NYC History 42 st and 8 ave 1970s/ 80s (condo, crimes)

[nysensual]

if the Times writes about it (Oct 17 and last week) and US News posts it thru Facebook(November 13?), there must be something about the rising interest in the "naughty" period of NYC History surrounding the 1970s/80s along 42 Street , 8 Ave and Times Square. I wanted to see how many out there have original, informed comments on the topic.
I believe we've all heard enough of "It's like Disneyland now..." or "42 St was so much more interesting
back in the day...".....More like looking for the underlying thread of: yeah, I was there, I remember...or, boy was it scary....or I found it fascinating because....
and these types of comments are especially valuable if they come from both those who lived through the period...and those who've heard about the period and would like to see, hear more....
thanks to all

[rlrl]

I remember in October of '79 a gang rampaged thru the underground passageway of the 42nd street IND station beating robbing and harassing passersby. the newscaster concluded that "although things of this magnitude are actually a rare occurrence, the fact of the matter remains that 42nd street and 8th Avenue remains a frightening place, day or night"

in December 1972 the NYPD put up police barricades in the middle of the sidewalk on 8th Avenue between 45th and 48th streets due to intolerable street conditions. an owner of a former Greek eatery on 47th and 8th reported prostitutes and dealers crowding under his awning for shelter from the sun and rain. his customers could barely open his door

I had lunch at an italian eatery on W 47th street near 8th Avenue in 1980. the owner spent most of the meal telling us about how he was robbed and accosted by prostitutes when opening up and how he feared going out of business since many were too intimidated to go to his eatery .

In 1984 2300 crimes were committed on 42nd street. 11 years later that dropped down to 60

an early 70's survey found 19 prostitutes walking or standing on the street on 8th Avenue between 48th and 50th streets

the Guardian Angels set up their headquarters on W 46th street and 8th Avenue in 1979. patrolling that area was part of their job

I could go on and on

[rlrl]

tho i avoided the 42nd street and 8th Avenue area back then, during the times i was there i found it "fascinating" indeed

once i and a friend walked down 8th avenue just to see the hookers which we assumed were all heterosexuals. we thought it would be all fun & games like "hi girls" what's doing? nothing like it. when i saw a tranny hustler wearing a fur coat and high heels on a 90 degree day, it didn't occur to me that this is how people survived on the streets. the pimp next to her(or him) was frightening to see. and the other people hanging around were frightening. I didn't return to this spot for years. now that site is a Starbucks, a jeans store, a Staples and a towering condo (where Amanda Bynes supposedly lives)

there is nothing there these days to "fascinate" anyone

[SandyJet]

When I lived in Manhattan off Park Avenue in the 20s there was hookers on all four corners pretty much most nights of the week and the afterhour bar next to apt is where the pimps settled up with their hos around 7am. Condoms and needles everywhere every morning and lots of SROs in Times Square. Ny apt featured a crack house a few doors over.

Madision Square park used to be very seed and all the bums and crack heads would sleep in it at night and no one would ever cut through it. I did one morning in my suit and the guy behind me at 7:30 am the crack head jumped up and thought he was being robbed or something and stabbed in him in the back. He was plenty dead as I took off.

News years eve 1980 a huge wilding toook place and packs of black youths 50-100 at a time beat and robbed people at one point the police horse got one of them right in front of me and horse stepped on mouth and teeth went everywhere. Later I saw them kicking and beating people just out of a broadway show and turned on us but we as everyone teenager back then did had weapons and had ours out first. He made a mistake of being too close to use. I think he realized he would get a knife in his belly first and he let us go.

Albabet City OMG. And Javits center was all tranny toothless hos. Give you a gum job. Timesquare was all jerk off movie theaters, live nudie booths and plenty of drug addicts.

I was born in Manhattan, grew up on Bronx, moved back to Manhattan and left it to move to surburbs in 1998.

The difference in city between just 1990 and 1998 was amazing. I did get to see at least five people killed.

Manhattan did not scare me as I lived in Bronx in the 1970s and that is serious street cred

[nysensual]

Now that's more like it.....wish more people with nostalgic only memories read these posts....there should be a balance...the corporatization of entertainment is one issue....doesn't allow for street entertainment (though some would surely disagree) ..one's ability to navigate these streets safely is a whole other issue ...balance.......it appears to be as out of balance now as it was then...just in the other direction....
thx so far

[rlrl]

TIMES SQ. AREA SWEEPS HAVE TRIPLED ARRESTS - NYTimes.com

back in 1983 you had gangs robbing tourists as per the article above

[Aeran]

Originally Posted by rlrl

I remember in October of '79 a gang rampaged thru the underground passageway of the 42nd street IND station beating robbing and harassing passersby. the newscaster concluded that "although things of this magnitude are actually a rare occurrence, the fact of the matter remains that 42nd street and 8th Avenue remains a frightening place, day or night"

in December 1972 the NYPD put up police barricades in the middle of the sidewalk on 8th Avenue between 45th and 48th streets due to intolerable street conditions. an owner of a former Greek eatery on 47th and 8th reported prostitutes and dealers crowding under his awning for shelter from the sun and rain. his customers could barely open his door

I had lunch at an italian eatery on W 47th street near 8th Avenue in 1980. the owner spent most of the meal telling us about how he was robbed and accosted by prostitutes when opening up and how he feared going out of business since many were too intimidated to go to his eatery .

In 1984 2300 crimes were committed on 42nd street. 11 years later that dropped down to 60

an early 70's survey found 19 prostitutes walking or standing on the street on 8th Avenue between 48th and 50th streets

the Guardian Angels set up their headquarters on W 46th street and 8th Avenue in 1979. patrolling that area was part of their job

I could go on and on

I recall going on a field trip when I was in grade school (we were there to catch a matinee on B'way) and seeing prostitutes milling around accosting customers in broad daylight on a weekday. Odd. Business men, school kids, old ladies, prostitutes and pimps walking side by side at 1:00pm on a Wednesday afternoon.

[antinimby]

I wonder where those people are today (the ones that are still alive that is). Maybe moved south?

Most of them have got to be in their 50's and 60's now.

[CNYC]

Only the brave would dare walk down 42nd St. bet 7th and 8th Ave. I used to test myself as a kid. Sometimes I had the guts and sometimes I didn't.

I remember standing outside the old Modells and watching a guy have his suit pants pocket slit with a razor all the way to below his knees. Accomplished within seconds.

I remember a lot of the new stands were slinging dope.

It's got the potential to go back to bad again IMO. It won't be because of the influx of porn it will be from the temptation of it being a tourist mecca. All tourist meccas around the world are prime targets for criminals. I Walked down Times Square a few nights ago and it seemed shifty to me. Lone packs of kids just walking around. Some lone thug types checked me out. As a native NY'er I can say I felt some red flags.

[MisterStereoman]

"KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE MAGAZINES, GENTLEMEN"

Adult book shop, 42nd & 8th.