Harlem Hybrid @ 1 Year!

It's hard to believe that its been 1 year since I started Harlem Hybrid. Since that time we've seen a bunch of people get shot, a building collapse, I briefly became the face of gentrification, some great randomness here and here, a Black man got elected president, and recently the passing of Michael Jackson. Its hard to image ever surpassing these moments in the coming year. Harlem, you may have set the bar too high! But if there's one thing that I've learned, its that Harlem always surprises...mostly in a good way. Last but not least, I would like to personally thank all of the great people of Harlem for their support, love and respect. It is my only hope that I can give as much back to you!

2280 FDB Building Collapse

I really want Harlem Hybrid to be a forum for positivity, but I just couldn't ignore the cavalcade of sirens, helicopters and fire trucks that interrupted my daily yoga. Apparently the building next to the 2280 FDB construction site suffered a partial collapse as they were shoring up its southern retaining wall. It does appear there are people trapped underneath the debris on the first floor occupied by Pizzeria 1-2-3. More info as it becomes available. Here's some preliminary pix...


They had been pumping concrete up against the building to shore it up. But I guess the pressure for the retailing wall was too strong...

and it pushed it into Pizzeria 123.


Closeup of the damage.



Another prompt and professional response by the NYPD, FDNY and DOB. I hope everyone is ok.

Harlem Updates

There have been a few storylines swirling around lately which I hope to update with this post of pix taken over the weekend. Be it the supposed Halloween violence, to the Manhattanville naming "controversy" to the state of housing development Uptown, I decided to tour the nabe to see what the perspective was from the Street Level.
Halloween saw an interesting cast of Super Heroes

and the Night of Mischief never really materialized, although I did peep this new Bloods graf.


On the development watch, it seems that projects currently underway continue. The Savannah is showing some skin...

and Mike Tyson's stop-work-order-hell buildings have resumed contruction!

454 Manhattan Ave. is all shined up and ready for some closings,

while the high-end condo penthouse market continues with high inventory.

There are still deals to be found throughout Central Harlem though...



Hmmm...wonder what this means now?

And it looks like the ghost of Alexander Hamilton is settling in nicely in his new location!


On the commercial watch, some interesting small businesses are forging ahead. Doug E. Fresh's Chicken and Waffles still has a few weeks to go,

as does Atomic Wings,

but 89 Orange (Harlem Fur says its 79 Orchard) is creepin' on the come-up!


Last but not least, Manhattanville is showing signs of life,


and there is some truth to its former status as a Meatpackers district.

Although those days are long gone. Now that Columbia's environmental review is complete, they will now shift into high demolishment mode. (Destructoporn to follow!)
Some will resist to the bitter end.

But there will always be some drama in those nearby projects.


Secret Societies, still tryin to keep they eye on me!

But Im returning the favor!



Coming up next...The Election Edition!

Highbridge Part 2

I dug out some old Highbridge pix from earlier this year. The reason? These are the only extant pix of the inside of the Highbridge aqueduct/water tunnel and will remain so as the entrance to it is now completely welded shut.
Out over the Harlem River!




Enter the 36th Chamber!

Evidence of the Mole people...

seems they have an aquatic strain.


PS it was pitch black in here, so sorry for the noise.

Manhattanville

With the opening of the new Harlem Piers just west of 12th Ave., Manhattanville is receiving lots of attention these days. Be it Fairway, Dinosaur BBQ, Talay or the Hudson River Cafe, it is now clear that this area is becoming a go-to destination Uptown. In this post, I'll peel back some of the layers regarding the development there, both in terms of what's currently happening as well as the future of this controversial yet vital area.
Beneath the Aquaduct, from the south end looking north.

Here's a shot of the North end space now occupied by Talay and Body circa 2003,

As it is today.

For a long time this area has slid further and further into decrepitude...

but since the announcement of Columbia's expansionist agenda,
the landgrab has commenced. Long time small business owners have been bought out and those that resist will most likely be forced out. Neighborhood institutions such as Fairway,

and the relocated Cotton Club, stand to gain as they are just outside of the area of Columbia's two stage annexation.

As a way of bolstering their claim of Community improvement, Columbia is engaging in a huge environmental assessment and remediation effort. Everything from ground water to air quality will be sampled, analyzed and hopefully corrected.

Needless to say that after almost 6 decades of industrial use, the land underneath this area has major oil, gasoline, benzene and other contamination (such as lead from paint and leaded gasoline).




One of the worst contributors is the Manhattanville Bus Depot (sorry City, you also are getting forced out in Phase 2).

Here's a shot of the Doll House Factory--one of the more controversial losers in this plan.

And the Eritrean Society, Floridita,

and one of the few gas stations in the hood.

Clearly this is still a hugely controversial issue. But I like the changes I see so far. The remaining top 5 concern include:
1) Environmental Remediation of the current site
2) Compensation and fair treatment of existing small businesses
3) Disaster management for the new Science labs
4) Holding Columbia to their pledge of 1000 afforable housing units
5) Ensuring that Community relations stay positive and mutually beneficial by conserving the history and relevant architectural elements of this area.


It is my hope that no one ends up marginalized by this process.