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Harlem fights to protect its turf

By David Freedlander | dfreedlander@am-ny.com

January 25, 2008

In recent months 125th Street in Harlem has become commercialized with franchised businesses and consequently has led to the reduction of many privately owned, "mom-and-pop," small businesses throughout the area. (October 8, 2007)

With a tornado of change about to blow through 125th Street, a group of Harlem residents is fighting back.

What they're looking to stop is the city's plan to rezone the central artery of the neighborhood to allow denser, taller buildings, which some fear will displace local businesses and long-time residents.

"This document would do to us what Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans," said Craig Schley, executive director of VOTE People, a local advocacy group. "Harlem would be signing its own execution."

Developers have eyed Harlem in the search for a new frontier after a decades-long period of neglect. Now big-box retailers such as Old Navy and H&M populate the area, and smaller, minority-owned long-term businesses have begun to shut their doors.

The city's plan would permit high-rises of up to 29 stories, bring more than 5,000 new residents to the area, and create an "Arts Bonus," to permit greater density in exchange for adding ground floor cultural venues.

Community Boards 9, 10 and 11 and Borough President Scott Stringer all voiced serious reservations about the plan.

"They're rezoning just a sliver of Harlem, but we need a much bigger and wider development strategy for the area," said Stringer, who has proposed making the neighborhood a state Heritage Area, which he said, "would preserve and promote the historical legacy of Harlem."

The city's planning commission will hold an open hearing on their rezoning plan next week in Harlem.

"We have great confidence in the strengths and merits of this proposal," said planning Chairwoman Amanda Burden in a statement. "Public input is an important component of the public review process. The City Planning Commission, as always, will listen carefully to public testimony as it fine-tunes and improves this important initiative."

If the Planning Commission approves the rezoning, the plan will go before the city council in April.

Opponents vowed a fight.

"These battles are always David vs. Goliath," said attorney Norman Siegel, who is representing a coalition of neighborhood groups in case there is a legal challenge. "But I always remind people that David did win that fight."