WASHINGTON HEIGHTS - New York · Washington Heights has a rich immigrant history and is a living tribute to the immigrant experience in New York City. The opening of the 157th Street

Community League of the Heightsin

partnershipwith

Commercial District Needs Assessment

MANHATTAN

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

Background Located in Upper Manhattan, Washington Heights extends north from 155th Street to Dyckman Street, and is bordered on the west by the Hudson River and the east by the Harlem River. Broadway, a major New York City thoroughfare, runs north and south through the heart of Washington Heights, converging with St. Nicholas Avenue at 168th Street where the 1, A, and C trains stop . On 178th Street is the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, a major transportation hub that provides easy access to multiple subway and bus lines that connect visitors and commuters from New Jersey to various destinations throughout the city.

The Audubon Terrace Historic District, located between 155th and 156th streets, Broadway and Riverside Drive, is a landmarked 20th century historical district and cultural center named after the renowned Ornithologist John James Audubon. This is among the many cultural institutions located in Washington Heights, including the American Academy of Arts & Letters, the Hispanic Society Museum & Library, and Boricua College. Located further north are such neighborhood anchors as the United Palace, NewYork-Presbyterian hospital, and the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center (The Shabazz Center). The center, located in the former lobby of the Audubon Ballroom where Malcolm X was assassinated, is dedicated to the contributions that Malcolm X and his wife Dr. Shabazz made during the civil rights movement. These iconic neighborhood institutions are easily accessible by various means of public transportation.

Washington Heights has a rich immigrant history and is a living tribute to the immigrant experience in New York City. The opening of the 157th Street subway station in 1906 spurred a major construction boom; apartments and tenements were built, attracting newly arrived immigrants — mostly of Irish, Greek, and Jewish descent. After World War II, a secondary wave of immigration occurred when a large population of Spanish-speaking immigrants arrived in Washington Heights; first Puerto Rican, followed by Cubans, and finally Dominicans.

Neighborhood Demographics

Washington Heights has a population of 92,476 residents. Approximately 48% of its residents are foreign born. The top three Latinx groups are Dominicans (62%), followed by the more recent arrival of Mexicans (10.5%), and Puerto Ricans (approximately 7%). Known as “Little Dominican Republic,” many tourists and New Yorkers who live outside of Washington Heights come to eat and shop at the many long-standing Dominican-owned restaurants and businesses dotting Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue. Along St. Nicholas Avenue it is not uncommon to observe an impromptu, outdoor game of dominoes along the corridor, a favorite game among members of the Dominican and Puerto Rican communities.

Future Opportunities

Current development projects in Washington Heights include extensive plans for office, hotel, and retail space, as well as affordable and market-rate apartments. In the past decade, new bars and restaurants have popped up along Broadway, serving the local community, students from Boricua College, and employees of NewYork-Presbyterian. Further north on the Broadway corridor — near the United Palace — are quaint eateries, specialty food shops, and grab-and-go food options reflective of the diverse population of Washington Heights. Together with an emerging nightlife that includes new and old bars and restaurants, and the recent opening of the boutique Edge Hotel on 168th Street between Audubon and Amsterdam avenues, Washington Heights has become a destination for all.

ABOUT WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

Avenue NYC is a competitive grant program created by the NYC Department of Small Business Services to fund and build the capacity of community-based development organizations to execute commercial revitalization initiatives. Avenue NYC is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which targets investments in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization grants provide multi-year commitments aimed at building the capacity of partner organizations to better understand neighborhood needs, develop impactful programs, and sustain their work in the community for at least three years.

The Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA) highlights a neighborhood’s existing business landscape and consumer characteristics.

This CDNA features the Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue commercial corridors in Washington Heights which was conducted in partnership with the Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) between August 2018 and January 2019.

Key issues and opportunities identified through this assessment will help prioritize SBS-supported local investments, and serve as an informational and marketing resource for the neighborhood.

In This Report

Existing conditions, business data, and qualitative depictions of the neighborhood were gathered from more than 395 surveys and various stakeholder meetings with neighborhood merchants, shoppers, workers, property owners, and residents.

Jump to...

