The St. Nicholas Park area, roughly bounded on the south by West 131st Street, on the north by West 145th Street, on the east by Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) , and on the west by St. Nicholas Terrace and Amsterdam Avenue, has a rich brownstone tradition. A portion of the area (138th and 139th from Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard to Frederick Douglas Boulevard) is a Historic District. Another enclave of structurally sound brownstones on neat tree-lined streets exists on 131st and 132nd between Adam Clayton Powell and Frederick Douglas boulevards. These rowhouses were built between 1884 and 1889 by the architectural firm of Clevendon & Putzel, formerly located on 125th Street.

The St. Nicholas Park area is well served by all major subway and bus routes, and the major airports are easily accessible.

The main shopping area is located on 125th Street. Additional supermarkets and shopping and local retail needs are satisfied by shops in the nearby Lenox Terrace residential complex (Lenox and Fifth Avenues between 132nd and 135th streets) . The area is served by several public elementary and parochial schools and a variety of day-care centers.

There are many impressive churches of various denominations; the upper Manhattan YMCA, Urban League, plus the Schomberg Center for Research are all landmarks in the community. Additional neighborhood anchors include the St. Nicholas Park and adjoining City College.

Both 131st and 132nd streets are benefiting from urban renewal; examples of recent subsidized new construction are the Lionel and Gladys Hampton Houses, St. Philips-on the-Park and new senior citizen housing.