Exploring the “Middle Upper West Side”
Big Apple Greeter volunteers love showing people around their neighborhoods, pointing out the hidden corners that most visitors never see.
Even experienced Greeters can discover new things as they explore familiar territory. That was the case for Leigh Hallingby when she took walks near her home during the pandemic. She recently led 20 Greeters on a visit to the “Middle Upper West Side” of Manhattan to share what she found on those walks.
Upper West Side attractions like Lincoln Center at the south end and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine at the north end draw visitors and New Yorkers alike. The patch in between, particularly streets in the West 80s, offer lots more to enjoy on a leisurely walk.
Greeters in the West Side Community Garden
Highlights of the walk with Leigh included:
The Center at West Park (CWP), a community and cultural center based in the landmark West Park Presbyterian Church at West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Constructed in 1889, the building has hosted a number of organizations, including performing arts companies and meal programs for people living with AIDS, as well as worship services. The Center recently opened the CWP Film Center with a screening of You Can Count on Me, followed by a panel featuring actor Mark Ruffalo, a CWP neighbor and supporter.
Cross Amsterdam Avenue to 225 West 86th Street, and fans of Only Murders in the Building will be greeted by a familiar sight: the façade of that TV series’ fictional Arconia apartments. The Arconia is really The Belnord, built in 1908–1909 as rental apartments. Currently a condominium, the building occupies the whole block between 86th and 87th Streets and Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. The Belnord features Italian Renaissance Revival style architectural touches and a courtyard that was the largest interior courtyard in the world when it was constructed. It remains one of the largest in the city.
Entry to the Belnord – AKA OMITB
Continuing north on Amsterdam Avenue, Leigh led the Greeters to the entrance to the West Side Community Garden on 89th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. The park, which is free and open to the public every day, began in 1976. A group of neighbors and parents of children attending a nearby school decided to develop the rubble-strewn vacant lot by growing vegetables and flowers. The gardeners eventually set up the West Side Community Garden (WSCG) as a nonprofit organization. After years of uncertainty, in 1988, WSCG received a deed for the garden space in perpetuity. Volunteers continue to maintain the garden, which offers a place to rest and enjoy nature in the midst of the busy city.
Pomander Walk, one of NYC’s most distinctive residential areas, was named after a crescent of London homes featured in Pomander Walk—a hit play in 1910 New York. Built in Tudor style, the buildings that make up the complex were built in 1921 and originally intended as a hotel. Designated as a landmark in 1982, Pomander Walk is not open to the public. However, strollers can catch a glimpse of the courtyard that runs between eight of the buildings by walking along West 94th or West 95th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue.
Pomander Walk Sign