New York - Town plan

New York

Town plan

The city was built on a modern plan of streets and avenues. Streets run east-west and avenues north-south (e.g. Fifth Avenue is the shopping centre). Only a few of them – the oldest – have got their names, e.g. Wall Street or Broadway (original Indian path) which runs north-south nearly the whole length of the island. Broadway is the centre of cultural life (most theaters are here).

In southern Manhattan we can find the liveliest boroughs (volební okresy, městské části) such as Little Italy, Chinatown, Soho (South of Houston) – the centre of contemporary art. East Village is a multi-cultural area with many ethnic restaurants, boutiques, rock and jazz clubs. Many musical groups started their career here. Greenwich Village is the home of artists, writers and N.Y.U. students.

The city is notorious for its crime. There are drug battles, gang wars and homeless people living in the streets. Many believe New York is no longer a safe and healthy place to live and lots of people, especially with small children, are moving away.