increasingly expensive, Dumbo was increasingly bourgeois. This development is repressed in part, the artists of the first hour. Meanwhile, some buildings have been converted into luxury apartment buildings, new residential buildings were built in the district, which has indeed increased the level, housing prices however.

Historic district Dumbo

On 18 December 2007 was as Dumbo 90th Historic District (historic quarter) of the City of New York reported. The Dumbo historic district includes the area between John Street to the north, York Street to the south, Main Street to the west and Bridge Street to the east. The area lies on both sides and partly beneath the Manhattan Bridge, which here still spans the East River. The conservation district includes about 91 historic buildings. On some roads are still the tracks from the era of industrialization Brooklyns present, in some places they lead to the building. Many roads and pedestrian paths still exist from the original large stone paving stones made of granite. By this streetscape of the industrial character of the neighborhood is enhanced. Most historic buildings are now used as apartment or office building, only a small portion is still used by trade and industry.

Tourist importance

In addition to the tourist destinations in the neighborhood such as the Brooklyn Bridge, over which one can easily walk to walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn, the neighboring districts Fulton Ferry with its Pier Fulton Slip and the former fire boat house with the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory just below the Brooklyn Bridge, the newly formed Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Brooklyn Heights promenade with its known to Dumbo himself has now established itself as one of the most important artists' district in New York. There are many art galleries and restaurants, on the East River is the Empire - Fulton Ferry State Park to the east and another part of Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Accessibility

Dumbo can be reached from Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge walkway that runs above the lanes. By Sea NY Waterway and New York Water Taxi offers the possibility to Fulton Slip in Fulton Landing to drive. Furthermore, with the New York City Subway line A and C to the station and High Street with the line F to York Street Station or take the MTA bus at various stops in the district.

Trivia

The American comedian Jerry Seinfeld, known from U.S. sitcom Seinfeld, which comes itself from Brooklyn, joked in a talk show on the residential neighborhood in Brooklyn, it is stated actually " Down Under the Manhattan Bridge ", which would have New York but arbitrarily an "O" appended to the end of the abbreviation, because nobody wants to live in a residential area, the dumb (English, stupid ') is called.