Hamilton Heights

There are two reasons that Hamilton Heights has gone from a place you don't want to be caught in at night to an improving neighborhood that has become a big destination for people who want to live in Manhattan for non-Manhattan prices.

First, since about 1990, crime in the city has greatly declined and is around the best that it has been in the past three decades. This is true of every part of Manhattan. Second, as rents continue to get out of control in areas like the Village, the younger crowd finds other places to relocate to that allow them to live in the city. Many students now choose to live in the area, and where better than right around City College and near Columbia University.

Crime remains more of a problem than in other parts of the city, however. Learn the area and which parts are safer than others. Don't go into unlit and deserted areas at night, like parks and alleys. These are just rules for getting by in the city however. The same applies for Central Park and many parts of lower Manhattan. This is a safer city than most, and has come an incredibly long way since the crime rates of the 1980s.

Hamilton Heights is up uptown. A little too far for my liking considering the 1 train is basically the only way to get there. It's starting to get a little steam going -- I think there may be two whole Starbucks in the neighborhood -- and, I'm sure a lot of people are happy with the lack of gentrification, but, it's not for me.
The neighborhood is starting to fill up with Columbia kids looking for cheap rent and struggling artists who want to live in the city; but, there are some parts of it that still just aren't quite that safe.
The area is beautiful, definitely uptown, with old, ornate buildings and plenty of green in the right areas, but a lot of it is really run down and sketchy to say the least.
I'm sure in a few years, it'll be a great neighborhood and it's definitely got the architecture that some cool neighborhoods, like Williamsburg, completely lack, but it's just too far, in my opinion.
There's really nothing to do there and no where to eat, so unless you go to Columbia, you would spend 90 percent of your time on the dreaded 1 train.

Hamilton Heights is a neighborhood located in upper Manhattan and extends from 140th to 145th Streets and sandwiched between St. Nicholas Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue East and West. This exclusively residential area was once owned by General Alexander Hamilton. In fact, one of the neighborhoods most distinct and historic landmarks is the summer home of Alexander Hamilton. Also land marked is St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Covenant Avenue Baptist Church.

The neighborhood has beautifully maintained townhouses along streets lined with trees. Most of the homes contain gardens separating them from the street, which give residential living a unique look. The styles of the homes differ from Flemish to Tudor and new renaissance, while others exude a more classic look. In addition to the magnificent homes (most constructed by famous architects), the City College Campus of the City University New York is situated around St. Nicholas Park.

Nearby café’s and restaurants include Maui Wowi on Fort Washington Avenue, a Hawaiian-themed chain known for its smoothies and gourmet coffee and Dallas BBQ along Broadway, where table manners are optional but appetites are big. Retail stores in the area include Foot Locker, Vinegar Hill, and Sweet Chef Southern Styles Bakery (an all from scratch pie shop).