New York Habitat Blog

The neighborhood of Chelsea has long been famed for its hip atmosphere and eclectic scene. Located just to the west of Midtown, Chelsea is centered between Hell’s Kitchen, the Garment District, Greenwich Village and the Meatpacking District. While Chelsea is primarily a residential neighborhood, making it perfect for vacation accommodations, some of the most popular restaurants, delis, shopping boutiques and nightclubs are found within the area.

About Chelsea:

Named for Sir Thomas More’s family manor of the same name, Chelsea is well known for its diversity. The neighborhood, which spans from 15th to 34th Streets and between the Hudson River and Sixth Avenue, is where some of the most distinctive and unique cultures and lifestyles intersect. With so many influences in one place, the area has plenty to do and see.

Chelsea Piers is one of Chelsea’s and New York’s most famed landmarks as it serves as a complex for various entertainment and sports arenas. The Piers offer an activity for everyone with a golf course, a bowling alley, a skating rink, batting cages and a rock climbing wall. Located between 17th and 23rd Streets along the Hudson River, the Hudson River Greenway is a walking and biking path stretching in front of the Piers and is perfect for enjoying picturesque river views.

Chelsea also stands as the location of New York City’s cutting edge and exciting art scene. There are over 200 art galleries , predominantly found from 16th to 27th Streets between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues. The neighborhood has also become another prime area for quality, high-end clothing with numerous boutiques in western Chelsea from world-famous designers. In addition, the area is home to New York City’s most famous nightclubs, which are found on “Club Row” on 27th Street. Marquee and Bungalow 8 are known for their famous, celebrity patrons most nights of the week. 

Accommodations in Chelsea:

New York Accommodation: 1 bedroom rental in Midtwon West - Chelsea (NY_8169)

Depending on the length of stay, New York Habitat has plenty of options for comfortable and affordable accommodations in Chelsea. Whether looking for a short-term rental or a fully-furnished apartment for a longer stay, there is something to please everyone:

Chelsea, New York Vaction Rentals:

• This one-bedroom rental in Midtown-Chelsea (NY-8169), located on 27th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, is a spacious loft with room for up to four guests and an extraordinary view of the Empire State Building. 
•  This two-bedroom rental in Midtown-Chelsea (NY-4564), on 26th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, is also a loft apartment but boasts of a bar and tiled interior garden. 

Chelsea, New York: Furnished Rentals:

•  This one-bedroom furnished apartment in Midtown-Chelsea (NY-11293), on 19th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, is a charming space within a 1900s historic building with comfortable furnishings and beautiful decorations.
• This one-bedroom furnished apartment in Midtown-Chelsea (NY-10812), on 19th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, is in a prewar Brownstone on a quiet tree-lined street with a private key-only entrance.

Have recommendations for the best restaurants and clubs in Chelsea? Know of spectacular galleries or shops? Share the best hangouts and hotspots in Chelsea in the comments section below!

High Line Project - District Map

77 years ago, the New York Central Railroad constructed a nearly 2 mile stretch of elevated railroad tracks to shuttle freight up and down Manhattan’s lower west side in Chelsea/ Flatiron. This elevated line, spanning 22 city blocks, literally passed through 2 factory buildings as it wound its way uptown to end near 35th street. (The deaths of many pedestrians on the 19th century street-level tracks was one factor in the High Line’s construction ) For decades, the High Line allowed factories and meatpackers on the lower west side to move manufactured goods, produce, and meat products without disruption to traffic below and without danger to pedestrians. 

Unused since 1980, and partially demolished in the 1960’s, this “High Line” will soon spring to life again. ( In 2001, Former Mayor Rudy Guiliani attempted—and failed, to proceed with demolition of the High Line.)  Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit organization, has spearheaded efforts to save this historic structure and launched the 2003 competition to choose creative solutions to convert the High Line for public use. 720 entires were received! This conversion will play a great role in the dynamic revitalization of the lower west side of Manhattan. 

The new High Line will not bring rail traffic, but will emerge as one of New York’s most innovative and interesting urban renewal projects seen in decades. The design team of  Diller Scofidio + Renfro is currently at work on the project. Four principles guide the design: “Keep it Simple, Keep it Quiet, Keep it Wild, keep it Slow.”
The design encorporates an elevated promenade with various types of vegetation. The designers hope that High Line visitors will stroll slowly while contemplating their surroundings as they experience  the notion that nature reclaims the man-made.

Why not consider a New York apartment rental on the far west side near the High Line? To view design plans and support this exciting renovation, go to: http://www.thehighline.org/

Chelsea Street

New York in Song
“Chelsea Morning – Spotlight on Chelsea in Manhattan”

Woke up it was a Chelsea morning and the first thing that I saw
Was the sun through yellow curtains and a rainbow on my wall…

The song “Chelsea Morning” was written and recorded by Joni Mitchell in 1969, and has been recorded by other major artists as well, including Judy Collins and Neil Diamond.  Mitchell has said that she wrote the song while living in a small apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan during the 1960’s.  Former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton have often noted in interviews that Judy Collins’ version of this song inspired them to name their daughter Chelsea.    

Chelsea has undergone many changes in the more than 35 years that have passed since “Chelsea Morning” was written.  At that time, the neighborhood was still in a transition from a more industrial area, with a lot of manufacturing buildings and warehouses, to the hot residential market it has become today.  New luxury buildings blend with destinctive older brownstones and the area boasts some of the most popular restaurants, shopping, and nightlife hotspots in New York.  After you’ve enjoyed a night of great food and wine, you can even make up for it the next day at Chelsea Piers Sports Center (www.chelseapiers.com), complete with a full health club, Olympic swimming pool, basketball courts, boxing rings and rock-climbing walls.

In addition to all of Chelsea’s attractions, you are also a short distance from other Manhattan attractions..  You’re basically right in the middle between the tourist destinations of midtown (The Empire State Building, Times Square, Broadway, etc) and the charming galleries and cafes of downtown Greenwich Village and Soho.  

Click here to check out some great apartments, vacation rentals, bed & breakfasts and roommate shares in Chelsea. Maybe you’ll even be inspired to write a song about your stay.  After all, 35 years is a long time and “Chelsea Morning” deserves a sequel.

“Chelsea Afternoon”, anyone?