The New York Times has an extensive story on the Mormon Church in Harlem today which mainly focuses on what will happen with an empty lot sold on West 129th Street. Lenox Coffee just debuted next to the one-story red building that has an open lot adjacent to it (far left at lower photo) and the church has now sold the parcel to a developer who apparently will build a condo on site. That previously mentioned red building was the location where Harlem's first Mormon congregation met until the new temple on Lenox and 128th was built back in 2005 (top photo) and the lot next door has been used as a community garden. Locals now voice concerns that a new condo would bring up the cost of living in the area and lament that a couple of charitable proposals have been turned down. Read more in today's New York Times:
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When the AME Church does the same thing, no one raises even the slightest whisper of dissent. I wonder why that is?
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, turning down a million for a bit of land would be hard to do. Fact is, plots of land are worth that much in Harlem (particularly along Lenox), so what are they supposed to do?
ReplyDeleteIt’s decisions being made 3/4 of the continent away that disturbs me. . .
ReplyDeleteIt is good to see a vacant lot put to good use as a community garden, as so many vacant lots in Harlem are an abandoned eye sore. However this gardeners knew all along they did not own the land and at some point the rightful owners would exercise their rights to do something with this valuable lot. Also, new condos will add more tax payers to Harlem and this block which Harlem sorely needs.
ReplyDeleteThis block was featured in a 1990 New York Times article as on of the worst blocks in the bad old days of Harlem, a quote from the article, on 129th Street they peddle crack as openly as ice cream in Central Park. The price of a vial of crack and a pint of ice cream is similar: about $3. How things have changed…
ReplyDeleteWow what a sadly typical knee jerk limo liberal article from the NY Times.
ReplyDeleteWhy shouldn't the church be able to sell their land? Harlem is America, right? Plus they invested and built a huge new temple around the corner. Again, the Times uses the G word - Gentrification - as if investing and improving a neighborhood that was in decline for decades is a bad thing. Lets be clear: building NEW housing on vacant lots does not make it more expensive for existing tenants, nor does it push them out - especially if rent controlled/stabilized. Also, now the property will go back on the tax rolls, providing additional income to the City ,as well as much needed housing. I had to laugh at the proposed "welfare center". Give me a break. Build Yoni Build!
"typical knee jerk limo liberal article from the NY Times"..Wait...What?! Don't get all political on us Mike.
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