137th Street - City College (1)

Welcome to Hamilton Heights, nestled within West Harlem. I deem this stop: architectural whiplash.

The station brings you to Broadway, lined with delis and Harlem-style brick apartments nestled on top. There’s a small green patch, Montefiore Sq, right outside the station, and a long mural stretches across its perimeter.

City College is one block east of the station.

At first glance, the main college building looks like a fugly brutalist nightmare. But then you poke around and boom - it’s Hogwarts. Take a stroll! The campus is pretty open - you can’t enter the buildings without an ID, but the exterior is grand enough to warrant a stroll.

Overall, this is a gentrifying neighborhood, but the pre-existing local community still feels predominant over the people moving in for the cheaper rent.

City College

Community members working to extend the mural that runs along Montefiore Sq.

Hamilton Height’s general vibe

Mexican Restaurant? Well, it’s on 136th between the station and City College.