☞ READ: Central Park North a Boon for Harlem

The New York Daily News reports property values rose the highest in Manhattan along 110th Street since the start of 2000, citing Central Park as a draw. The 115% increase of home prices is dramatically different than the rest of the city proper, which experienced about 54% overall. Of course, what isn't mentioned is that the area probably had one of the lower home values at the start of the decade, so the only way was up.

The top photo shows 111 Central Park North, which has the distinction of having the most expensive condo sale in all of Harlem, but the retail space on the lower floor has not been filled with a high profile tenant. Some readers have mentioned that petty crime still lingers on lower Lenox, so folks are really buying into this immediate block because of the park. Thoughts? Read more in the Daily News on the Central Park boom: LINK. Read our past post on 111 Central Park North: LINK. Photo by Ulysses

☞ SHOP: High and Low at 111 Central Park North

The condo development known as 111 Central Park North has been trying to get better anchor tenants in at the lower commercial spaces facing the park and the results apparently have been mixed.  An $8 million penthouse sale back in 2008 makes this building one of the most expensive addresses to live in uptown and   homeowners in the building have tried to block chain stores such as McDonald's from arriving in the past: LINK.

A couple of commercial spaces in the building facing Lenox Avenue has since been leased out to Subway and a deli but all eyes have been waiting for what will arrive at the Central Park storefronts.  On the higher end, the Cooper-Hewitt Design Center has established itself at the one of these shops but the prime corner space has now been leased to Duncan Donuts.  A Starbucks would have probably looked better at this prime location but somehow that coffee chain decided to pass on the park views.

☞ EAT: More Cheap Eats for Central Park North

One would think that having Central Park facing commercial space would attract some better businesses in the city but the Towers on the Park condos at 110th and FDB/8th Avenue can't seem to catch a break.  The recent signs that Subway will open on the FDB side of the towering complex (at the northwest corner of the park) heralds a second coming of the chain that previously opened shop in one of Harlem's most expensive condo buildings at 111 Central Park North last year: LINK.

Subway's new location will be next to an existing Papa John's Pizza that currently inhabits the space next door and we have been told that out of the Tower condo's "600 unit complex – 160+ owners signed a petition against the Subway, and the current Board still allowed them in AFTER Boards of the past 2 years turned them down." Residents reportedly wanted a Duane Reade since the fancy Cafe Amrita on the south side of the building already took the charming coffee shop opening.  This corner is directly in front of the B,C subway station at Central Park so one would think getting choice businesses in would not be such a big hassle.

CONDOS: RECORD CENTRAL PARK NORTH SALES

Harlem Bespoke: The new condominiums along Central Park North have had some record contracts out over the past year but some of the final sales numbers might turn out slightly different.  According to Streeteasy, a penthouse at 285 West 110th Street at the corner of FDB has been in contract based on $7.475 million since last year and this is almost close to the record condo sale in Harlem if the final number ends up higher.

☞ DWELL: 111 Central Park North Condos

The most expensive apartment building in Harlem (an $8 million penthouse was one of the record sales) is a good example on how condo living can get complicated for buyers if the developers do not have vision over their desire to make a large profit. Case in point is the retail space on the the ground floor of 111 Central Park North, which has been empty for quite some time and has finally opened up a Subway chain sandwich shop. Its next door neighbor is a deli that is new and modern but far from any luxury aesthetic.

The folks who spent millions on their condos are now worried that the large corner retail space in the building will go to McDonald's since they are at the mercy of the building's owner on all decisions pertaining to the ground floor spaces. Worried that the big M's arrival might portend even further downward property values in the building, The Post reported in August that there have been talks among residents of the building to pool their money and to rent out the ground floor corner space of the building as storage. This scenario mirrors what happened to the star architect-designed Phillip Starck condos in Chelsea, which indeed got a McDonald's on their ground floor.

In our opinion, this wildly successful, height-of-market building could add to its value if the developers worked with local businesses on rent discounts to provide the right type of institution at this corner of the park. Instead of a super-luxe McDonald's, a local restaurant such as Sylvia's could be a great gateway for visitors coming into Harlem. Of course, there would have to be rent incentives and maybe lower rent than expected. At the end, it would increase the value of the building and dress up the surrounding area, but maybe that's too much to ask for if there is a profit loss. Photos by Ulysses

☞ SHOP: Cooper-Hewit at 111 Central Park North

After being vacant for a few years, the park-facing commercial space at 111 Central Park North has secured a lease with the Cooper-Hewitt Museum from the Museum Mile according to the Wall Street Journal. The 1,500 square foot space will be used for the museum's educational center that will open May 12th to provide free programs for children and adults while the main Upper East Side building within the old Carnegie Mansion goes through a two year long renovation.  Notable former fashion designer Todd Oldham worked on the interior space and the lease will last through the next four years: LINK

