WHERE: Naples Terrace, Godwin Terrace, West 229 Street, West 231 Street, West 230 Street
SUBWAY AT START/FINISH: 231 Street (1, fully accessible)
DISTANCE: 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers)
Map courtesy Google Maps. Photographs by Michael Cairl except where noted.
The Bronx is one hilly place. Yesterday I made the first of at least three trips to the northwest Bronx to tackle all the stair streets there.
Kingsbridge, the neighborhood where I climbed or descended five stair streets yesterday, is named for the King's Bridge, likely erected by enslaved Africans in 1693 and owned by Frederick Philipse, a local lord and enslaver loyal to the British monarch. The bridge spanned a now-filled-in section of Spuyten Duyvil Creek, roughly parallel to today's 230th Street. The King's Bridge was part of the Boston Post Road, connecting southern Westchester County (which later became the Bronx) with Marble Hill, once part of Manhattan Island and still part of the borough of Manhattan. The bridge is said to still be in place, having been buried when the creek bed was filled in. The creek's water flow was redirected to the new and deeper shipping canal, south of Marble Hill. (Source: Wikipedia)
Starting at the elevated subway station at West 231 Street and Broadway, a lively commercial area in a diverse neighborhood, I started out with a warmup on two adjoining stair streets: Naples Terrace, west of Broadway north of 231 Street, and Godwin Terrace, going south to 231 Street.
Above, two photos looking west to the 231 Street station. Left, in 1910 before 231 Street was carved out of the surrounding rock. (Photo courtesy nycsubway.org). Right, today from roughly the same vantage point. Godwin Terrace is out of sight to the left.
Above, Naples Terrace, left looking west from Broadway, right looking east from the top. The elevated subway line in the background gives a good illustration of the rise in the ground here. 60 steps (5 flights of 12 steps).
Above, Godwin Terrace, left looking south toward West 231 Street, right looking north from the bottom. 32 steps (1 flight of 12 steps, 2 flights of 10 steps). These first two stairways have low handrails, making climbing harder and descending harder yet.
Crossing Broadway, I walked east to Albany Crescent, which is cantilevered over the Major Deegan Expressway (Interstate 87), and turned right, then right onto busy Bailey Avenue, then left onto West 229 Street, walking one block to Heath Avenue and the start of the two-block long stairs on West 229 Street.
West 229 Street stairs. Total 187 steps: ten flights of eleven steps in the first block, seven flights of eleven steps in the second block. Above, clockwise from left:
At the bottom of the stairs, on Heath Avenue. The stairs from here up to Kingsbridge Terrace were rebuilt in recent years and the handrail is at a comfortable height.
View west from halfway up the first block of stairs.
View east from halfway up the first block of stairs.
View west from halfway up the second block of stairs. These stairs have not been rebuilt; the steps are somewhat uneven and the handrail is a little low.
View from the top of the second block of stairs, on Sedgwick Avenue.
It was exhilarating to make it to the top, easier on the first block with its new handrail than on the second. I made it up at a nice, steady pace, taking a very quick breather at the halfway landing on each block.
The rest of the walk was downhill, and two of the three stairways are unreconstructed. It was harder and slower to get down those old stairs with uneven steps and low handrails, but I made it. I hope the city finds the means soon to reconstruct the old stairways, making them better for all.
Above, clockwise from left:
Looking west from the top of the West 231 Street stairs. This was a tough descent. One gentleman walked up right before I started walking down; I gave him a thumbs-up and said “Stay Strong!”
Looking west from the top of the reconstructed West 230 Street stairs. Note the new handrails on these stairs versus the old ones in the previous image.
Looking east from the bottom of the West 230 Street stairs.
This old house on Bailey Avenue at West 231 Street was an unexpected find. It’s a house that needs some tender loving care but still has nice details.
The West 231 Street stairs have 70 steps: two flights of eleven and four flights of twelve. The West 230 Street stairs have 72 steps: six flights of twelve steps.
Total steps for the day: 247 up, 174 down, total 421, It’s a real sense of accomplishment in my stroke recovery and great fun to explore yet another off-the-beaten-path part of this great city.
Above, left: where I rewarded myself with a good Cuban sandwich for lunch, sitting outside. Especially in these strange times, support local business! Right, the spacious station house at the nicely renovated, fully accessible 231 Street subway station; it opened in 1907.