Key Findings 4-5Business Inventory 6What Merchants Say 7-8Business Outlook 9-10What Shoppers Say 8, 10Physical Environment 11Data Appendix 12-14

See more on page 12

See more on page 5

2 Avenue NYC Commercial District Needs Assessment

NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT

Washington Heights

1

CA

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W 178 ST

W 160 ST

ST NICHOLAS AV

W 172 ST

W 157 ST

W 168 ST

W 165 ST

HAVEN

AV

W 162 ST

GEORGE

WASHINGTON

BRIDGE

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ALEXANDER

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W 181 ST WASHINGTONBRIDGE

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HighbridgePark

FortWashington

Park

Trinity ChurchCemetery

HudsonRiver

J. HoodWright Park

Plaza de Las Americas

UnitedPalace

Alianza DominicanaCultural Center The Malcolm X &

Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and

Educational Center

Hispanic SocietyMuseum & Library

1

2

3

BoricuaCollege

GWB Bus Station

New York Public Library

Morris-JumelMansion

NewYork-PresbyterianColumbia University Medical Center

Workforce1CareerCenter

4

Miles0 0.30.15

°

The Chamber of Commerce of Washington Heights & Inwood

Washington Heights and Inwood Development Corporation

Washington Heights Business Improvement District (BID)

Merchant & Business Groups

Fort Washington Park

5

Hispanic Society Museum & Library

3

The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center

1

The United Palace Theater

2

George Washington Bridge Bus Station

4

Notable Places

Points of Interest

Assessed Commercial Corridors

Washington Heights BID

Public Facilities

Incubators & Co-Working Spaces

Arts & Entertainment

3Washington Heights

Significant parks and greenspaces throughout the commercial district on Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue, in addition to the green spaces bounding the Washington Heights community on the east and west

Large employers, such as NewYork-Presbyterian hospital which help fuel the Washington Heights economy by bringing visitors and employees into the commercial district to purchase locally

Diverse eateries and restaurants that offer residents and visitors a variety of dining options

Strong community pride and local commitment to support small businesses in Washington Heights

168th Street Station Hispanic Society Museum & Library

United Palace CLOTH Clean Up Day Community Event

KEY FINDINGS & OPPORTUNITIESStrengths

High foot traffic throughout the corridor facilitated by the presence of local institutions, such as the United Palace, that provide engaging community programming to Washington Heights residents and visitors

Accessible transportation options including the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, which is centrally located in Washington Heights and serves as a transit hub for commuters in and outside of New York

Various opportunities for entrepreneurship and small business development via community assets like La Plaza de Las Americas

Challenges High number of vacant storefronts in the district as a

result of property speculation and poor landlord and tenant relationships

Poor storefront conditions, including blocked windows and lack of signage, are uninviting for consumers and negatively impact local businesses

Unsightly sidewalk conditions due to scaffolding and ongoing construction on St. Nicholas Avenue and Broadway, which attracts trash and rodents

Limited parking options for consumers along the corridor due to existing parking regulations, including the recent implementation of loading zones

Lack of consistent programming in parks and open spaces, such as McKenna Square Park on St. Nicholas Avenue, resulting in the underuse of public spaces by the community

Overflowing trash cans and animal waste throughout the commercial corridor negatively impacts pedestrian traffic and deters both residents and visitors from visiting the commercial district


Washington Heights

Opportunities Develop programming to activate existing plazas and

small park spaces, including McKenna Square, Haven Avenue Plaza, and Ilka Tanya Payán Park to foster a sense of place for residents

Encourage collaboration between local artists and small businesses to provide improvements to storefronts — particularly signage and roll-down gates

Work in partnership with local businesses, community members, and other stakeholders to improve the quality and conditions of tree beds

Partner with local institutions and large employers to provide additional community programming and events

Collaborate with local merchants, residents, and community stakeholders to launch a district marketing campaign that celebrates and highlights the corridor’s diverse cultural events, small businesses, and anchor institutions

Connect Washington Heights youth to job training opportunities through innovative partnerships

Provide one-on-one technical assistance to the small business community in Washington Heights to help them adapt to the needs of the community

Develop a plan in collaboration with local community-based organizations, property owners, and local artists, to activate vacant storefronts and underused spaces, and to attract new retail opportunities

Broadway Corridor CLOTH Dancing Community Event

St. Nicholas Avenue

What’s Next?To address these key findings and opportunities, Avenue NYC Grants have been awarded by SBS to nonprofit organizations.

For more information, visit: nyc.gov/avenuenyc

5

BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

449Total Number of Storefronts

18.5%Storefront Vacancy*

Business Inventory

Storefront & Retail Mix* Note: In 2018, New York City’s 75 Business Improvement Districts reported an average ground floor

vacancy rate of 8.9% and median ground floor vacancy rate of 7.3% (SBS BIDs Trends Report, 2018).

