The Washington Heights District extends from 155th St. to
196th St. and from Riverside Drive to Amsterdam Ave. This
area was originally outside the borders of New York City,
yet over time a number of regional and national scale
interventions have made it an important section of
Manhattan. These include the interstate 95 which links to
the George Washington Bridge and is considered to be the
busiest highway in the world, and the Columbia Presbyterian
Hospital and research facilities. Its ever increasing and
changing immigrant population brings the area a rich sense
of enterprise and desire for the American Dream. The
population tends to be young and entrepreneurial which is
exemplified in the activity on the street and the lack of
vacancies in commercial areas.
However, population density also has its downside as
resources diminish or become inadequate. There is a need for
housing and educational facilities including job training,
ESL programs, libraries and grade schools. In order to
create job opportunities and to be competitive in the
region, commercial zones need to expand and improve. There
is a need for community facilities as well, such as
employment centers and day care.
These possibilities for change and revitalization were
looked at more closely at four armatures and/or nodes: The
181st St. BID, the bus terminal and highway corridor between
178th and 179th St., the 168th St. node and Broadway from
155th to 175th. At these locations, more specific issues and
situations could be addressed with specific proposals and
suggestions.
This district plan for Washington Heights proposes a
constellation of nodes which radiate energy to the fabric
surrounding them. Their spheres of influence work at
different scales and function through visual corridors,
physical proximity, use by the community, and transportation
connections. By activating these locations, they become a
catalyst for the further activation and development of this
district.