New York’s housing crisis has rapidly gentrified neighborhoods citywide, especially in historically Black communities like Harlem and East Harlem. As the state moves forward with housing development, Harlem electeds are banding together to demand more affordability.
“It is gut-wrenching to see that Harlem, which has defined Black culture for over a century, is no longer affordable to its residents,” said Senator Cordell Cleare in a statement. “I am stopped everywhere in my district by residents facing housing insecurity and those who were forced to move elsewhere in the city because they cannot afford Harlem anymore.”
On Feb. 25, Cleare hosted a rally with Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs and Councilmember Yusef Salaam in front of the vacant former Lincoln Correctional facility to demand the state’s $90 million-plus redevelopment plan for the site — now referred to as “the Seneca project” — be halted until increased affordability for the housing units is included as “promised.” The electeds were joined by community members.
The Seneca project is run by the Empire State Development (ESD) and is part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s prison redevelopment rollout from 2022. In December 2023, ESD selected Infinite Horizons, L+M Development Partners, Urbane Development Group, and Lemor Development Group to complete the project.
Plans call for demolition of the existing correctional facility on West 110th Street near Central Park North, and construction of a new 22-story residential building with ground-floor community spaces. The anticipated unit mix will be up to 38 one-bedroom, 52 two-bedroom, and 20 three-bedroom apartments. Currently, the building has eight stories and 10,000 square feet. The project’s housing plans also state that 105 co-op style units will be priced at 80% and 100% of the area median income (AMI) to ensure affordability.
However, electeds said that the real-world housing costs are still out of reach for most Black and Brown residents in the community. A two-bedroom apartment would still cost $3,000 dollars a month for those under 80% AMI and $3,700 a month for those under 100% AMI, said Cleare.
“I strongly support efforts to bring more affordable housing to our city, especially in areas where the need is so great,” said Salaam in a statement. “We must acknowledge that the current plans for this development fall short of truly addressing the affordability crisis that many of our long-term residents face. I am deeply concerned that, without ensuring housing that is truly affordable, we risk pushing out the very people who have built and sustained this community for generations.”
According to the latest Census data for the site’s ZIP code, which includes central Harlem between 110 and 120th Streets, the median household income for the area is about $74,140 and the median gross rent is about $1,546. For Black households in the same area, the median income for 2023 was $53,666.
Immediately surrounding the site is a public school, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing, and several rent -regulated buildings. The electeds maintained that residents would have to earn more than double the amount of the median income to not live “rent-burdened” in the current housing plan.
“We need to ensure that affordable housing remains a cornerstone of our district, providing a sense of security and belonging for long-time residents,” said Gibbs. “The Lincoln project is our chance to redefine what development looks like in our neighborhood, with affordability at its core. We must reject the failed policies of the past, where $1 transfers became get-rich-quick schemes for developers, and instead build a model that uplifts our community and preserves its affordability for all. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar — it’s about the soul of Harlem.”
The conversation about the displacement of Black New Yorkers in Harlem, of course, isn’t new. The same issue arose with the years-long campaign to develop the One45 site on West 145th Street.
“This development (at these rates) will mark the end of Harlem. Harlem is not obligated to ensure a return on investment to developers,” said Pastor Dedrick Blue, vice chair of the Interfaith Commission for Housing Equality, at the rally. “The community must not support developments that provide for a modicum of affordable units at the consequence of soaring rents and mass displacement. Letting this development go through would set a bad precedent for the One45 and Lenox Terrace projects and future Harlem developments.”
The developer’s perspective is that “[t]he transformation of the former Lincoln Correctional Facility will expand affordable homeownership in Harlem, with 105 units for working New Yorkers, creating opportunities for working families to build intergenerational wealth,” said ESD Downstate Communications Director Emily Mijatovic. “ESD, in partnership with its development partner, remains committed to working with local leaders and to ensur[ing] this project serves the community and its needs.”
The existing structure was built in 1914 and used for the New York Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YWHA) in 1920, a place for soldiers during World War II, the New Lincoln School in 1950, and finally the Lincoln Correctional Facility, which closed in 2019. In 2023 and early 2024, it was a temporary shelter for asylum seekers.
In addition to concerns about affordability of the proposed housing, there may be environmental issues at the building site.
According to the ESD’s December 2024 report, the site had spills from at least two aboveground storage tanks (AST), one fuel tank, and two closed petroleum containers during those years, which may have affected the subsurface and groundwater.
The proposed project has to undergo environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, and then be presented to the public before it can receive final approval. That is anticipated to be completed in 2028.
Mijatovic said ESD prepared an environmental assessment and determined “the Project, implemented in accordance with the GPP, will result in no significant adverse impacts to the environment.”
Working from home has become increasingly popular, providing employees with the freedom to create a workspace that suits their needs. It allows for a better work-life balance, reduces stress from commuting, and can lead to higher job satisfaction
This is what I do…..… findcash7.ltdℱ
please don’t copy”ℱ” In Url Thanks