PHOTOS: Mott Haven & Port Morris Celebrate the HEArts Center groundbreaking

A building in Mott Haven with deep roots in the Bronx’s history of community activism is entering a new chapter as the future home of the HEArts Center. The building at 349 E. 140th Street was once home to the Lincoln Detox People’s Program, founded in 1970 by the Young Lords and Black Panthers alongside local health workers. The program pioneered an ear-acupuncture protocol for addiction recovery that has since been adopted by programs around the world. Today, the site is being transformed into a community-controlled hub for health, wellness, education and the arts. “This isn’t just a community space,” said Mychal Johnson of South Bronx Unite. “It’s deeply rooted in the history of the Young Lords and the Black Panthers, who championed holistic recovery methods like acupuncture and tai chi.”

Photos by Mali Gibbs

After years of advocacy, residents helped preserve the abandoned building as a community asset through a Community Land Trust, a model designed to promote affordability, sustainability and long-term community stewardship. The HEArts Center will provide accessible, affordable space for organizations serving Mott Haven and Port Morris while honoring the site’s legacy of community-led health and activism. The groundbreaking on Sept. 23 and Community Celebration on Sept. 26 marked major milestones in the project and its broader push for community self-determination and equity. The site is also being considered for historic designations that could formally recognize its significance, including potential recognition as a National Historic Place.