133rd St. marks the southern boundary of our school’s home: Hamilton Heights. Moving from 133rd to 139th St., a gradual change is observed from larger buildings and vast open roads that fall skew to the Manhattan grid to a more uniform layout along Broadway. It is here that one might find all of the elements of a functioning community, from theaters and apartment buildings to groceries, doctor’s offices and, in short, all of the small businesses that are vital to daily life in Hamilton Heights. In our explorations it became evident that the southern region of Hamilton Heights that we were surveying was a wonderful representation of the ethnic makeup of our neighborhood today, along with few bits of history hidden throughout.
Broadway from 133rd – 135th St.
This extravagant looking building was once home to the Claremont Theater. It looks out of place now on a street with a huge apartment building and delis everywhere you look. A storage company now resides in the building, but the outside still shows the history of what used to be there.
This gigantic building is 3333 Broadway, the largest apartment complex in the United States. The building is truly awe inspiring as it takes up two whole city blocks. It can be seen over other building blocks away from where it stands. It has a complex history that includes change of ownership and changes in the average resident.
This stretch of Broadway is quite different from the blocks that follow it. Rather than being dominated by small storefronts, it is occupied by much more massive structures. On the east side of Broadway, a mesmerizing apartment building over 35 stories tall takes up two city blocks and is akin to the Titanic of apartment buildings. On the west side, there resides an old style building that currently resembles a warehouse. The detailed artistry of the building’s facade makes it seem out of place; it is not surprising that this building was once a theater before it was converted into a storage warehouse. It certainly stands as a wonderful remnant of history on Broadway. Follow the link to learn more:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GoUPgr1XIVxf5j9oevVDIYSL43grWTOT5pYgAir6Qqc/edit
– Max Mueller
Broadway from 135th St. to 137th St.
The Hamilton Meat Market grocery store with a detail of the flags of the many Central and South American countries represented by the store's customers.
Parilla Steakhouse just outside the 1 train station
Walking along Broadway from 135th St. to 137th St., one really begins to gain a sense of the people who call Hamilton Heights their home. On both eastern and and western fronts, the street is lined with small family businesses and offices such as restaurants, bakeries, doctor’s offices, pharmacies and groceries.
Broadway From 137th St. to 139th St.
Montefiore Park: It is a little patch of green wedged between Hamilton Place and Broadway, and stretches from West 136th Street to West 139th Street.
Public Sculpture standing in front of Montefiore Park on Broadway and West 137th Street. it is a temporary piece and is part of a collection by the artist Peter Woytuk.
On the opposite side of the street from the park, there are mostly small stores like small restaurants, delis, and family owned shops. But as you walk a block to the north, you start to see several large chain stores like McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Subway restaurants, that dot the entire city.
A newly opened Duane Reade pharmacy on the corner of Broadway and West 137th Street.
A massive two floor McDonalds on the northeastern corner of Broadway and West 138th Street.
The stretch of Broadway between West 137th and 139th Streets is mostly dominated by Montefiore Park on its eastern side. However, the western side of the street genuinely reflects the ethnic diversity of west Harlem. Almost every little store along Broadway represents a culture of its own. Although two different store awnings may have Spanish words on them, they each speak a different language, and express a wholly different history. Every store-front represents a unique culture.
City College Subway station. Access to the 1 line on 137th Street and Broadway.
