Hamilton Heights | Harlem Sub-Neighborhood

Hamilton Heights is located between 135th and 155th Street. Hamilton Heights in Upper Manhattan was the home of Alexander Hamilton from 1802 - 1804. 

Today Hamilton Heights is mostly a housing fusion of palatial 19th century brownstones, spacious pre-wars and tenement walk-ups.

The Harlem sub-neighborhood of Hamilton Heights boasts some of the city’s most-desired townhouses, and is best known for Sugar Hill and Strivers’ Row both NYC landmark designated. The Harlem sub-neighborhood of Hamilton Heights has some of the most-desired townhouses in New York City. 

 

Sugar Hill  - Sweet and Expensive," During the Harlem Renisance of the 1920's The Hill attracted those with talent, money, education, and social prominence. Sugar Hill was celebrated for its exclusivity and status. 

Parts of Strivers’ Row were designed by the noted architecture firm of McKim, Mead and White. Strivers Row below Sugar Hill named by Harlemites for it's ambitious residents.

Strivers' Row houses are among the few private homes in Manhattan with space for parking. Many of the townhouses have lovely staircases, fireplaces, pocket doors, and moldings. Even in the surrounding area, the conjunction of great subway access (the train stops at 135th and 145th streets) and beautiful row houses makes Hamilton Heights a lovely place to buy a home.

Zoning does not allow for very large buildings. Many apartments in Hamilton Heights are floor-throughs that come with town house amenities, like terraces, gardens, fireplaces, and uncommonly good light for Manhattan.

A diversified mix of Buyers are coming to Hamilton Heights for the neighborhood’s history, culture, houses, brownstones, new condos and HDFC coops that cost much less than they would a mile to the south.

I have a new exclusive listing at 517 West 144th Street Apt. 8,  A mint renovated 3 bedroom 1 bath HDFC coop for $349,000. First Open House Sunday December 9th from 12 noon to 1:00 PM.

"Hurray take the "A" train or the  1,  B, C, and D trains to go to Hamilton Heights, way up in Harlem" for the history,  culture and affordable housing. Hope to see you up in Harlem.

Reveille with Beverly -- (Movie Clip) Take the A Train

Ann Miller (as "Beverly") spins this performance of "Take the A Train" from Reveille with Beverly, 1943, by the famed Duke Ellington's Orchestra, with Ivie Johnson's vocal.

City Planning Commission Approves Harlem Rezoning

NY-1 reported that The City Planning Commission approved a major rezoning plan for 125th Street today. The proposal would create condos, performing arts space, new hotels, and an office tower.

The rezoning would cover from 124th to 126th Street between Broadway and Second Avenue. The plan also calls for 2,500 units of housing, 500 of which would be for those earning less than $56,000 a year.

Supporters say the rezoning will revive the neighborhood's cultural identity, which they say has been threatened by unregulated development.

Opponents fear the neighborhood will lose its character to corporate chains, and worry that some residents could lose their homes.

The plan will now go to the City Council for approval.

Harlem: New Residential Developments

The Kalahari
40 West 116th Street

The Kalahari will be covered in decorations inspired by South African Ndebele tribal designs. Adinkra symbols" and other African designs and markings will adorn the walls.

The 12 story building will contain an independent film center, education center and a gym.

Nearly half of the 249 planned condos have been set aside for moderate-income buyers.

The remaining market priced 129 unit condominium is more than 50% sold. Currently available are 2 and 3 bedroom units ranging from $700,000 to $1,585,000. The two tower building will be completed in early 2008.

To receive listings of new developments in Harlem click here.

Manhattan Neighborhood: Harlem

(updated 10/1/2011) 

Harlem was established in 1658 by the Dutch and named Nieuw Harlem after the Dutch city of Harlem. This large section of Manhattan real estate has a deep spirit, culture and history.

Harlem passed through several historic periods - as a high-society area of New York for wealthy upper class and middle class white residents...as a fashionable district for blacks during a period known as the "Harlem Renaissance"...as one of the hottest night club playgrounds for audiences who came uptown to see the all black revues to gangsters and entertainers in grand style at the famous night spots.

