Why the animosity?
rfp, it's still a 'dump' if you stay away or claim to not know? Seems like a contradictory statement.
If people like Leo DiCaprio and other Hollywood celebrities visit Dominican-owned establishments in the Heights, I wouldn't say it's a 'dump'.
Washington Heights is now one of the upcoming neighborhoods in NYC, as others have stated, for better or for worse, the Heights is going through 'gentrification'--many buildings and apartments have been remodeled, there is a wide variety of restaraunts, not just Dominican, and some others that offer very interesting fusions with Dominican cuisine, but, most importantly, the Dominican-Americans have also added their touch (both good and bad) and that has also influenced the type of establishments that are opened there that cater to a traditional, older Dominican audience and a younger, American-influenced Dominican-American audience.
I really don't get the animosity expressed by some here toward NYC and the Heights.