It's On in Harlem! Again.
Just weeks after Columbia battle, another surrounds the city’s 125th Street plan. Opponents ask: Does this area need 1,800 luxury condos?
More than four years after the concept was first presented, and four months into the city’s public approval process, the Bloomberg administration’s plan to rezone 125th Street appears to be facing mounting opposition.
Numerous advocacy groups plan to critique the proposal at a City Planning Commission hearing scheduled for Jan. 30, and Manhattan’s Community Board 10 has been holding workshops that prepare residents to deliver testimony in preparation for the meeting. Such actions come as Borough President Scott Stringer last month gave a formal disapproval of the plan; a new advocacy group called VOTE People has formed to oppose the plan outright; Community Board 10 has issued a resolution with a long list of critiques after two packed hearings on the subject; and even the store-owner-and-landlord-backed 125th Street Business Improvement District is upset about a large component of the initiative.
Why all the fuss?
The rezoning seeks to transform the already-lively street into a bustling hub of business, arts, culture and shopping through larger and taller new construction along the thoroughfare. While community leaders say they welcome the concept of injecting a new vitality into 125th Street, worries of gentrification, housing affordability and displacement have fueled criticisms of numerous aspects of the city’s plan.
The proposed zoning change is hardly the largest or the most radical of the Bloomberg administration. In 2005, the city allowed for a transformation of Manhattan’s West Side, and it also opened the gates for thousands of new apartments in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg rezoning. But the 125th Street action is significant in both its scope and detail.
But the 125th Street plan is certain to be regarded as one of the most significant. The rezoning lies in the heart of one of the densest residential neighborhoods in the city, on what is perhaps the city’s most historic African-American thoroughfare, at a time when gentrification and displacement are major concerns throughout the city.
The plan is centered around the desire to establish 125th Street as a regional hub, a vision that planners seek to realize by allowing for developers to create buildings with substantially more density than is currently allowed, especially on the north end of the street in the center of the district.
In all, the plan would allow for approximately 2,300 new apartments and more than 600,000 square feet of new office and retail space—development that would presumably fill in the vacant lots and replace the one-story retail shops that line 125th.
In what is likely a nod to the street’s history and cultural significance, the plan seems to be one of the more meticulously crafted initiatives to come out of the Department of City Planning under Amanda Burden, the notoriously detail-focused chairwoman of the agency. Banks are forbidden from having large lobbies on the ground level so as to keep the street life vibrant; shop owners are prohibited from coating their storefronts with solid roll-down metal grates after they close; and theaters are permitted to build new marquee signs, an action not generally permitted citywide.
And while community groups have applauded certain aspects of the plan, such as an “arts bonus” that allows developers to build to the maximum density only if they include an artistic component, the city is seeing widespread criticism about other aspects.
Most controversial is Ms. Burden’s insistence on allowing for new residential development. While builders would likely take a development bonus and set 20 percent of the units aside as affordable, the prospect of up to 1,800 market-rate condos being built in the heart of Harlem (a number the environmental impact statement lists), a neighborhood with a median household income of less than $22,000 in 1999, is unsettling.
“We are against luxury residential developments,” said Franc Perry, the chairman of Community Board 10. Already, he added, “the concern is that people are being displaced and there’s no place for them to go.” Next Page >
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As a resident of Harlem for 12 years, i can attest to the rapid gentrification of the neighborhood. This plan is not good for the community, and should be rejected.
I have often wondered about the complexities of the development of NYC at large. As a New Yorker for nearly 10 years, a resident of another rapidly changing neighborhood (Williamsburg) for almost 4 years, and a real estate agent for the last year,I have experienced first hand the challenges that come with the rise in property value that generally accompanies an area's "development". I have come to believe that gentrification is a serious problem citywide.
In Manhattan, and even many parts of Brooklyn, housing is out of reach to the vast majority of people. To rent even the most affordable of studios in Manhattan (below 96th St) a person has to be making $60,000 a year to be considered "qualified".
In Williamsburg, the rents have increased so dramatically since I moved here four years ago, that I cannot move out of my apartment because I can't afford to move into anything else in the same area. In fact, I can't even find a comparable, affordable alternative 5 or 6 stops further down the line.
