New York City has undergone some dramatic changes over the past several decades. Landmarks like Kim’s Video & Music are shuttering their doors, and rents are skyrocketing more each year. One neighborhood that has seen a major shift is the East Village. In 1984, photographer Daniel Root, who we learned of on Kottke, documented the area—the way most people think of it, as it appears in the movies. Today, he has made it his mission to revisit the locations in his images to document their current state. The EV NY project reveals some fascinating and dramatic transformations. Gentrification has scrubbed the East Village’s former graffiti-covered walls. See what you make of New York City’s East Village 30 years ago versus today in our gallery.
Photo credit: Daniel Root
222 East 3rd Street. Abandoned lot swing set
Photo credit: Daniel Root
360 East 4th Street. Kids posing
Photo credit: Daniel Root
162 Avenue B. Bakery.
Photo credit: Daniel Root
101 Avenue A. Pyramid Club kid.
Photo credit: Daniel Root
724 East 5th Street. Schoolyard wall.
Photo credit: Daniel Root
143 Avenue B. Christodora House.
Photo credit: Daniel Root
402 East 8th Street. Rear of Ave. D buildings.
Photo credit: Daniel Root
134 St. Mark’s Place. Bromley’s Hotel.
Photo credit: Daniel Root
307 East 8th Street. Cinderblock entrance.
Photo credit: Daniel Root
349 East 10th Street. Street fair