Little Italy

LOCATION

Downtown Manhattan. Little Italy is an ever-shrinking neighborhood currently flanked by Center street to the west, the Bowery to the east, Kenmare street to the north and Canal street to the south. (Although even this conservative definition is optimistic - one only needs to venture one block east of Mulberry to immerse onself in the lively atmosphere of... Chinatown).

The area north of Kenmare (and all the way up to Bleecker) used to belong to Little Italy as well, but in recent decades the character of that part of the neighborhood changed so significantly that it is now considered a separate area, named NoLiTa (which stands for NOrth of LIttle ITaly).

CHARACTER AND FEEL

Little Italy flourished in the first half of the 20th century as an ethnic enclave, but was in decline by the mid-1970s, when local residents joined forces to create the Little Italy Restauration Association (LIRA). This organization was instrumental in making urban planning changes, most importantly declaring a section of Mulberry Street a pedastrian-only zone.

APARTMENTS & REAL ESTATE

Selected Rental Buildings

• 163 Mulberry Street (Little Italy)
  A pre-war building.
• 165 Mulberry Street (Little Italy)
  A pre-war building.
• 8 Centre Market Place (Little Italy)
  A walk-up building.

See all Little Italy Rental Apartment Buildings (3 buildings)

Condo & Co-op Buildings

• 123 Baxter (123 Baxter Street, Little Italy)
  A modern mid-rise doorman building.
• Hester Gardens (158 Hester Street, Little Italy)
  A mid-rise doorman elevator building.
• The Marchinery Exchange (136 Baxter Street, Little Italy)
  A mid-rise elevator building.

See all Little Italy Condo Apartment Buildings (5 buildings)

DEMOGRAPHICS

Around 10,000 people live in Little Italy, although, it should be noted, the neighborhood is simply overrun by tourists.

SAFETY

Long gone are the days of gangland shootings, but supposedly, the Mafia still has an influence here. As far as common street crime is concerned, Little Italy is safe, but as always the case with touristy neighborhoods, watch your belongings.