Other

Office Supplies, Stationery, & Gifts

Schools

Gyms

Florists

Car Service, Gas Stations, & Parking Lots

Banks & Credit Unions

Community Organizations & Government Agencies

Furniture, Hardware, & Home Goods Stores

Check Cashing & Pawn Shops

Dry Cleaning & Laundry Services

General Merchandise Stores

Bars, Clubs, & Liquor Stores

Medical Services

Cell Phone Stores & Electronic Stores

Supermarkets & Grocery Stores

Professional Services

Coffee Shops/Cafés & Specialty Food Stores

Delis/Bodegas

Pharmacy, Optical, & Health Stores

Clothing, Shoes, & Jewelry Stores

Limited Service Restaurants

Full Service Restaurants

Beauty/Nail Salons & Barbershops

Vacant

26

8341

3636

28

2521

20161515

1212

109

88

76

33

324

Broadway Corridor Storefront Mural La Blanda Meat MarketCoogan’s

Business inventory and retail mix data were gathered by the Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) through a comprehensive area inventory of storefront businesses located along Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue. (October 2018)


Source: Based on 67 merchant surveys conducted by the Community League of the Heights in Fall 2018.

What We’ve Heard from Washington Heights Merchants

How many years have you been in business here?

Years in Business

Bus

ines

ses

Do you own or rent your property?

97%Rent

2%Own

1%No Response

Over the past year, has your business improved, stayed the same, or decreased?

19%Improved

50%Stayed the Same

31%Decreased

What changes need to occur in Washington Heights to attract more visitors/shoppers?

Community events

Parking

Safety

Better landscaping

Street lighting

Storefront improvements

Business-to-business communication

Sanitation

Other

% Merchant Responses

30%

13%

11%

10%

10%

9%

8%

7%

2%

What kinds of resources would help you grow your business?

Marketing support

Financing

Legal/lease support

Space improvements

New equipment

Other

Training for staff

Assistance with regulatory compliance

% Merchant Responses

34%

24%

19%

9%

5%

4%

4%

1%

19%

27%27%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

21+11-206-103-50-2

18%

9%

How many employees do you have?

5Mean

4Median

2Mode

* Note: The mean is the average of all responses, the median is the middle number when all responses are arranged in ascending order, and the mode is the most common response.

12Mean

5Median

5Mode

7Washington Heights

BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

What We’ve Heard from Washington Heights Merchants

What We’ve Heard from Washington Heights Shoppers

What changes would you suggest to improve the commercial district for residents, pedestrians, and shoppers?

What do you like about the commercial corridor?

“I’m Dominican and these are my people.”

“ I grew up in this area and and have had my family business here since 1961.”

“It’s a theater community. It’s diverse and LGBT friendly.”

“The people are friendly and the corridor is safe.”

“ The corridor is close to the hospital, meaning a lot of doctors and students rent in the neighborhood.”

“ We are close to a lot of transit options, such as the A, 1, and C trains, as well as bus stops.”

“ The corridor is fast paced, with a lot of foot traffic and movement around subway stops.”

“Love the neighborhood.”

“ A well stocked supermarket with reasonable prices, and fresh produce. [Something that is] affordable and carries a huge selection.”

“ [We need] more businesses that target children and youth, such as bookstores with the purpose of developing historical/social awareness.”

“ We are a family of four with two adults and two small kids. There is no place to buy clothes for us, within walking distance, of decent quality. We also would love to see more art galleries and live music venues for local artists.”

“More jobs for local people.”

“I like the people, diversity, and community in this corridor.”

What would you say are the most pressing needs of businesses on this corridor?

“ Drugs are a persistent problem and sold openly. This affects all businesses on the block.”“In the summer months, sales drop for small businesses.”

“Competition with street vendors.”“ I don’t know what’s going to happen when my lease expires. I think my rent is going to be increased too much.”

Based on 67 merchant surveys and 328 consumer surveys conducted by the Community League of the Heights in Fall 2018.