Beginning in the 1870s Harlem was the site of a massive wave of development which resulted in the construction of numerous new single-family row-houses, tenements, and luxury apartment houses, New York's black middle class began moving to Harlem.

During the "Harlem Renaissance" of the 1920s, Harlem became the urban cultural center of black America, with its center around 135th Street between Lenox and Seventh Avenues.

Affluent African-Americans began moving to "Sugar Hill" in the late 1920s. "Sweet and Expensive," signifying that one had arrived, economically and socially Sugar Hill was celebrated for its exclusivity and status. The Hill attracted those with talent, money, education, and social prominence.

• East Harlem/El Barrio (Spanish Harlem) community stretches from First Avenue to Fifth Avenue and from East 96th Street to East 125th Street.
  
• Central Harlem stretches from Central Park North to the Harlem River and from Fifth Avenue to St. Nicholas Avenue.
• West Harlem, including Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill, stretches from 123rd to 155th Streets and from St. Nicholas Avenue to the Hudson River

For the last few years there has been another wave of development and construction in Harlem. New condo development has surged in Harlem like the rest of Manhattan and there appears to be enough demand by buyers to meet supply.

111 Central Park North

A luxury glass condo at 111 Central Park North currently has 2 available 3 bedroom apartments for sale for $2,399,000 and $2,690,000. (Oct 1, 2011)

Recent sales data: A 4 bedroom 4.5 bath 2897 square foot Penthouse recently sold for $4,525,000. (Oct 1, 2011)

It appears Central Park North is getting numbers equivalent to prices on Central Park West, Central Park South and Upper 5^th Avenue. Harlem condos typically sell for $550 to $800 per-square-foot. Townhouses run $350 to $500 a square foot if it requires no renovation. If it's a shell, and one can still be found it's about $250 to $300 a square foot.

A diversified mix of New Buyers think Harlem is an exciting place to live because it is still on the island and they are priced out of downtown. They are coming to Harlem for the neighborhood's history and the immaculate houses on Strivers Row and new condos all over Harlem. The fixer-upper brownstones that were a steal have been gone for a couple of years now. Most Townhouse owners have cashed out already. Many have been renovated and many sellers have priced them too high. 

Developers have converted brownstone, shells of buildings and narrow vacant lots into condominium apartments. For Manhattan home buyers, this new wave of condo conversion in Harlem provides an opportunity to live in a neighborhood with small-scale buildings. Harlem zoning does not allow for very large buildings. These apartments, typically floor-throughs and duplexes come with town house amenities, like terraces, gardens, fireplaces, and uncommonly good light for Manhattan.  

There are new condo townhouses from Morningside to amilton Heights. Many of the new construction condos are on Frederick Douglas Boulevard.

New larger buildings with doormen and other amenities have gone up on Harlem's Avenues. Many of the new developments are along Frederick Douglas Boulevard.

88 Morningside Avenue

88 Morningside Avenue, Harlem, Morningside Heights is a new construction condo set among tree lined streets and pre-war buildings directly opposite Morningside Park. Current available apartments at 88 Morningside range from a 625 square foot one bedroom to a 1300 square foot Three bedroom 2 bath home for just under $900,000. (Oct 1, 2011)

 

The Dwyer Condos - Warehouse Lofts at 123rd Street

 

The Dwyer condos at 123^rd and St. Nicholas are more like downtown loft buildings.

Harlem is a location with history, spirit, culture and affordability. 

Harlem may be the neighborhood you are looking for. 

All the new construction in Harlem it hasn't lost its old historic flavor. There are still many prewar buildings and beautiful 19th century townhouses featuring fireplaces and molding and lovely backyards.

Harlem is home to Columbia University and the world renowned Apollo Theater where such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Aretha Franklin performed. One of the area's most notable attractions is the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. This awesome Episcopal cathedral, on 112th Street near Columbia University, is exceptional in its melding of Gothic, Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. More and more businesses are flocking in to meet the needs of this resurrected neighborhood.

To receive Harlem lisings by email click here .

So take the A train up to Harlem and enjoy the history and affordable housing!

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