West Harlem,including Manhattanville & Hamilton Heights
Manhattanville (West Harlem):
Manhattanville stretches from 122nd st in the south to 134th st in the north, Morningside Park in the west to Adam Clayton Powel Jr. Boulevard in the east. This neighborhood has become the site of a major planned expansion of Columbia University, which has campuses in Morningside Heights to the south and Washington Heights to the north. The # 1, 2 & 3 trains run through the neighborhood, with the # 1 running above ground after 125th St. There is also a Metro North (railroad) station on 125th St making a weekend country escape very convenient. There are also multiple bus routes traveling north-south and east-west. Harlem is the birthplace of Jazz, and is home to the Apollo Theatre, the Cotton Club, and other iconic NYC nightspots. West Harlem is a vibrant community made up from diverse cultures from Africa, the Caribbean and the US. There is a variety of dining opportunities including Soul Food at Sylvia’s, Rao’s and the Lenox Lounge. The West Harlem Piers are a relatively new park development, which includes a fishing pier, kayak launch and water taxi landings, and stretches from 125-132nd St.
Hamilton Heights:
Hamilton Heights is an upcoming neighborhood, named after Alexander Hamilton. It’s part of Harlem, and runs from 135th St to 155th St, bounded by Broadway to the west and Edgecombe Ave to the east. Its neighbors are Washington Heights to the north and Manhattanville to the south. The neighborhood has attracted a population of students, artists, academics, actors etc, all drawn to the reasonable housing prices. The area has a good subway service (# 1 train, and the A, B, C, D) and you are only a few stops from the Upper West side and midtown. There are also multiple bus routes traveling north-south and east-west. There are some chain establishments (eg Starbucks, Duane Reade, Bank of America) along 145th street, but many other stores are independents. Hamilton Heights is still an affordable Manhattan neighborhood, and apartments may be large. City College, Harlem School of the Arts and the Dance Theater of Harlem are in the area, and Columbia University is about a mile south. Riverbank Park is fun to visit – a 28-acre site including an Olympic swimming pool, ice rink, theater and athletic complex. St Nicholas Park stretches many blocks and is worth visiting for the views of Harlem.
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