Over the weekend the Harlem Tenants Council, lead by Nellie Bailey, was out marching in protest of the gentrification of Harlem. They are against the displacement of low-income Harlemites and the newly approved 125th Street River to River proposal. Watch video from the demonstration below.
more about “Harlem Tenants Council March“, posted with vodpod
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iloveharlem
June 27, 2008
Yes Lady, you are very right. We have people speaking on the situation without background knowledge. These viewpoints are the results of people who have no concern about what and who was there before these lots. Just give me my apartment. Tension is being caused because of the lack of any concern and respect by the new residents of Harlem to the indigenous people of Harlem.
I think the main problem with the gentrification issue is that there is no dialogue between the newcomers and those who have been in Harlem for years, sometimes generations. On both sides we look at each others faces, but don’t perceive the soul. We need to hear the needs and wants of those moving uptown, and they need to hear the concerns of the residents who are being priced out of their own neighborhood. Some good can come out of this.
On another issue, the indigenous people of Harlem need to turn their wrath to their elected officials whom they should have voted out long ago.
Developers can only build where there are allowed to build by government.
The untold story in this is the “talented tenth” (politicians, real estate, business consortiums, NAACP) black folks who are making a lot of money facilitating this transfer of real estate in Harlem. No one of this group really worked to bring about the economic education that could have put more black folks in properties before all of this happened. I wonder what WEB Dubois would say about this
Ladymooresabb
June 27, 2008
I would that people pay attention to the process and not so much what is seen. Many buildings that house the financially challenged are allowed to deteriorate because of owners wish to skimp on necessary repairs. These buildings then become hazards and eyesores and some fall victim to demolition. The property then sits as uninhabited while the search for affordable housing no longer includes those spaces. Owners that don’t lose it to fines and taxes are then willing to sell usually below market to commercial buyers out of greed and desperation.That space is forever lost as affordable housing. Why do you think there was such procrastination in the rebuilding of New Orleans (hint) more commercial space available instead of returning people back to their homes. Unfortunately us seeing the eye sores and not seeing the loss to affordable housing is what these Moguls depend on so let us see beyond the lots and research the story behind it and the potential stolen from it. If you lose affordable living space then replace it with affordable living space not luxury high rise buildings in a neighborhood where the long standing residents can no longer afford to pay rent and are forced to find housing elsewhere. So teach on and preach on council I’m glad someone is watching.
tacony palmyra
June 27, 2008
Most (if not all) of the new construction in Harlem is on former vacant lots/parking lots/other spaces that had, long ago, had buildings on them, but had been burned/demolished during the 70s and 80s. A lot of the anti-gentrification chatter is vielded nimbyism. Some people just don’t want anything new or changed in Harlem, and would prefer vacant lots if it means they can find a parking space.
MMP Brownstoner
June 26, 2008
Why was the woman in the beginning picking on 2002 Fifth Ave. as an example of pushing Harlemites from their homes? If I recall correctly, that was a parking lot.