LandmarkWashington HeightsJumel Terrace & Edgecombe Ave
555 Edgecombe Avenue
A landmark for Harlem Renaissance and jazz-era history; it is a private apartment building, so see it from the sidewalk.
555 Edgecombe AveEdgecombe Ave at W 160th St
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What it is
555 Edgecombe Avenue is an apartment building at the southwest corner of Edgecombe Ave and W 160th St. It was built in 1914–16 as the Roger Morris Apartments and designed by Schwartz & Gross. Wikipedia says its original white tenants left between 1938 and 1940 as Black residents moved into the neighborhood. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1976 under the name Paul Robeson Residence and a New York City landmark in 1993.
Who it’s for
Readers of Harlem Renaissance and jazz history, and walkers combining Sylvan Terrace and the Morris-Jumel Mansion with a look at the street.
Standout details
Wikipedia lists a long set of residents, including Paul Robeson, Count Basie, Andy Kirk, Kenneth Clark, Joe Louis, Thurgood Marshall and Jackie Robinson. The corner outside was co-named Paul Robeson Boulevard and Count Basie Place in October 2009. The building was nicknamed “The Triple Nickel” for its address.
Honest verdict
A major piece of Black cultural history that sits in Washington Heights, though it is sometimes associated with Sugar Hill because of its residents. There is nothing to visit inside, so treat it as a street-side stop.