8th Avenue Evolution
From Decoding New York
Called Eighth Avenue by Cantonese speakers as a mistranslation of Sunset Park, the name "Eighth Avenue" signifies luck and prosperity. The neighborhood is 29% Asian, mostly Chinese. Between 1980 and 1990 the population growth of Chinese immigrants grew by 319%. Within the Chinese community, there is a sizable number of Fuzhounese. Now Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and Dominicans make up 50% of immigrants.
Eighth Avenue is seen more as an extension of Manhattan Chinatown than a new Chinatown with a unique character. This characteristic of Eighth Avenue is unlike Flushing, which, although called a satellite Chinatown, is more of a discrete neighborhood (defined by language). Eighth Avenue has grown due to the success of a few first immigrants, which encouraged more people to make a new start in Brooklyn. More educated immigrants decided to live in Brooklyn, which further strengthened the area. However, along with a healthy economy and population came more traffic, chaos and crowding. Because of the extreme traffic problems that have plagued the area, there have been some talk of making 8th avenue a one way street. If this occurs, property values along 8th ave will drop, while the adjacent avenues' worth increases. Furthermore, this will also likely spread out the community to a larger extent, whereas now it is primarily concentrated along one strip.
