ELEVATED LINES
The New York City subway system is both the lifeblood and the bane of a New Yorker’s existence. Serving 3.5 million customers a day, the subway traverses all 5 boroughs of the city. Built at the turn of the 20th century, much of the system is above ground (The EL) and cuts through the heart of NYC’s working class neighborhoods.
Viewed from the EL platform edge, one can see the city’s discordant mix of old and new and the ever present renewal/decay/transition of its neighborhoods. Vestiges of 1900s New York remain mixed with new development, gentrification, and sometimes abject neglect. Residential, retail, and industrial exist side by side — sometimes all within the span of one subway stop. This project presents a visual survey of the working class city as it stands today.