To me, it seems that our concern should be not limited to what's happening in Harlem, but rather what is happening to the quality of our city as a whole? So much of the character and beauty of New York has historically come from its artists; its thinkers; its students; its workers. What will happen to New York now that these people are being pushed further and further away?
My fear is that we are irrevocably becoming a town where only the wealthy can exist. Is it only so-called progress and development that have the right to persist, or is there something to be said for balance and diversity not just across racial lines, but perhaps even more importantly, across economic and social boarders?
I hope our politicians are seriously considering the future repercussions of their choices today.
In 20 years, when the ratio of poor people to wealthy people in Harlem has flipped, not a single person in Harlem will yearn for the past days of trash-filled streets, shady pawn shops, pay-day lenders, gambling halls, derelicts and cultists.
As a white person living in Harlem I get heckled daily for minding my business and reading the newspaper. I laugh to myself, knowing that in due time things will change for the better. Blatant racism and xenophobia are always wrong, even when they're directed against white people.
Anti-gentrification is just code for no white people. Plain and simple. Harlem will become an extension of the upper west side in the end, so pack up your bags now if that isn't your thing.
In the meantime, accept that change is the only constant, and what once was poor and dangerous will one day be wealthy and safe.
Every neighborhood in New York was once the "outskirts" where only the poor Jews, Wops, and and whatever else you want to call people who are different from you, lived. (When well-to-do artists displace working class immigrants, nobody will care because they won't be blogging about it at their local organic coffee shop...)
And for all you self-absorbed "artists" living off your rich parents' hard-earned cash, get a grip. You aren't, and never have been, the 'life' of this city. The diligent, wealthy go-getters who ultimately buy your paintings, attend your plays, appreciate your work, and tip you at your bar-tending jobs, are the true life of this city--without them, this city would truly fall apart. The working classes have always lived on the outskirts, and as the center expands, the outskirts will shift further out as well. I wish the new generation of 'artits' well as they displace african americans from the Bronx in ten years.
And so it goes...
I'm a Black woman who has lived in Harlem now for 11 years. I love it, but can't afford to buy a place in it anymore. I don't fear the change. I feel sorry for the working poor in the area. They will be pushed out, when the non-city owned buildings they live in sell or convert their properties into condos or just plan old raise the rent. But that's one of the things you have to take into consideration when you rent, you don't own the apartment and have no say. Those in the projects will probably be safe unfortunately.
When Harlem was just beginning to "change" there where a few developments that where for middle to low income families. I missed out on the opportunity to buy a place because I simply didn't have any money saved, whose fault is that, the white man or mine. Now that I do have money saved I can't afford whats available now. I can't cry about it.
I'm lucky to be one of the few upper to middle income people in Harlem to live in a city owned building where my rent is really cheap. I'm keeping my apartment, yeah it's supposed to be for the working poor, but it's too good a deal to give up. I don't lie about my income so I'm staying until they kick me out. I get to live in an apartment that's less than $600 a month and enjoy the "changes". It's great. I look forward to more "change".
But I can't help but feel a little worried that in a few years I wont see a lot of faces that look like mine anymore in Harlem. That's one of the things I love about Harlem, seeing lots of faces that look like mine. But you can't stop "change". And it's just not fair to the people who were smart enough to own in Harlem when it was rundown and even those who were smart enough to have money saved in the beginning. Some of those people where Black, I see us coming out of those luxury condos too it's not all white people.
Basically those who are screaming about the "change" should have saved their money. If they saw the value of their property increase they wouldn't be yelling.
Sadly, there are many more issues to a radically changed Harlem, than whether it is black or white or highly expensive to live in. Where do the "pushed out" go? Generations of families and culture just swept away. Change is good, but how is it brought in is often the problem. No consideration is taken for the cause of the poor (who do spend money in their community stores too.)
Facing facts: Development is just another word/way for the rich to get richer, people overextending themselves to live where they can barely afford and to hell with those who can't.
Years ago when the street vendors were pushed off of 125th St. and hurded into a small space on 116th street where there is little traffic the handwritting was on the wall.
