070915, Echito, New York, NY

070915, Echito, New York, NY by ewah

Two years ago today, I decided to take responsibility for documenting my street. I photograph everyday life, make street portraits, and share them with the denizens.

My project is to document the diversity and inevitable change on Eldridge Street. Spanning eight blocks, Eldridge borders on Chinatown, the Lower East Side, Loisaida, the East Village and NoLIta. I was raised on the street and have seen major changes to it over my lifetime.

A few blocks away foretells the future of the street -- full of hip bars, trendy cafes, hotels and froufrou galleries. Rent prices on Eldridge have tripled since I started. Construction has already begun on hotels and high priced condos. In New York, it is inevitable.

Over the next few years, I will continue photograph on the street and eventually the inside the local businesses, and resident's homes. I will soon record interviews with locals to understand how the street was and imagine what it will become.