Harlem Bespoke: Do black places matter uptown? That is the question a lot of local politician and activist are asking now in concerned with the free standing house at
857 Riverside Drive by 159th Street just adjacent to Sugar Hill. There was a lot in the news last week about the former home of abolitionist Dennis Harris who was a minister and would have probably use the location by the waterways of the Hudson as a key point in the underground railroad. Apparently no buildings uptown have been designated as abolitionist landmarks and this would be the rare exception. We could not find any great current photos published from other sources so made it point to get a better view of the home for the blog.
The city's landmarks commission had a review and deemed that too many missing parts made the house not relevant but officials have rebutted this claim with the fact that other designated buildings also were not in good condition. Mostly the wooden porch is of concern and a cupola on the roof but these can all easily be rebuilt. A permit for demolition is in the works by the owner and a 13-story new building might just go up in nothing is done.
Right now the local politicians like Borough President Gale Brewer with the help of a couple of State Senator Robert Jackson and other elected officials are trying to have any construction plans halted until further review can be had but it is unclear if anything has moved forward either way thus far. Brooklyn just had
an abolitionist home approved for landmark status just this week and it was not in much better shape than this notable uptown address.
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