In my 38 years of living in Manhattan the train station at 110th street and Central Park West was boarded up (109st st. was open). But it took Donald Trump's new building @ 110st St. to get it open. Transit or City officials hadn't cared enough. But a developer could get it done for the convenience and attraction of his clientele. Sick shame this.
No one is fooled, poor people only are taken into consideration for votes and forgotten immediately thereafter, nothing new there.
Poor people actually work too and help drive the economy, but they get driven out time and again.
Down with developers their prospective tenants aren't homeless now.
Having grown up in a NYC public housing project, graduated from an Ivy League university, earned a master's degree and created a successful company, I am now looking to move back to Harlem - most likely in one of those "luxury" condos all the local residents are moaning about. While the neighborhood has improved dramatically since I was a child, all the local opposition against development reminds me of the backwards thinking that has kept Harlem from participating in the economic growth that has occurred throughout the rest of NYC.
Most of the opposition is too concerned with the issue of the rich displacing the poor. However, they spend almost no time trying to improve their economic status so that they become - uh, hello - no longer poor. Instead, they blame others for their problems, economic status and disenfranchisement. They rely on government subsidies for food and housing which creates a pattern of dependence that inevitably keeps them poor. They fight against all efforts for investment in their community and they then complain that they have been "left out." They foster the notion that they are somehow entitled to below-market-rate housing, as if it were their constitutional right or as if society owed them a debt. How many years did all those empty/abandoned lots sit neglected before developers finally fixed them up, cleaned up the streets and created locations for businesses and services to come into the neighborhood? Who in their right mind would argue that the vacant, crack-infested lots are better than what is going on now?
As long as local residents keep their "it's us against the world" mentality, fail to embrace investment and deny responsibility for their own economic well-being, they will simply be at the mercy of market forces which have no consideration for skin color, social standing or nostalgia.
Sad. Gentrification is anti rich. No problem with you being white or rich or just an asshole with a sense of privilage( blacks and spanish that rolle dout of Harlem but are not connected to Harlem who fell embarrased of their own kind). but it really displaces people. teachers can't afford to live here of any color. Businesses are folding with no financial support from the 28 banks on 125th. A revolution will come. and sorry to say you nice white people who at no fault of your own who want a cheap place to live but for some reason must change everything around you( real Borg like-its in your DNA) will suffer. Duck!!
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with all thats going on in harlem,i hope black people will wake and realize that THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HELP US IS OURSELVES!!!!!!!!!!! we have no friends in govermment,the black elected officals are nothing more than political pimps and prostitutes,who sell us out on countless occasions.where are our relgious leaders,our counselman,they are all absent ,and you why? because they are part of same evil empire whos soul purpose is economical
domanation.but the bible says that god is going to judge this wicked nation for the atrocities that has been commited
against his children.right now,an economical boycott is inevatable.black people,stop spending your money,and just see what happens,and i am not talking about 30 days ,60 days,i am talking about a long term econonical withdrawl from all aspects where our money is spent,remember brothers and sisters,our money make a lot people rich,so its about they feel the hardships of this so called democracy
anonymous no 2 you fangs are showing..along with your attitude of enrightment..I am sure that you get heckled for more than reading the paper and minding your own business.. you probably snear at people, espec. with the way you know and use racial slur names...with your take over spirit..how much of the money that is allowing you to take over did you actually earn by the sweat on your brown or rolling your sleeves up or how much did you ride in on daddy's coat tail or lay down with a sugar daddy for ?
correction requested prior to posting to earlier message
anonymous no 2 your fangs are showing...along with your attitude of entitlement..I am sure that you were heckled for more than reading the paper and minding your own business...you proably snear at people, espec with the way that the racial names slid out of your mouth..with your take over spirit, how much of the money that is allowing you to take over and act a cut above did you actually earn by the sweat on your brow or by rolling up your sleeves and working or did you ride in on daddy's coat tail? plus the the coffee and cream brother originally from the nyc projects who feels that he seems to perceive his blessing of attending an ivy league school as changing colors in that he can not relate with any caring feelings re: people being pushed out and generalize all lower wage as not trying. We he and I were blessed, but he feels he is a cut above those who do not have..he may be anti-black, although black... re: self hatred or just blatant disregard for others, should learn to help, not callously hurt
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