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From The Peopling of New York City
East Harlem: A Neighborhood In Transition
Life is pleasant
Death is peaceful
It’s the transition that’s troublesome
-Isaac Asimov
What comes to mind when you think of East Harlem? The poverty? The rundown buildings? The high crime rates? Community resistance? Vibrant cultures? This is only part of the story. The neighborhood, bounded by 96th Street and 125th Street between the East River and Fifth Avenue, has undergone a noticeable transition over the last two decades. More affluent families as well as large numbers of Mexican and other immigrants have begun to move into the community, bringing with them improvements as well as challenges.