Pleasant Avenue is a north‑south street located in the East Harlem neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan, New York City. The avenue runs from East 114th Street at its southern terminus to East 120th Street at its northern terminus, lying one block east of First Avenue and parallel to the East River.
Historical development
The street originated as the northernmost extension of Avenue A, which was laid out under the 1811 Commissioners’ Plan for Manhattan. In 1879 the stretch between 114th and 120th Streets was renamed Pleasant Avenue. In 1905 the portion of the avenue south of 114th Street was removed from the city map to make way for Thomas Jefferson Park, shortening the street to its present length of approximately three‑tenths of a mile.
Neighborhood context
Pleasant Avenue is one of the few remaining streets associated with historic Italian Harlem, an enclave that flourished from the late 1890s through the 1980s. The avenue retains a small Italian‑American presence, most notably the restaurant Rao’s at the intersection of Pleasant Avenue and East 114th Street.
Land use and institutions
The Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics (formerly Benjamin Franklin High School) is situated on Pleasant Avenue. In July 2010 a Target store opened within the East River Plaza development at 517 East 117th Street, marking a significant commercial addition to the corridor.
Cultural and social significance
Pleasant Avenue has been referenced in popular culture and media as a historic site of organized‑crime activity, having been associated with the Genovese crime family and the East Harlem “Purple Gang” during the late 20th century. The avenue also hosts the annual Giglio Festival organized by the Giglio Society of East Harlem; the festival’s dancing Giglio procession takes place on the second Sunday of August and reflects a century‑old Italian tradition.
Transportation
The street is maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and is served by local bus routes that traverse East Harlem.
