Learn About Chelsea
Chelsea has a reputation for peace and tranquility and extends from 14th Street to 29th Street, west of Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) to the Hudson River. Chelsea boasts some of the prettiest, most peaceful stretches of brownstones to be found anywhere in Manhattan, as well as being home to some of the most architecturally interesting modern buildings and high rise condos.
The far West side of New York from 14th Street to roughly 30th Street was an edgy, semi-industrial patch before it was colonized by adventurous gallerists in the 1980s, an avant-garde and gay population in the 1990s and a cadre of developers in the past decade. Increasingly influential, Chelsea is now home to such high profile art spaces as the Gagosian Galley, the David Zwirner Gallery and Jeff Koons’ art factory. The Chelsea avant-garde gay scene is well advertised throughout Manhattan and is home to many of its trappings: boisterous watering holes, designer shops, boutiques and flea market emporiums for antique and bric-a-brac collectors. Since the 2009 opening of the High Line, a public park built on an historic elevated rail, visitors have made pilgrimages to the flourishing esplanade, which commands great views of the surrounding architecture.
Centered between Midtown and the West Village, Chelsea also offers good public transportation and proximity to the Midtown office district as well as the many attractions of downtown. Though lined with apartment and condominium buildings along 9th and 10th streets, single-family townhomes comprise most of inner-Chelsea; the children of many well-heeled New Yorkers attended its numerous public and private schools, including Xavier High School, a well-known Jesuit preparatory academy. Chelsea Piers, a major waterfront recreational facility, also reacquainted many New Yorkers to the area and the Chelsea Market, a 9th Ave. food mecca, boasts an impressive collection of gourmet food stores for the culinary aficionado.
Chelsea takes it name from its London counterpart, christened by in 1850 by a British Major, who bequeathed his large estate to his daughter whose offspring and relatives gradually subdivided and built the district throughout the centuries.
Chelsea has its bustling shopping zones as well as the attraction in western Chelsea at the High Line. Chelsea’s proximity to Greenwich Village, the Meatpacking district and Madison Square Park/Flatiron makes it’s convenience a lure for many of its residents.
Arts/Entertainment
With its west side warehouse space and bohemian pedigree, Chelsea has quietly become one of the city's art gallery epicenters. Sixth Avenue remains a commercial wonderland, from big, national chain stores to interesting boutiques. Best of all, you're never too far from a supermarket in Chelsea, including the gigantic, mall-like Chelsea Market.
Great Outdoors
Wandering the streets between Eighth and Tenth Avenues is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, but if it's a park vibe you're after, try the Highline for a stroll. For exercise, the cavernous Chelsea Piers gym has indoor & outdoor facilities to accommodate your every desire!
Subways: