DUMBO Design District

The name DUMBO is an acronym that stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It was coined in the late nineteen-seventies by a group of artists who were living in the area's abandoned factories. These early residents chose the intentionally unglamorous name because they hoped it would sound unattractive enough to deter real estate developers from moving into their creative enclave. The plan ultimately failed, but the name stuck as the neighborhood transformed from a quiet industrial zone into a hub for architecture and design.