The Scoop: We’re in this Together Edition
James O’Brien, 34, artist. Moved to Harlem in 2003. Photo by: Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times
Reward offered to find missing Harlem teacher [Fox]
Foreclosure makes its move on Manhattan [NYT]
18 Responses to “The Scoop: We’re in this Together Edition”
Sponsors
Upcoming Events
-
May27Sun
-
Jun2Sat
-
Jul10Tue
-
Jul12Thu
-
Jul19Thu
View Calendar ✔ Subscribe
Add to Google
-
Harlem’s 2nd Renaissance
Look inside > 
Harlem's Second Renaissance Foodies
Random
Popular
Content Partners
holla!
Can’t we all just get along?
Oh, and the issue of racial hostility and all that you mentioned, anon. For me, your insinuating such an issue is like the pot calling the kettle black, in light of your pathologic fixation on folks in the projects and on section 8 and other government asistance programs, as if it is only Harlem residents who drink from the trough.
Naw. The numbers don’t frighten me in more ways than you would think. I actually like em. Since they’ve come, my properties values have risen nicely. Thank you! And I love the new amendities. But I do think they, the scary statistics are published so as to dis-spirit long time folks into believing that this great horde of white folks are going to come, and, other hand, encourage white folks to consider the move here because they takin over. But it just ain’t happening to the extent thye like I suspect, when you scap all of th BS off. That’s all.
FYI: Hello?
Monday, September 8, 2008
12 WIN CITY BROWNSTONES IN HARLEM
By LEE A. DANIELS
Published: February 10, 1982
After nearly three years of controversy, New York City housing officials yesterday selected purchasers for 12 brownstones the city owns in Harlem through a lottery that was weighted in favor of people living in Harlem.
Five of the 12 winners were Harlem residents. Three other winners were from neighborhoods that abut the predominantly black area – Washington Heights, East Harlem and Manhattan Valley.
The three-hour lottery was part of the city’s effort to dispose of the 1,700 buildings it owns in Harlem. All were seized in tax foreclosures.
The auction was held at Davis Hall on the main campus of City College at 134th Street and Convent Avenue. Anthony B. Gliedman, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, told the audience of about 300 that the lottery was ”but a step” in the city’s effort to aid the revi talization of Harlem. Method of Disposal Uncertain
In an interview, Mr. Gliedman said that the methods for disposing of the remaining property – 288 brownstones and 1,400 apartment buildings – had yet to be decided.
One of the winners, Amelia Samuda, 52 years old, of 111 West 135th Street, was in the auditorium when her name was called. Mrs. Samuda was born in Harlem, moved to Brooklyn during the early 1960′s and returned to the neighborhood three years ago.
She told the audience: ”It really is a joy to have something of your own. It means you own a piece of the rock.” Mrs. Samuda, who works for the city’s Board of Education, will pay $5,000 for the three-story brownstone at 65 West 119th Street that she won.
The building, in the Mount Morris Park Historical District, is likely to need substantial renovation. But, like all the other winners, Mrs. Samuda is eligible for Federal aid for the work at interest rates of from 3 to 9 percent. Another Winner Is Overjoyed
Priscilla Ashley, a winner who was not present but was called after the auction by a reporter, was ebullient. ”I’m floating on air – completely,” said Mrs. Ashley, who lives at 671 West 162d Street, Washington Heights. ”My face is tired because I’ve been grinning all afternoon.”
Mrs. Ashley, a systems analyst with the New York Blood Center and mother of two teen-aged boys, won the right to purchase a brownstone at 26 West 120th Street for $5,000.
Asked what it meant to her, she replied: ”It means I’m a homeowner, a property owner. It means that I have tangible assets to give to my sons.
”New York has always fascinated me. I wanted to be here and this means I’m going to be here.” Since 1978 the city has disposed of more than 1,300 buildings seized in tax foreclosures through various means; some have been sold to their tenants, others have been sold at auction.
The disposition of the Harlem properties presented special problems because community leaders were determined that Harlem residents get a chance to own some of them, and Mr. Gliedman and his aides were sympathetic.
