Harlem Bespoke: We have been documenting all the changes in Harlem for over a decade now and probably have published the most original photos than any site out there but some of it is really heartbreaking.
The cultural lost from heritage sites such as Lenox Lounge on Lenox by 124th Street is probably one of the most tragic but somehow did not not get a lot of coverage on a national level. Everyone loves connecting uptown to the Harlem Renaissance but many of the famous spot were never protected by landmark laws. This was probably a combination of business and building owners who wanted control of their property but at the end the community loses out. Luckily some of us got to experience this amazing space that jazz greats such as Billie Holiday sang at but many generations after will entirely forget about this important part of the past. A lot folks talk about trying to slow down gentrification in the neighborhood but do not realize that an affective way to do so is to prevent the historic buildings from being demolished by designating them official landmarks.
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