Operation Pressure Point, New York City (1984)
NYPD flooded the Lower East Side to shut down an open-air heroin market that had operated for years. Police made thousands of arrests and pushed dealing off the streets.
Drug corners were disrupted, but many dealers moved to nearby blocks or indoors.
The area underwent slow, uneven redevelopment over two decades as legitimate commerce returned.
Shows that clearing a drug corner doesn't instantly produce legitimate retail; the transition takes years and often draws new scrutiny from residents and regulators.
