At the dawn of the 1990s, New York City was in an unremittingly bleak state. It brought yet another all-time record high in violent crime.

By the mid 1990s, crime rates started to drop dramatically due to revised police strategies, improving economic opportunities, gentrification, and new residents, both American transplants and new immigrants from Asia and Latin America. Important new sectors, such as Silicon Alley, emerged in the city’s economy.By the time the 1990s ended, the city was pulling in 7 million more tourists a year while the city’s population began to grow for the first time in decades.

French illustrator and photographer Watchman took these fascinating photographs that show  scenes of New York City in May 1990.

Initiation, Downtown NYC, USA

8th avenue at night, Downtown, NYC, USA

Avenue of the Americas (6th av), Downtown NYC, USA

Avenue of the Americas (6th av), Downtown NYC, USA

Avenue of the Americas (6th av), Downtown NYC, USA

Battery Park City, NYC, USA

Battery Park City, NYC, USA

Battery Park Underpass, NYC, USA

Battery Park, Lower Manhattan, NYC, USA

Battery Park, NYC, USA

Battery Park, NYC, USA

Bleecker St (and the Pink Pussy Cat Boutique!), The Village, Downtown NYC, USA

Broadway, Downtown NYC, USA

Broadway, Downtown NYC, USA

Broadway, Downtown NYC, USA

Broadway, Downtown NYC, USA

City Hall, NYC, USA

City Hall, NYC, USA

City Hall, NYC, USA

City Hall, NYC, USA