Harlem’s Upper Carnegie Hill

We recently stumbled across the following description of what some describe as a “newly christened” neighborhood in Harlem on  StreetEasy.

“Upper Carnegie Hill: Encompassing Mount Sinai Hospital and the eastern edge of Central Park, Upper Carnegie Hill is a well-respected area that is off the beaten path. “Museum Row” stretches through Upper Carnegie Hill to the end of Central Park, offering a nice walk with beautiful architecture. Like the rest of Carnegie Hill, Upper Carnegie Hill has maintained a high degree of historic integrity; however, its proximity to the northern, less affluent neighborhoods and public housing works to the north is a source of tension for wealthier residents.”

The history of Carnegie Hill is fascinating.  And here is a good albeit dated piece to read if you are thinking of living in Carnegie Hill.

More fascinating still is the concept that what has traditionally been known as East Harlem or Spanish Harlem is now also being called Upper Carnegie Hill.  Much like the emergence of South Harlem (SOHA) which depending on who you ask runs from 110th and Morningside Avenue to 116th and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. aka 7the avenue.  Or the fact that recently during Channel 7′s coverage of services for Nelson Mandela at Riverside Church, the TV displayed “Harlem” while the reporter stated “MorningSide Heights”.

This will certainly be an ongoing discussion topic as we try to answer the question: where does Harlem begin and end?  The answer is important both in terms of physical boundaries as well as from a cultural and historic perspective.