West 119 St, Harlem

Though beautiful, this street is overrun by nearby Columbia University infringing upon the characteristic Harlem it infringes upon. It is a sad tribute of the gentrification taking place in some historic neighborhoods in New York City, and has seen many protests from locals. A banner on a near-by building is dressed in signs reading “Stop Columbia” in both English & Spanish. Despite this, this street is beautiful and the real estate is cheap, also due to the presence of Columbia. If you want a flashback to your college days, this street is peppered with ivy-leaguers galore and the shopping is catered to meet their needs, so you’ll find a Starbucks, various drug and grocery stores, and a myriad of other collegiate delights.