Legacies of Redlining: San Juan Hill

Before the area was redlined and demolished to make way for Lincoln Center, San Juan Hill was a vital, bustling neighborhood in the heart of the city. Preserved in the public memory as the setting of West Side Story—perhaps one of the most iconic Broadway musicals set in New York—the true story of this immigrant enclave is worth recalling.

On this walking tour of the area, guides will point out individual landmarks in view and discuss Robert Moses’ early urban renewal projects, including the Lincoln Square renewal program. We will discuss who exactly lived in San Juan Hill, what the neighborhood was like, and where everyone went due to redlining. This will be accompanied by a discussion of approaches to urban design in the mid 20th century, as well as mission-driven land use.