Chelsea has evolved from an immigrant neighborhood full of warehouses to one of New York City’s most desirable and expensive neighborhoods. This is a bustling neighborhood with restaurants, shops, nightlife, art galleries, and studios. The famous High Line Park winds its way through Chelsea all the way up to 34th Street, where it comes to an end. The Chelsea Piers are also close by. On the Hudson River, there is a large sports and entertainment complex. It has synthetic fields for every sport imaginable, as well as a golf driving range, batting cages, an ice rink, a skate park, bowling alleys, and restaurants.
Shiny new condo towers dominate the city’s main avenues and the High Line Park. However, as you move away from these areas, the stature of buildings decreases, and you’ll soon find old brick tenement housing converted to walk-up apartments. Many of Chelsea’s side streets are charming, tree-lined, and peaceful, but the north end of the neighborhood feels more industrial, lacks greenery, and is primarily made up of large apartment and condo complexes.
Because of the neighborhood’s size, some residents (and real estate agents) may use terms like West or East Chelsea to describe the areas separated by the High Line. You’ll find a diverse group of people here, though rising living costs are squeezing out the middle class. The LGBTQ community in Manhattan has a stronghold in Chelsea.
The Hudson River divides Chelsea from Hell’s Kitchen and the Garment District on the north, the Flatiron District on the east, Meatpacking and the West Village on the south, and the Hudson River on the west.