With all the new development along the lower FDB corridor these days, it is hard to remember the time when a large portion of the area was abandoned and desolate. A map from circa 1992 by Edwin Marshall, city planner for Upper Manhattan, NYC Dept. of City Planning shows how desolate South Harlem used to be a couple of decades ago. Basically all of the colored areas indicate vacant property or land either owned by the city or abandoned by property owners. Today those prewar structures have been restored for residential use, brownstone blocks have been revitalized, new condo buildings have gone up on empty parcels of land and restaurants are opening on a constant bases. Click on map to enlarge
Fascinating map, it looks like the Mount Morris Historic District homes where not abandoned. On the other extreme there are almost whole blocks of pubic land indicated in blue. Back then brownstones could be bought for pennies on the dollar, and some Harlemites did buy and are still here. We should not forget where Harlem has come from.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to se the same map for above 125th street.
ReplyDeleteYes, Mt. Morris always had property owners who maintained their brownstones even when the broader neighborhood was struggling with crime. Interestingly, it's BECAUSE the FDB cooridor was essentially abandoned its seen the most growth - there were essentially vacant areas to put large condos on, unlike Mt. Morris where there aren't large vacant parcels. Lets hope the continued development / revitalization of the few remaning vacant lots or abandoned brownstones in mt. morris stays appropriate for the area.
ReplyDeleteRight on the park there were a lot of vacancies. Looking at the map (and this fits recollection), almost the entire block on the west side of the park between 120th and 121st was abandoned.
ReplyDeleteWould be interesting to see this map today. Where are the remaining abandoned buildings?
I remember walking blocks of mostly abandoned decaying brownstones, those same blocks are now mostly restored homes, remarkable transformation.
ReplyDeleteI think the driving force in the transformation of Harlem was the individual brownstoners who took on these abandoned building, often not knowing what they where getting into and somehow brought these homes back to life. This happened building by building, block by block. Eventually the condo developments followed and finally the restaurants are now appearing.
ReplyDeleteI love this map! Very True.
ReplyDeleteWestsider - you are correct the brownstone owners started it and have continued it throughout the economic downturn of the last 4-5 years. But the condos on FBD brought a certain density that created the demand for all of the restaurants and services today. Now, onto the big issues: schools and crime.
ReplyDeleteGG, Agreed, the condos provided a density of customers to support the new restaurants, that is why lower FDB has so many new dining options. Another reason being the new condos provide easier to adapt and occupy restaurant spaces.
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