☞ SHOP: 111 Central Park North New Artwork

We reported last October that 111 Central Park North condo owners were trying to block major fast food tenants from arriving at the empty prime corner store since a deli and a Subway had already arrived at the Lenox Avenue side spaces: LINK. Nothing has since arrived but peering in last week, we noticed there's some major graffiti up on one of the center walls (last photo). We looked up the artist and he actually has a large range of work documented around town. The 111 CPN mural is actually one of the better ones we have seen in some time with a nice graphic rendering of a jazz trumpet player as the main focus (click to enlarge). Was this commissioned by the condo association? All photos by Ulysses

☞ INTRODUCING: Doctor's Office at 111 CPN

The big corner retail store at 111 Central Park North is still empty but it looks like a doctor's office has moved into one of the smaller ground floor spaces.  During the height of the market, the building at the corner of Lenox Avenue and Central Park's north border reportedly garnered the priciest condo sale in Harlem but better retail tenants on the ground floor have been elusive.  A Subway chain moved into the Lenox facing storefronts over a year ago and now things look to be improving a little with some sort of medical weight loss specialist opening shop by the main entrance at the west end of the building.  There's already a website up for the new medical office which even includes a snapshop of the facility's main entrance that is located right behind the sculpture out front: LINK

☞ SHOP: 9 West 110th Street Storefront Reveal

The plywood shed at 9 West 110th Street (just a couple of building west of 5th Avenue) has gone down recently and there appears to be a new storefront on this northern border of Central Park. DOB files just show major demolition and alterations for the space but no clues on what type of business will eventually arrive. Seeing that 111 Central Park North has had a hard time leasing out their ground floor space, it might be best that this building provides some incentives for businesses to arrive sooner than later. Does anyone have any information on this space? Photo by Ulysses

☞ EXERCISE: Punch Fitness Classes on Lenox

A Bespoke tip came in that Punch Class Fitness is currently setting up at 111 Central Park North.  This is the last retail space to be taken over by Lenox and Central Park within the new luxury condo that has been getting mixed results with attracting non fast food commercial tenants.  A Duncan Donuts and Subway first appeared before the Cooper Hewitt Museum set up shop.  This fitness business should help balance out the assortment in the building which was one of the record top sellers during the height of the market a few years back. More in our past post:  LINK

☞ SEE: Around Harlem this Weekend

Saturday and Sunday, May 12th-13th, 6:00AM-6:00PM, Harlem Treasure Chest Flea Market, 117th Street and FDB/8th Avenue.  South Harlem's first flea market arrives just in time for the warm weather.  Check out the offerings from local antique vendors this weekend: LINK

Saturday, May 12th, 3:00PM and 8:00PM, Wycliffe Gordon's Jazz á la Carte, at the Apollo, 253 West 125th Street. Last year, at the inaugural Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival, presented by the Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile, Inc., the Jazz á la Carte series was wonderfully revived by trombonist/composer/arranger Wycliffe Gordon. This year at the 2012 festival, Gordon returns for two splendid and swinging sets of the legendary revue/variety show.

This year's edition features director/choreographer Kenneth L. Roberson; dancer extraordinaire Maurice Hines, who will serve as Master of Ceremonies; the world's tap dance superstar Savion Glover; along with The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, the gospel-tinged vocalist Theresa Thomason, pianist and Cole Porter Fellow Aaron Diehl, trumpeter Philip Dizack, trombonist/vocalist Natalie Cressman and The Apollo Dancers. Tickets are just $10 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster: LINK

Saturday,  May 12th, 8:00PM, Tribute to Club Havana San Juan featuring The Havana San Juan Orchestra at The Gatehouse, 150 Convent Avenue at 135th Street.  Join in for a night that relives the past glory and gets your body and soul moving to the present. In ‘60s New York, Havana San Juan, a club on 138th St and Broadway, played the pulsating soundtrack of the Golden Era of Latin Music. It was at this club where the flavorful mix of Afro-Cuban Mambo, Rumba, Guaguanco, Son, and Cha Cha blared. Today, the band of the same name, the Havana San Juan Orchestra, has revived this sound by incorporating modern technology and music of Tito Puente, Machito and Celia Cruz.

