Power Washing at 188 Suffolk Street

For much of the 20th Century, Manhattan’s The Lower East Side (LES) was a gritty immigrant enclave filled with railroad-style apartments and other inexpensive tenements that housed the majority of 19th and 20th century immigrants to the city. In the 1960s the neighborhood demographics began to shift with musicians, artist and hipsters moving in—but the area remained relatively middle class. In the early 2000s gentrification transformed the LES into one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the city. In the 2000s, many LES buildings were renovated to help justify massive rent increases. The lackluster bones of many LES apartments remained but were given upgrades, often with stainless steel appliances and external facelifts. This shot of 188 Suffolk receiving its power wash took place against the backdrop of a neighborhood in flux. Much of the LES’ charm remains, but a lot of the (literal, and to some extend figurative), grit has been power washed away.

We particularly like this piece because of the color palette. It's a nice way to combine neutrals with subtle pops of color, giving warmth to a space.