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I like the Fort Wash strip. Always have, nice access to park quieter than surrounding area but let's not act like it's far from the more hood/less attractive areas. It's literally a block or two away from more hood areas. Not that I think Washington Heights is bad anyway. Lol. It's pretty tame these days. I haven't felt unsafe there in years. The main deterrent for Washington Heights and much of Upper Manhattan is lingering QOL issues, noise, littering, loitering etc.
There's definitely signs of improvement near 145th. I did notice a lot of vacant storefronts though, which did make the area seem like an undesirable area to be in.
Commercially the area is in a bit of limbo and is in a transition period. I've seen a lot of the bodegas get replaced with newer more spiffy looking Deli's. A lot of the mom and pop type places had to close a couple of years back when it seemed like the landlords really aggressively upped the rent. Area has always been kinda lacking shopping wise so frankly there's no way it's going to get worse.
Just a brief update/note about development in the area:
Harlem Public came in almost a year ago and has been packed/extremely successful so far. As-a-result of this and the beginning gentrification of the neighborhood's west side, the West Clothing store next to Harlem Public closed in the spring. I'm sure the landlord increased the rent beyond their reach.
Anyway, I heard from the Chipped Cup on the same block as Harlem Public that this vacant space right next door is soon to be home to a "divey hipster bar."
So, rapidly, the stretch between 145-150 Streets on Broadway is becoming gentrified and slanted more towards the young, educated, trendy crowd. Granted, it's in its early stages, but is happening and will be much more rapidly as long as the overall economy is strong.
Once Columbia University's residential tower on 148/Broadway opens and its campus about 15 blocks south, the area is only headed up and up.
Just a brief update/note about development in the area:
Harlem Public came in almost a year ago and has been packed/extremely successful so far. As-a-result of this and the beginning gentrification of the neighborhood's west side, the West Clothing store next to Harlem Public closed in the spring. I'm sure the landlord increased the rent beyond their reach.
Anyway, I heard from the Chipped Cup on the same block as Harlem Public that this vacant space right next door is soon to be home to a "divey hipster bar."
So, rapidly, the stretch between 145-150 Streets on Broadway is becoming gentrified and slanted more towards the young, educated, trendy crowd. Granted, it's in its early stages, but is happening and will be much more rapidly as long as the overall economy is strong.
Once Columbia University's residential tower on 148/Broadway opens and its campus about 15 blocks south, the area is only headed up and up.
I still wouldn't call it gentrified. The area always slanted toward the young, educated, trendy crowd, they just were not White. Many of these types that have always been attracted to the area had to go outside of the area for these types of establishments in the past.
Hamilton Heights always attracted families that were interested in education but didn't have wealth. The same type of people in the same economic classes are moving in now. Educated, many in Grad school, etc.
It has passable public schools, parochial schools, and City College. It is also home to Harlem School of the Arts, The Dance Theater of Harlem, and the Children's Art Carnival. Columbia was always a presence because they have many activities and educational programs for young people. The main campus and medical center are very close by.
Hamilton Heights is also home to many large established churches.
Commercially the area is in a bit of limbo and is in a transition period. I've seen a lot of the bodegas get replaced with newer more spiffy looking Deli's. A lot of the mom and pop type places had to close a couple of years back when it seemed like the landlords really aggressively upped the rent. Area has always been kinda lacking shopping wise so frankly there's no way it's going to get worse.
Alot of the delis have the same owners, they just renovated. Now you don't have to walk or get on the bus and go down to the Columbia campus area to get things, you can just buy them closer to home.
Sorry for the late response. I'm thinking of living around this area. However, I noticed that there's a sewage treatment plant built below the Riverbank State Park near 145th & Broadway. Is this ever something that residents nearby are concerned about? Smells? Risk of explosion?
Sorry for the late response. I'm thinking of living around this area. However, I noticed that there's a sewage treatment plant built below the Riverbank State Park near 145th & Broadway. Is this ever something that residents nearby are concerned about? Smells? Risk of explosion?
I live within sight of it and never really notice it. The park there is actually really quite nice ([insert joke about fertilizer here]).
A year or two ago, there was some sort of problem that resulted in sewage being let into the Hudson, and there was a smell for a couple of days, but I think that's been about it.
Although I have a pretty terrible sense of smell, so take that with a grain of salt....
I live within sight of it and never really notice it. The park there is actually really quite nice ([insert joke about fertilizer here]).
A year or two ago, there was some sort of problem that resulted in sewage being let into the Hudson, and there was a smell for a couple of days, but I think that's been about it.
Although I have a pretty terrible sense of smell, so take that with a grain of salt....
We do not live in sight of it but not so far away, and we never smelled anything either.
There were news stories about the spill that the OP could check out.
Sorry for the late response. I'm thinking of living around this area. However, I noticed that there's a sewage treatment plant built below the Riverbank State Park near 145th & Broadway. Is this ever something that residents nearby are concerned about? Smells? Risk of explosion?
The stench from the sewage plant was definitely an issue during the early years of Riverbank. I used to live right across the street from the park and was there for its May, 1993 opening. They eventually took care of that though. The history of the sewage plant and Riverbank is really interesting if you read about it: Hamilton Heights got stuck with a massive sewage plant that nobody else wanted, and as a consolation got Riverbank Park, which took much longer to construct and open than originally planned.
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