NEIGHBORHOOD

The Eldridge Street Project is located in Lower Manhattan at the intersection of Chinatown and the historic Lower East Side. Long recognized as an immigrant gateway, the Lower East Side has been first home for many Americans - from the Irish, Italian and East European immigrants of a century ago to the Chinese, Latino and East Asian communities who now reside in the neighborhood.

For much of its history, the Lower East Side has also attracted an artistic community; today many writers, painters, sculptors, designers and other creative individuals make it their home. The district's incredible diversity is manifested in the stores and eateries lining its streets: Jewish-owned fabric and lingerie shops, Chinese restaurants, Spanish bodegas, designer boutiques and trendy bars all share the same blocks, contributing to the exuberance and liveliness of the area.

The neighborhood buildings - from a 19th-century bathhouse now housing a Fujianese church to old-law tenements that have been converted into luxury lofts - tell the story of the Lower East Side and its residents and workers. Here we offer a guide to some local landmarks. As you wander, you are sure to find numerous other architectural, historic and gustatory delights along the way. Also, for more information visit the website of the Lower East Side Business Improvement District.