Facts About Chelsea | Banville Law NY

Chelsea is a neighborhood that is found on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan close to our NYC personal injury law firm. North of Chelsea is Hell's Kitchen, which we previously wrote about, and is further surrounded by the Hudson Yards, Garment District, NoMad and the Flatiron District, Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village and West Village.

In terms of Community boards, Chelsea is divided between Manhattan Community Board 4 and Community Board 5. Within the location is the Chelsea Historic District, a district that was included to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and was later extended in 1982 with other blocks representative of period architecture.

Who Lives In Chelsea?

Chelsea has not been void of many changes since its origins as the property of retired British Major Thomas Clarke. Major Clarke bought 94 acres of land in 1750 and named the property Chelsea, after the manor of Chelsea, London. In the 1820s Chelsea was developed into a residential area later evolving to be an area that housed many Cuban-Chinese immigrants after the Cuban Revolution. This new wave of immigrants opened restaurants in the 1960s and 70s, leading the area to have a strong Latino presence.

To date, there are a number of various cultures represented in the vicinity. Chelsea also became known as a place of tolerance and rebellion against sexual orientation discrimination in the late 60s to early 70s. In the 1970s many in the LGBT community moved to Chelsea, creating a very strong gay and lesbian presence there that still stands to this day. Around the 70s as well, Chelsea attracted club owners and art galleries looking to pay lower rents, who opened clubs and galleries that saw the neighborhood become the City's gay center and the 'it-spot' for art lovers. Speaking of gay centers, Eighth Avenue is considered the center of LGBT-oriented shopping and dining.

Attractions Found In The Neighborhood

With changes in the neighborhood that have transformed Chelsea from looking like an industrial site with old abandoned railroads and old warehouses, which have been developed into the High Line, Chelsea is now one of the most interesting and sought-after places to live.

The area harbors many stores that are representative of its ethnic and social diversity. There are many ethnic restaurants, delis and clothing boutiques to choose from. Here are some of those places you can explore.

Chelsea Market

Located in the area where the Oreo cookie was created, former National Biscuit Company factory, Chelsea Market has been operating as an urban public square as well as a high-end food court since 1997. There are over 30 restaurants, food stores, and shops to choose from and is considered a neighborhood market with a global perspective.

Some of the shops you'll find there are Amy's Bread, Bar Suzette Creperie, Buddakan, Anthropologie and so many more.

Jack Shainman Gallery

The Jack Shainman Gallery opened in the area in 1997 at 513 West 20th Street and at 524 West 24th Street in 2013.

The gallery is focused on exhibiting, representing and championing artists from all over the world, especially artists from Africa, East Asia, and North America. This gallery is a member of the Art Dealers Association of America and presents roughly 12 exhibitions a year and participates in large art fairs such as Art Basel Miami Beach and Frieze New York.

High Line Park

Visit the highly popular High Line Park which is a unique urban renewal project put together by concerned citizens, city officials, and developers. The High Line Park is an elevated park which is built on a railway frame that was abandoned for almost 30 years. Now the park has some greenery that looks out to Manhattan's west side landscape.

High Line runs from Ganesvoort Street north to West 34th Street, between Tenth and Twelfth avenues. The area offers public art, family and entertainment programs. Check out a list of things to see and do at High Line Park here.

Big Onion Walking Tour

To see more of what this neighborhood has to offer you can take a walking tour that will help you explore the history and architecture of the neighborhood. The walking tour will lead you to the above mentioned High Line, with stops at the Chelsea Hotel, "Death Alley", General Theological Seminary, as well as areas associated with Dylan Thomas, Clement Clark Moore, Janis Joplin and John Sloan.

How To Get To There

You can get to Chelsea using New York bus routes M7, M10, M11, M12, M14, M23. You can also use the NYC subway routes, IRT Broadway, Seventh Avenue Line's 1 and 2 services, IND Eighth Avenue Line's A C E and the Sixth Avenue Line's F M.