BUSINESS OUTLOOK

Local businesses make

$510.9Meach year in retail sales

Every year,

$330.8Mis spent outside

the neighborhood

Residents spend

$841.6M each year in

goods and services

Washington Heights Retail Opportunity

$65.4M

Restaurants & Other Eating Places

Shoe Stores

Health & Personal Care Stores

Beer, Wine, & Liquor Stores

Florists

Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers

Jewelry, Luggage, & Leather Goods Stores

Book, Periodical, & Music Stores

Specialty Food Stores

Lawn/Garden Equipment & Supply Stores

Furniture Stores

Special Food Services

Used Merchandise Stores

Office Supplies, Stationery, & Gift Stores

Drinking Places - Alcoholic Beverages

Sporting Goods, Hobby, & Musical Instrument Stores

Clothing Stores

Home Furnishings Stores

Auto Parts, Accessories, & Tire Stores

Electronics & Appliance Stores

Building Material & Supplies Dealers

Other General Merchandise Stores

Department Stores (Excluding Leased Departments)

Gasoline Stations

Grocery Stores

$58.0M

$54.4M

$34.2M

$21.7M

$17.8M

$11.9M

$9.5M

$8.9M

$8.3M

$5.1M

$4.4M

$3.6M

$2.8M

$2.8M

$2.4M

$1.3M

$1.2M

-$1.4M

-$1.8M

-$3.0M

-$3.4M

-$3.6M

-$4.5M

-$5.4M

Retail leakage and surplus is the difference between estimated spending by local residents on retail goods and estimated sales by local retail businesses. Retail leakage occurs when consumer demand exceeds retail supply in a designated trade area. On the chart, a positive value indicates leakage of retail sales and represents net consumer spending that is being captured by retailers outside of the trade area. Retail surplus occurs when retail supply exceeds consumer demand in a designated trade area. On the chart, a negative value indicates a surplus of retail sales and may signify a market where retailers are drawing customers from outside the trade area.

Source: ESRI and Infogroup, January 2019.

Retail Leakage & SurplusLeakageSurplus $0

9Washington Heights

Washington Heights Manhattan NYC

93% 64% 61%Washington Heights Manhattan NYC

151% 156% 150%

How often do you shop in Washington Heights?

Daily

2 to 4 times a week

Once a week

Twice a month

Once a month

3 to 6 times a year

Rarely/Never

52%

19%

8%

9%

1%

3%

7%

When do you usually shop in Washington Heights?

Weekdays

Weekday evenings

Weekend days

Weekend evenings

No set time

48%

13%

16%

5%

18%

What additional types of businesses would you like to see in Washington Heights?

Department stores

Clothing stores

Full-service restaurants

Healthy, affordable grocery stores

Shoe stores

Business Trends

What We’ve Heard from Shoppers

Change in Total Business Sales, 2011-2018 Change in Median Sales by Business, 2011-2018

$20M

$40M

$60M

$80M

$100M

$51,1

36,0

21

$54,

349,

445

$55,

730,

901

$68,

744,

581

$71,4

62,0

13

$84,

288,

130

$98,

486,

072

$96,

582,

778

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 201820110 $0K

$20K

$40K

$60K

$80K

$100K

$120K

$45,

775

$55,

637 $7

6,54

3

$91,2

83

$77,7

12 $95,

672 $114

,838

$110

,620

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 20182011

Washington Heights Median Sales by BusinessWashington Heights Total Business Sales

Year Year

Sal

es V

olum

e

Sal

es V

olum

e

50%

38%

7%

3%

2%

How do you usually get to Washington Heights?

Walk

Public transportation

Car

Taxi/Ride share

Bike

Source: Based on 328 consumer surveys conducted by the Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) of Washington Heights in Fall 2018.

Source: Division of Tax Policy, NYC Department of Finance


BUSINESS OUTLOOK

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Storefront Vacancies

St. Nicholas Avenue

Trash overflow from garbage cans poses a health and pedestrian hazard and discourages consumers from walking along the commercial corridor.

Poor storefront conditions impact perceptions on the quality of goods offered throughout commercial corridor.

Poorly maintained sidewalks make it difficult for pedestrians to safely navigate the commercial corridor.

Streetscape Observations

Broadway

Sidewalks and storefronts along Broadway are generally clean and well maintained.

Traffic congestion along the Broadway corridor creates traffic flow issues that impact Washington Heights consumers, merchants, and residents.

Juan Pablo Duarte Square

Vacant Storefronts

Storefront Mural

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W 178 ST

W 160 ST

W 172 ST

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W 165 ST

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HighbridgePark

FortWashington

Park

Miles0 0.30.15

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An analysis of 449 storefronts along Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue revealed that 35% of storefronts are in poor condition, 56% are in average condition, and 9% are in good condition.

