Isn’t it remarkable how a single street can weave through so many different worlds? That is West 116th Street. This isn’t just any street. West 116th Street is a vibrant thread connecting diverse neighborhoods in Manhattan.
West 116th Street stretches from Riverside Drive to the East River. It cuts through Morningside Heights, Harlem, and Spanish Harlem. The Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 established it. It is one of fifteen east-west streets planned to be 100 feet wide. Most other streets were only 60 feet wide.
Let’s start at the west side of West 116th Street. Here, you will see a pair of white apartment buildings. They have curved facades. These buildings are The Colosseum and The Paterno. The New York Times described their opposing curves. They form a gateway as impressive as any public arch or plaza.
These unusual curves resulted from an 1897 plan. The city intended to create a public park between Claremont Avenue and Riverside Drive. This would provide a large park next to Grant’s Tomb. It would serve as a terminus for veterans’ parades. The street was redesigned. Vehicles coming up Riverside Drive would swing onto 116th Street. The gracious curve would lead to a second curve north onto Claremont Avenue. The city never bought the land, but the curves remain.
The Paterno’s top has an architectural feature. It hides a water tower. The design resembles a section of a Mansard roof. It even includes a dormer window. You can spot it from Columbia University’s gates at Broadway and 116th Street.
Speaking of Columbia, the intersection of 116th Street and Broadway is home to the university’s main entrance. Until the 1950s, 116th Street ran uninterrupted from Riverside Drive to Morningside Park.
In 1953, during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency at Columbia, a change occurred. The block between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue was permanently closed to vehicles. It became a pedestrian way called “College Walk.” Columbia paid $1,000 for this section of the street. The street is interrupted again at Morningside Drive. This time, it is due to the steep slope of Morningside Park.
Now, let’s move to the east side of West 116th Street. The main portion of 116th Street begins at Morningside Park’s eastern edge. It runs east through central Harlem. Here, a large West African immigrant community has grown. You will find stores, bakeries, and cafes along 116th Street west of St. Nicholas Avenue. This area is often called Little Senegal or Le Petit Senegal.
At Lenox Avenue, West 116th Street passes the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque. It was formerly Mosque No. 7. Originally, the building was the Lenox Casino.
East of Fifth Avenue, 116th Street has historically been the business center of Spanish Harlem. From Lexington Avenue to First Avenue, the street is lined with businesses. They sell food, clothing, and other goods to a Spanish-speaking clientele.
Finally, East 116th Street ends at FDR Drive. This is the site of the East River Plaza. It is a retail mall complex. Large commercial tenants include Costco, Aldi, and Target.
West 116th Street is more than just a route. It is a journey through the city’s history. It is a testament to New York’s ever-evolving cultural landscape.