Neighborhood Guide

Upper West Side

Upper West 

The Upper West Side is a neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River above West 58th Street; its northern boundary is usually considered to be either 110th or 125th street. Like the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side is primarily a residential and commercial area, with many of its residents working in more commercial areas in Midtown and Lower Manhattan. While these distinctions were never hard-and-fast rules, and now mean little, it has the reputation of being home to New York City's affluent cultural and artistic workers, in contrast to the Upper East Side, which is perceived to be traditionally home to affluent commercial and business types. The neighborhood is decidedly upscale with the median household income above the Manhattan average. The Upper West Side is comprised of 59th Street to the South, 110th Street to the North, Central Park West to the East and the Hudson River to the West. This area is populated with some of Manhattan's most famous and desirable residential buildings.

The apartment buildings along Central Park West, facing the park, are some of the most desirable apartments in New York. The Dakota at 72nd St. has been home to numerous celebrities including John Lennon. Other famous buildings on CPW include the Art Deco Century Apartments (Irwin Chanin, 1931) and The Majestic (building) also by Chanin. The San Remo, The Eldorado (300 C.P.W., with the highest sum of Democratic presidential campaign contributions by address in 2004; the home of Herman Wouk's fictional Marjorie Morningstar), and The Beresford were all designed by Emery Roth, as was 41 West 96th Street (completed in 1926). His first commission, the Belle Époque Belleclaire, is on Broadway, while the moderne Normandie holds forth on Riverside at 86th Street. Along Broadway are several Beaux-Arts apartment houses: The Belnord (1908) – the fronting block of which was co-named in honor of longtime resident I.B. Singer, plus The Apthorp (1908), The Ansonia (1902), The Dorilton and the Manhasset . All are individually designated New York City landmarks. Curvilinear Riverside Drive also has many beautiful pre-war houses and larger buildings, including the graceful curving apartment buildings—The Paterno and The Colosseum (apartment building) by Schwartz & Gross—at 116th St and Riverside Drive. West End Avenue, a grand residential boulevard lined with pre-war Beaux-Arts apartment buildings and townhouses dating from the late-19th and early 20th centuries, is closed to commercial traffic. Columbus Avenue north of 87th Street was the spine for major post-World War II urban renewal. Central Park West, Riverside Drive and West End Avenue have always been considered family oriented neighborhoods, over recent years this area has become more attractive to young professionals. Purchase prices in the many of the Upper West Side's coveted prewar buildings has approached, and in occasion exceeds, values commonly found on the East Side's Park and Fifth Avenues. The Lincoln Center complex is home to the Metropolitan Opera and Julliard School of Music, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the New York State Theater and the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The American Museum of Natural History, located on a stretch of Central Park West between 77th and 81st Streets, houses a collection of millions and millions artifacts tracing the origins of civilization including the celebrated Dinosaur Hall, guaranteed to awe children and adults alike. The museum's Hayden Planetarium is a galactic spectacular and is well worth the invested time. It is a true pleasure to walk along and take advantage of the well established blocks, trendy boutiques, and restaurants. A few favorites are: Fairway Market, Zabars and the famous H&H Bagels are all located on upper Broadway.