Vacant Lots Vacant Storefronts Parks & Open Spaces

11Washington Heights

DATA APPENDIX

Average Household Size

3.1 Washington Heights

Manhattan

New York City

Population Density (per square mile)

107,697 Washington Heights

Manhattan

New York CityA

MST

ERD

AM

AV

BR

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DW

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EDG

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MB

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W 155 ST

ST NIC

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LAS AV

W 180 ST

W 178 ST

W 150 ST

W 173 ST

W 161 ST

W 184 ST

W 168 ST

RIVERSIDE DR

HAVEN AV

W 159 STPINEHURST AV

BEN

NETT AV

RIVER

SIDE D

R W

W 177 ST

BROADW

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ST N

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HENRY HUDSON

P KW

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WASHINGTON

BRIDGE

EDG

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MB

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HudsonRiver

Harlem

River

Miles0 0.40.2

°

Study Area Boundaries

Assessed Commercial CorridorsPrimary data on Washington Heights storefront businesses presented on pg. 6-8 was gathered along Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue.

71,617

27,986

Total Population

100,433 Washington Heights

Manhattan

New York City

2.09

2.65

Area Demographics

Car Ownership

21.4% Washington Heights

Manhattan

New York City

Commuting Patterns

23%

45%

18,730 Work in Washington Heights, live elsewhere

1,635 Live & Work in Washington Heights

33,089 Live in Washington Heights, work elsewhere

18,730 33,0891,635Work Live

Washington Heights Context Area Demographic and employment data on pg. 12-13 correspond to the Washington Heights context area.

Trade Area Retail leakage, surplus, and retail opportunity data on pg. 9 correspond to the 0.25 mile trade area.

1,634,989

8,461,961


Local Residents’ Employment Jobs Located in Washington Heights

Foreign-Born Population

47% Washington Heights

Manhattan

New York City

29%

37%

Median Age

34.5 Washington Heights

Manhattan

New York City

36.7

35.9

Race/Background Washington Heights Manhattan NYC

Under 5 Years

5–14 Years

15–24 Years

25–44 Years

45–64 Years

65+ Years

Population Age Washington Heights Manhattan NYC

5%

8%

14%

37%

24%

12%

5%

7%

12%

37%

24%

14%

7%

11%

13%

32%

25%

13%

Educational Attainment Washington Heights Manhattan NYC

Income

Median Household Income

$40,125 Washington Heights

Manhattan

New York City

$75,513

$55,191

Pop. Below Poverty Line


Manhattan

New York City

18%

20%

Employment

Unemployment*


Manhattan

New York City

6.9%

8.6%

Population in Labor Force


Manhattan

New York City

68%

64%

Local Jobs and Employment

Source: US Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey; 2014 OnTheMap Application; NYS Department of Labor, December 2018.

Area Demographics

Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

White alone

Black or African American alone

Asian alone

Two or more races

Some other race alone

American Indian and Alaska Native alone

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

71%

12%

12%

4%

1%

0%

0%

0%

26%

47%

13%

12%

2%

0%

0%

0%

29%

32%

22%

14%

2%

1%

0%

0%

12th Grade or Less, No Diploma

High School Graduate

Some College, No Degree

Associate’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Graduate or Professional Degree

31%

20%

15%

6%

18%

10%

13%

13%

10%

4%

32%

29%

19%

24%

14%

6%

36%

15%

23%

11%

8%

20%

17%

4%

3%

2%

3%

3%

* Note: Unemployment figures are based on data from 2012-2016. As of November 2018, the unemployment rate is 3.3% for Manhattan and 3.7% for New York City (NYSDOL); updated neighborhood-level data for Washington Heights is not available.


Educational Services, Health Care, Social Assistance

Accommodation, Food Services, Arts, Entertainment

Retail Trade

Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate

Other Services

Transportation, Warehousing, Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Public Administration

28%

19%

12%

8%

7%

7%

5%

4%

4%

2%

Educational Services, Health Care, Social Assistance

Accommodation, Food Services, Arts, Entertainment

Retail Trade

Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate

Other Services

Transportation, Warehousing, Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Public Administration

MTA Annual Bus Ridership (2017)

4.0M M3

4.5M M4

2.2M M5

5.0M M100

4.3M Bx7

Washington Heights Transportation

Vehicular Traffic

23,606 between W. 155th Street and W. 179th Street on Broadway

5,384 between W. 173rd Street and W. 180th Street on Wadsworth Street

DATA APPENDIX

Sources: MTA 2017; NYC DOT September 2017; NYS DOT 2015 Annual Average Daily Traffic Data.

