Lafayette Gardens

340 Haven Avenue, Washington Heights, Manhattan, NY 10033

While a physical distance from Manhattan’s hubbub may place it far away in mind, one shouldn’t forget about Washington Heights. Bounded on its east and west by the Harlem and Hudson rivers, the neighborhood and its hilly streets often intersect with glorious nature. Ample parks — including three certifiably massive ones — bless Washington Heights with the kind of green space most in Manhattan can only dream of. It’s a feature that echoes the area’s delayed urbanization, something eventually hastened by the subway’s arrival in the 1900s. Before the 20th century, residences were few and far between — mainly single-family homes and mansions. One of those, the Morris-Jumel Mansion, remains standing as the oldest house in Manhattan. Presently, this northern neighborhood is dotted with impressive apartment buildings, including historic structures overlooking the Hudson. Up there between 155th and Dyckman streets, Washington Heights is a serene enclave as integral to the city’s identity as anywhere else.