Harlem, the New York City district often cited as the capital of black America, always makes the news, for better or for worse.
On any given week, one might hear about a ribbon-cutting ceremony, an obituary for a notable resident, or a zoning controversy. Nearly without exception, the stories hark back to a robust restoration that has been under way for nearly 20 years and, for better or for worse (depending on your viewpoint), shows no sign of abating.
Harlem's renovation hasn't been just about brownstones and historic landmarks. Education has also been affected. One
example is the Harlem Children's Zone, an agency that funds programs to boost the level of education and quality of life among Harlem's children. This program has served as a model for similar initiatives in Washington, DC, and Hayward, Calif.
Development of Harlem's housing and retail environments has been accompanied by upgrades to notable locations within the district, including the vast renovations to City College and the restoration of Alexander Hamilton's home.
Alexander Hamilton's restored mansion in Harlem. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
The restoration of Harlem has come with its share of controversy. Some say action to protect and restore important historic landmarks is taking too long. At least one neighborhood group, the Harlem Tenants Council, has opposed the gentrification of the district, which it says displaces and shuts out lower-income residents.
One of the biggest problems to surface has involved the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, a group accused of playing the system to benefit its board members.
But the momentum of the so-called New Harlem Renaissance shows no sign of slowing down. The excitement generated by the changes of the last 15 to 20 years has inspired New Yorkers, who show no interest in turning back the clock. And why should they? The beauty of restored buildings, the introduction of trendy stores, and the growth of vibrant neighborhoods that reflect pride of place aren't conducive to a return to the despondency that bedeviled this neighborhood for far too long.
keeping the character As long as gentrification doesn't erase the character and roots of the neighborhood, it's hard to argue against it. But it's seem so often that long-time residents don't get an opportunity to stay. The new economics of an upwardly-mobile district push them out.
How do you balance the two?
It would be ironic, and a huge loss, if the history that put Harlem on the map and its racial mix -- it's African-American heritage -- got slowly wiped out in the process.
Re: keeping the character Frankly, I don't think that Harlem is losing or likely to lose its roots. After all, that's part of the historic charm and draw of the district.
Re: keeping the character Yes, that's an interesting metaphor.
I guess by "character" I was also thinking the diversity of the population. A neighborhood's vibrancy is more than just beautiful building and historical plaques -- although that makes a lovely base to start from.
Re: keeping the character I don't think Harlem will lose its diversity. I really don't. The reason is that by now, the district has established an identity that is part of its attraction.
Re: keeping the character I provided a good example of something that's happening in Harlem that will help it keep its character. However, to Susan's point and concern, it's worth noting that I see many of my friends in their 20s -- young, white people, just starting to earn an income -- moving to Harlem because it's much cheaper to live there for more space than you'd get elsewhere in the city. So does that influx of young, white professionals threaten the culture? As real estate goes up everywhere else in the city, and Harlem becomes more appealing to people in the demographic I describe because they know others like them are living in the area... is there cause for concern? The other issue is that it's not as if these people will stay in Harlem, for the most part. They will move there for as long as it takes them to be able to afford to live elsewhere, and then they will leave. I doubt that's something that's well received by true Harlem residents.
Re: keeping the character Good point. Still, as the young upwardly mobile leave, others will take their place. That should help improve the quality of services in the area. Residents can't argue against that entirely.
Re: keeping the character It is nice for Harlem to be improved, but do not destroy the Apollo Theater, Slyvia's Restuarant or the beautiful African American History Museum!
Re: keeping the character Harlem suffers from unemployment rates higher than the New York average and high mortality rates as well. In both cases, the numbers for men have been consistently worse than the numbers for women. Unemployment and poverty in the neighborhood resisted private and governmental initiatives to ameliorate them.
Re: keeping the character These are sobering statistics. It is interesting that in a neighborhood surrounded by a large city with many resources, the numbers could be so distinct.
Re: keeping the character I do think there's a fine line between saving the neighborhood and erasing the character.
One way to avoid it is by enhancing the neighborhood with programs and services that have the culture at its core. For example, I was taking piano lessons for a couple of years in Spanish Harlem at the Boys & Girls Harbor. Read their mission statement and you'll see why it's a positive example here. Walking through the school, you see evidence of, and educational materials about, African American and Hispanic musical culture. This beautiful school for musicians stayed very true to the culture of the neighborhood in which it sits.
Re: keeping the character What a terrific place! I've already chosen my adult classes for Sunday. I wish I lived closer so I could actually attend them! This school is an excellent example of how location and inspiration can help boost specific community needs.
Re: keeping the character It's definitely a great place. I so enjoyed it. They often have performances on evenings and weekends, so hopefully one of your next trips to NYC will allow you to attend and check out the school and musical culture there.
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