The delicate neogtiations between the community and the city were almostwrecked, however, when two of Harlem’s community boards – Nos. 9 and 10, covering the area from Fifth Avenue to the Hudson – proposed that the buildings be exclusively reserved for Harlem residents. This was rejected by both Mr. Gliedman and the Mayor.
Last August, the Board of Estimate approved a compromise guaranteeing that Harlem residents who applied for any of the 12 brownstones would have a 3-to-1 advantage over applicants who did not live in Harlem. This was done by ordering the removal of the names of those who did not live in Harlem from the applicant pool until the number of nonresidents equaled three times the number of Harlem applicants.
The other winners yesterday were: Rudolph E. Cotman, 2075 First Ave., East Harlem. Robert Anderson, 280 Brookside Ave., Roosevelt, L.I. Barbara A. Harrison, 32-35 Saratoga Ave., Brooklyn. Linda Gelpi, 499 West 129th St. Ronald L. Melichar, 50 West 106th St., Manhattan Valley. Phyllis M. Harris, 115-18 145th St., Queens. Penny J. Sherrod, 1838 Frederick Douglass Blvd. Henry Williams, 11 North 3d Ave., Mount Vernon, N.Y. Blanche Brown, 2985 Frederick Douglass Blvd. Alvin A. Martine, 101 West 147th St.
Hey everyone! Love the comments thus far but want to remind you to keep it clean folks. We want you make your points without people being detracted by the personal jabs. As we’ve all seen that is a sure way for what is right now an interesting conversation to deteriorate into what we’ve witnessed on other websites.
Thanks and keep the conversation going – as long as it is on the original topic.
First, I’m Black and I got green bro. Also, I’m a stake holder in Harlem.
Second, you pretend that most whites in Harlem are doing great. Perhpas. Maybe. But have you been reading how developers in Harlem and eslsewhere are now trying every effing thing they can do too get new tenants. My instinct is that with the economy going south, and with the election of McSame and Palin, these fools, among others, will be begging for section 8 money my friend, Or they are going losse the drawers….. BIGTIME!!!!!!!!!! \
ALSO, iINOTICE YOU FROM BEFORE. YOU SEEM TO HAVE A SOMEWHAT PATHOLOGIC FIXATION ON THE PROJECT RESIDENTS. WHAT’S THE HOOK HERE? WERE YOU “VICTIMZED” DIRECTLY BY ONE OF THEM?
Thirdly, the housing crisis is making its way to Harlem as the Times pieces note from the weekend and other data. And you wax on and on about these great white folks. I’ve talk to a few. They ain’t feelin so great.
And don’t even mention the credit card bubble. A lot of these folks are going to catch pure hell because the folks you mention in the ‘jects’ are not loaded down with mortgages or live by credit cards. So guess what? Who and where do you think the hammer will fall on next? You answer the quesion for me:
Oh! I think you’re smelling too much of your own dodo.
GDAWG said: “If you report these numbers as percentages, then the nymbers look frightenly high. I mean a 200% increase of whites in Harlem?!.”
Does it really “frighten” you to see such a large % increase in the number of white people in Harlem? What “frightens” me more are statements like yours that only serve to increase racial divisions and hostility.
Gdawg said, “The overall point is; folks ain’t taking over shyt”.
Newsflash, the tipping point has passed Mr. Gdawg and historical Black Harlem is largely irrelevant in the shaping of Harlem of tomorrow. If you doubt that just take a look at how re-zoning went last Spring for 125th St. Even the politicians like Inez Dickenson (sic) bow down and get on their knees for the development dollars (that ain’t Black).
You fail to realize all numbers are not equal. In other words, in terms of difining the future of Harlem, a single $100K earner (of any color) outweighs dozens if not more welfare class Harlemites.
The vast majority of Black Harlemites are not stakeholders in Harlem. In fact they’re benefactors of social welfare programs and are indeed net “drains” on the City if you want to get brutally truthful about it.
Black Harlemites tend to reach and claim cultural stake holding interest, which means F___ nothing in a democracy with a free economy. It does not equate or amount to a vote, compared to someone who invest $500K or $20,000,000 into Harlem.
