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Washington slept here. At least, we believe he did since it’s documented that George
directed revolutionary forces and defended Manhattan against the British from his
perch here, high above the Hudson. Today, it’s hard to go anywhere in the neighborhood
without seeing our founding father’s name on something. Stretching from 190th Street
to the North, the Harlem River to the East, 155th Street to the South and the Hudson
River to the West, Washington Heights is home to the George Washington Bridge, Fort
Washington Park and the George Washington Bus Terminal.
Fantastic views of the Hudson and Northern New Jersey prompted the wealthy to develop
estates and hunting grounds here until the completion of the city subway drew middle
class types to Washington Heights at the turn of the twentieth century. Instead
of selling his land, railroad magnate Archer Milton Huntington created a complex
dedicated to cultural learning and education and named it after his cousin John
James Audubon, the famous naturalist. Centered on Audubon’s former estate Huntington
built The American Academy of Arts and Letters whose members include Mark Twain,
Edward hopper and Aaron Copeland, the Hispanic Society of America with its collection
of Goyas and Valazquez and the American Numismatic Society, a museum of coins and
metals. The Museum of the American Indian was also here until it was moved to its
current location at the Customs house near Wall Street.
Unfortunately few people know of Huntington’s gift to the city and fewer still will
venture here to see it. Drawn by appealing parks, views and an easy commute downtown
the dynamics of the neighborhood changed as the area became over populated. Immigrants
and the poor appeared filling up housing and overwhelming civic systems. Discontent
surged amongst the masses and despite demands for equal rights and better social
services, little has improved. Frustration leads to violence. As a result Washington
Heights is one of the most crime ridden areas in Manhattan, Malcolm X being one
of the neighborhood’s numerous casualties.
Population problems unsolved, the 1900 census shows Washington Heights as the largest
immigrant neighborhood in New York City and host to the biggest Dominican community
in the United States. Grappling with all of the issues that come with its numbers,
problems still remain. Schools are overcrowded, unemployment is high and drug related
issues abound. Housing is also scarce, with the majority consisting of old tenements,
brownstones and low income housing – much of it in disrepair. In efforts to change
all of this, district lines have been redrawn and new efforts launched hoping encourages
residents to vote in elections.
 Washington Heights
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Metropolis Real Estate of Manhattan | 167 Lexington Avenue, Suite 100 | New York,
NY 10016
Tel: 212.696.1900, Fax: 212.696.0220 | Email:
info@metropolisre.com
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