Manhattan Valley: An Attainable Neighborhood Near Central Park

The Vibe

People in Manhattan Valley have always “looked out for each other,” said Peter Arndtsen, a longtime resident who manages the Columbus Amsterdam Business Improvement District. “People are pretty forgiving and pretty able to roll with things.”

With the pandemic, “a lot of stores closed. That’s an issue,” said Robert Friedman, the broker-owner of RC Realty Group of New York and CEO of a property management firm. But with some residents who left now returning, and more activity at local restaurants, “people are feeling better about the area” again, he said.

Jim Mackin, a historian who leads local tours, also believes things are looking up. “We’ve had over half a dozen restaurants open in the past year,” he said, serving Japanese, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and other fare.

The Schools

Manhattan Valley schools include P.S. 165 Robert E. Simon, on West 109th Street. Its 2020-21 enrollment was 397 from prekindergarten to the fifth grade. In 2018-19, 49 percent of students met state standards in English, compared with 48 percent citywide; 54 percent met standards in math, compared with 50 percent citywide.

P.S. 145, the Bloomingdale School, on West 105th Street, has about 393 students from prekindergarten through grade five. In 2018-19, 19 percent met state standards in English, and 18 percent met state standards in math.

P.S. 163 Alfred E. Smith, on West 97th Street, has 488 students in prekindergarten to fifth grade. In 2018-19, 61 percent of students met state standards in English, and 64 percent met standards in math.