Presented as part of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival, a partnership with the Apollo Theater and Jazzmobile.  Tickets for $10 may be purchased online: LINK

Saturday, May 12th from 10:00AM-Noon, Family Workshop: Paper Flowers at the Morris-Jumel Mansion 65 Jumel Terrace, between 160th and 161st Street. Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Morris-Jumel Mansion and create colorful flowers out of tissue paper. This family-friendly event features rubber stamped designs and glitter for all young creative types who want to make something unique for the holiday.  Suggested for ages 5 and up with an adult learning partner. FREE but advanced registration is required. Call 212 923 8008

Saturday, May 12th, 10:30AM, Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the Cooper-Hewitt New Design Center in Harlem, 111 Central Park North and Lenox Avenue. The Cooper-Hewitt Design Center will be home to a variety of the award-winning Education department’s programs, which examine design thinking and highlight the museum’s exhibitions and collections. While the main museum goes under renovations, the new Harlem design center will be the main hub for the institution's interaction with the public by providing free interactive workshops. This weekend's opening ceremony will conclude with a free family friendly Sesame Street workshop which apparently has been sold out already: LINK

☞ READ: Last Month's Most Talked About Posts

Below is the list of last months most talked about and viewed posts.

1. Champagne Bar for 2080 FDB (18)
2. Rent Increases Closing Small Businesses (15)
3. A Proposal for 110th & FDB (14)
4. Harvist Arrriving at the Kalahari (13)
5. Mamma K's on Sugar Hill (12)
6. High and Low and 111 Central Park North (11)
7. 3 Days to Open Cove Lounge (10)
8. What's Up with 186 Lenox (10)
9. Signs Up at Maison Harlem (8)
10.BLVD Condos Go Rental (5)

☞ INTRODUCING: Cooper-Hewitt Design Center

Saturday, May 12th, 10:30AM, Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the Cooper-Hewitt New Design Center in Harlem, 111 Central Park North and Lenox Avenue. The Cooper-Hewitt Design Center will be home to a variety of the award-winning Education department’s programs, which examine design thinking and highlight the museum’s exhibitions and collections. While the main museum goes under renovations, the new Harlem design center will be the main hub for the institution's interaction with the public by providing free interactive workshops. This weekend's opening ceremony will conclude with a free family friendly Sesame Street workshop which apparently has been sold out already: LINK

☞ SEE: The Graphics of the Apollo

Wednesday, October 30th,  6:30PM to 8:00PM, Harlem Focus | The Apollo Theater: Conveying "Soul" through Graphic Design, Cooper-Hewitt Design Center 111 Central Park North $10 General admission/$8 Senior Citizen/Free for students Graphic designer Araba Simpson of design studio ASENYA has worked with Harlem's historic Apollo Theater to convey its history, culture, and soul through printed and promotional materials. Simpson will discuss her path to design and the challenge of expressing the Apollo’s rich history through the medium of graphic design: LINK

☞ READ: Last Week's Most Talked About Posts

A better view of the Jazz Trumpeter at 111 Central Park North: LINK.

1. The Harlem Tavern Arriving on 116th (46)

2. The Corner Gas Station at 2153 FDB (14)

3. Plumbing Delays at the WSJ Brownstone (13)

4. Crossing Bike Paths with Speeding Bikers (12)

5. Windows on 123 Condominiums (9)

☞ DWELL: 111 West 111th Street in Contract

The two-family townhouse (corner property at right of top photo) with a memorable address may be getting a memorable sales price as well. Number 111 West 111 Street, which is just one building west of St. Nicholas Avenue and one block from Central Park, has been on the market for over one year and went into contract in the middle of April. Back in February 2009, the 15 x 70 foot wide, five floor building, with an owner's quadruplex and a garden rental unit, went on the market for $2.55 million. Six months later, the 4,335 square foot property dropped its price down to $2.37 million. We are guessing that the final sales number will be north of $2 million which will definitely make it one of the higher recent house sales in the nabe. The closest train is the 2,3 express at Lenox Avenue which is also just a block away on 110th Street. Thoughts anyone? House photo by Ulysses

☞ DWELL: 111 West 111th Street Finally Sold

The two-family townhouse (corner property to the right of top photo) at 111 West 111 Street had an asking price of $2.37 million when it went into contract back in April, but what did it finally sell for? The five floor, 15 x 70 foot wide townhouse, just one block from Central Park, has around 4,335 square feet in total and was on the market since December 2008. Did it make it north of $2 million? The final price on record has now been revealed to be $1.96 million which might be one of the highest priced house sales above 110th street in some time. Read more on this property in our past post: LINK. Facade photo by Ulysses

☞ DWELL: The Lantern Condos on 113th Street

The developers responsible for the quick selling Parc Standard on lower FDB/8th Avenue (2nd photo down) have started to sell a condo developement called The Lantern at 111 West 113th Street and this new construction appears to be making similar progress. As previously noted, The Parc Standard sold out under a years time and this 12-unit building located between St. Nicholas and Lenox had only 1 unit in contract back in May but the numbers have now changed a bit.