540 West 165th Street, 5-K

Quick Profile

Washington Heights, a hilly neighborhood on Manhattan’s northern tip known for its affordable apartments, preserved pre-war buildings, and Dominican food. Some would argue that it's a hidden gem and one of Manhattan's last neighborhoods that has retained its culture. The large swath of land is bordered by Inwood to the north along Dyckman Street, by Harlem to the South along 155th Street, by the Harlem River to the east, and the Hudson River to the West. It is the highest natural point on the Island of Manhattan. 

Despite its high residential density, Washington Heights and Inwood have not seen modern housing construction in more than a decade other than relatively small housing units. Midtown Manhattan, Battery Park, TriBeCa, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen, on the other hand, have seen an increase in building. Most of the high rise construction belongs to hospitals such as New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center, and educational institutions like Yeshiva University and Boricua College. 

Washington Heights has access to amazing green spaces like The Cloisters, Fort Washington Park, Highbridge Park and Fort Tryon Park. There is no shortage of historical landmarks either. Remember General George Washington set up his camp in Washington Heights during the Revolutionary War. He used the elevated neighborhood to his tactical advantage to spot the Redcoats. As history would have it, his plan didn’t work out so well and the British occupied New York for seven years.