Average Weekday Subway Ridership (2017)

10,802 157th Street

25,589 168th Street

13,217 175th Street

10,981 181st Street

11,693 181st Street

CA 1

1

A

A

1

Pedestrian CountsWest 181st Street/St. Nicholas Avenue

1,386 Weekday Morning (7 - 9 a.m.)

7,668 Weekday Afternoon (4 - 7 p.m.)

6,307 Weekend (12 - 2 p.m.)

Bx6

SBS

Bx6SBS

101

100

5BX

7

984

35100

BX

7

4

100

5

4

101

3

2

2

3

98

98

4

98

BX

3BX

11BX

13BX

35BX

36

2

BX

3BX

11BX

13BX

35BX

365 98

1

CA

AM

STER

DA

M A

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BR

OA

DW

AY

AU

DU

BO

N A

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W 155 ST

FT WA

SHIN

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N AV

EDG

ECO

MB

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W 176 ST

W 178 ST

W 160 ST

W 172 ST

W 157 ST

W 168 ST

W 165 ST

HAVEN

AV

GEORGE

WASHINGTON

BRIDGE

RIV

ERSI

DE

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EL P

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ALEXANDER

HAMILTONBRIDGE

THE HIGH

BRIDGE

W 177 ST

W 170 ST

HENRY HUDSON PKW

Y


BROADW

AY

ST N

ICH

OLA

S AV

ST NICHOLAS AV

GWBBus Station

HighbridgePark

FortWashingtonPark

Miles0 0.30.15

°

Washington Heights Transportation

Bus Routes

NYC Subway

Bicycle Lanes


Commercial Revitalization, Avenue NYC multi-year grant, awarded to Community League of the Heights, 2018-2021.

Neighborhood Design Lab services, awarded to Community League of the Heights, 2019.

Placemaking, Avenue NYC grant of $30,000 awarded to the Washington Heights BID, 2018.


Business Attraction, Avenue NYC grant of $25,000 awarded to Community League of the Heights, 2016.


Capacity Building, Avenue NYC grant of $25,000 awarded to Community League of the Heights and Broadway United Businesses, 2015.


Recent SBS Investments in the Neighborhood

SourcesESRI and Infogroup, Inc. January 2019 ESRI Retail Market Place Profile.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2017. Average Weekday Subway Ridership.

NYS Department of Labor. December 2018. Unemployment Rate Rankings by County.

NYS Department of Transportation. 2015 Annual Average Daily Traffic, using Traffic Data Viewer.

NYC Department of Finance, Division of Tax Policy, using data from NYS Department of Taxation and Finance. Business sales are reported by tax year, which runs from March 1st to February 28th. Sales data are compiled from sales tax returns, which are rolled up by tax filer within a year, excluding returns with negative sales amounts. For each year, each tax filer is reported according to the address listed on their latest return. Large outliers were removed.

NYC Department of Small Business Services. Fiscal Year 2018. Business Improvement Districts Trends Report.

NYC Department of Transportation. September 2017. Bi-Annual Pedestrian Counts.

U.S. Census Bureau. 2015. OnTheMap Application. Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics Program.

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2013 American Community Survey 4-Year Estimates, using NYC Census FactFinder. Washington Heights Census Tracts: 263, 261, 253, 251, 245, 241, 243.01, 247, 255, 249, 265, 239, 237

Photo Credits: © NYC & Company: Joe Buglewicz, Alex Lopez, Will Steacy; Flickr: Brian D. Bumby, Matt Green; Community League of the Heights; NYC SBS: Madelaine Britt.

Inwood Library, Community League of the Heights with NYC Department of Housing Preservation Development (HPD), 2022 (proposed completion date). Inwood NYC Planning Initiative, NYC Economic Development Corporation, 2018.

Existing Plans & Studies


The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building thriving neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

ABOUT SBS

nyc.gov/avenuenyc

We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to the development of the Washington Heights Commercial District Needs Assessment:

Manhattan Borough President Gale BrewerNYC Council Member Mark Levine NYC Council Member Ydanis RodriguezManhattan Community Board 12Washington Heights MerchantsWashington Heights Shoppers and Residents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS - New York · Washington Heights has a rich immigrant history and is a living tribute to the immigrant experience in New York City. The opening of the 157th Street

Documents