Greenstreets at West 138th Street

The Greenstreets program provides a pretty triangle of floral plantings at West 138th Street, an unusual traffic island in Manhattan’s grid and one of only two to border Fifth Avenue (the other stretches the block between 24th/23rd Streets and is known as Flatiron Public Square).  The dab of color and shade are a pleasant accent… Continue reading

Fire Box at West 138th Street

The fire box at West 138th Street is typical in design, with a torch surmounting the call box and call buttons for the fire department and police.  The pink paint scheme is unusual and unlikely to be original. There are several hundred scattered throughout the city , many of which are no longer operative.  Another… Continue reading

10 West 138th Street, Chauncy Hooper Towers

Chauncy Hooper Towers at 10 West 138th Street commemorates the WWII Commander of the 369th Coast Artillery Regiment, an all-African-American troop, the majority of whom were from Harlem.  Stationed in Hawaii during WWII, the unit was given the nickname “Hooper’s Troopers”.  During the postwar period, Commander Hooper held numerous senior positions in New York City… Continue reading

1 West 137th Street-2254 Fifth Avenue

In keeping with many similar commercial and mixed-use developments in the early 20th Century, 1 West 137th Street mixes Colonial and Beaux Arts details. A cheery survivor from the period, it helps impart a traditional neighborhood presence to what is otherwise a monumentally scaled district. 2254 Fifth Avenue, directly to the north and visible in… Continue reading

2238 Fifth Avenue, Central Harlem District Health Center

The pleasant Colonial Revival building at 2238 Fifth Avenue houses the Central Harlem District Health Center.  A 1930 design by the firm of McKim, Mead and White, the interiors have been given an airy renovation by Steven Yablon Architecture. The building is a New York City landmark.