Call any local Police Precindt and you will learn the Captains receive regular phone calls from the developers in the area and their management companies about demanding heavy presence near their developments. They want their customers (buyers and big ticket renters) feeling comfortable….and the NYPD responds! This is not the same for the projects – there are two levels of protection in Harlem, enforcement, etc. The point being all Harlem residents are not equal, do not have an equal say.
I don’t think you want to get into a numbers argument Pal because I know the average income of a Black Harlemite is about $26,000 and I am willing to bet the average income of a White Harlemite is TWICE that of a Black Harlemite, or in other words, the average White Harlemite TOWERS over the average Black Harlemite in economic power and ability to “grow” Harlem and support businesses.
I’m not say’in, I’m just say’in. Green is taking over Harlem and you see it plain as day. Rarely is Green Black. More Often Green is Non-Black.
Imagine if all the Projects were gone, all the Sec. 8 apartments were gone, all the rent stab apartments were gone. In otherwords, imagine if all the subsidized apartments of Harlem were gone and all that was left was the Market Rate Rentals, Bought Coops and Condos. The % of White people might be 50% in Harlem. Harlem had swfit transition of Scandanavians in the past, of Jews in the past, it’s only “rigged” subsidized Government programs that did not exist long ago that delay the current ethnic transition of Harlem from Black to Green.
Remove the Rigged Social Welfare Housing Perks and Harlem would be about 10% Black today at the very most!
Sorry for the typos.
A) But I wanted to say in the 2nd sentence”…. in the segment of Harlem mentioned in the article went….”
B) In the 3rd sentence I wanted to say…showed a decline…
C) Exchange: numbers for nymbers.
D) ..”..guess the old adage….”
The overall point is; folks ain’t taking over shyt.
P. You’re on to something. especially when you examine the census data. Looking at the actual numbers, the number of whites in the segment of harlem when from 2,000 or so to 6,000 or so. As to the number of Blacks the numbers shoed a decline from 88% to 72% to now roughly 80,000 or so as the article noted. If you report these numbers as percentages, then the nymbers look frightenly high. I mean a 200% increase of whites in Harlem?!. And a decline of Blacks?!
But then you look a the actual numbers, Ahhh. A different context and reality prevails. I geuss the oldage that there are lies, Damn lies, and Statistics, rings true. Even in Harlem.
A- do you find it objectionable that stories about displacement are treated in a sympathetic light? Even stories about the changing dynamic of Harlem don’t exactly portray it as “positive” so much as “fraught.”
And with respect to your specific examples, there aren’t a lot of long-term white residents being displaced that could be thrown in for “balance.” Newcomers are black and white, though perhaps the latter group is easier for an NYT reporter to spot.
This was Cafe Amrita nee Saurin Park on 110th and CPN. They have a good tv…I watched the Giants catch wreck there!
Where is the pub you are drinking at James? Harlem in 145th street needs more bars and pubs where someone can watch a baseball or football game on TV. Anyone know of anything like that around the area?
Thanks!
James, I wondered if that was you in the article.
Anonymous, i can definitely see your point, but there were african americans included in the article that were represented in a positive light. i would also like to say that for the record, i have been living in harlem since 1995, but I did move to 145th st in 2003.
a- why do you think that is? Do you find that it is only when the media is reporting on Harlem or does it apply to other news stories as well?
The trend? The overwhelming amount of Harlem media stories that tilt to the ‘positive’, the ‘forward’, growth, expansion in some way? the people involved are non-Black.
And the opposite is true. The overwhelming amount of Harlem media stories that tilt to the ‘unfortunate’, the ‘downside’, the negative, the not good news? the people involved are Black.
Harlem Tea Room & Ginger closing – Bad news wherein the people are Black for example. This website chronicled the commercial business being forced out as the City is increasing their rents 300%, etc.
Oh sure, I can note a good or positive story wherein a Black person is involved in conjunction with Harlem, but the vast majority of ‘forward’ stores on Harlem center on people that are not Black.
Black Harlem went down with the WTC in ’01. That’s the way it goes sometimes.