Magic Johnson Theater (FDB Part 3)

Back before anti-gentrification mania peaked, business development was actually encouraged here in Harlem. Elite Black players such as the Abyssinian Development Corporation and Magic Johnson's Sunshine Development Corp., bonded together to foment capitalist investment in Harlem. The result is Magic Johnson's Theater complex, and if built today, would definitely be at least 14 stories, instead of the current 4. As it is, it packs in many commercial interests into its compact space. Aside from the Theater itself, the building hosts The Hip Hop Cultural Center of Harlem, a Chase, Old Navy, 9 West, Commerce Bank, Chuck-E-Cheese, A New York Sports Club, the Hue-man Bookstore, and a discount clothing store. Damn! Based on a tip from Uptown Flavor, I decided to check out the scene at the "Women in Hip Hop Concert at the Hip Hop Cultural Center. Located on the second floor, it had many kiosks, murals, performances and generally cool young people all doing their thing. Here's some highlights as well as other scenes from the block.




This organization of was one of my favorites...a group young people helps teen entrepreneurship!

There was also an alternative energy consulting company, and a few fashion companies.









All in all it was an amazingly positive event. Its so great to see concientious young people who have talent and are inspired!
The rest of the Theatre (3rd Floor).

Going out like Mao!

What's this...Lakers and Knicks fans getting along???

I dont know what to make of this brightly-colored racial Utopia. Confound you Mr. Johnson, for destroying my cynicism!
Here's the rest of this commercial Never-never land. Complete with Chuck-E-Cheese and a Municipal Credit Union.

Along St. Nicholas, there's a rabbit in the footprint, here is an old time iron gate. The buidling on the corner has had most of its commercial spaces closed.


Hello Sports!

Dont ask me what this was about.

I feel its only a matter of time before it is completely unoccupied, although GameStop is still holding it down.


The anti-gentrification Communist forces are still in full effect. Notice in the background, the defunt KFC and Manna's. Still no renderings for what will take its place.


The NYSC on the 4th Floor.

The event was co-sponsored by Power 105 and some health-care organization.

They were actually offering people healthcare and popcorn. Great marketing!
The progression of the mural by AM Radio...

Harlem Bloggers

Just had an idea...why not do a Harlem Bloggers post? To start it off, here's some pix for two Harlem bloggers: Harlem Fur and NYC the Blog. If any of youse want to get together next weekend for the 116th St. Edition, let me know...Im always down for some collaboration. Without further ado, Chris, this ones for you!

And Paolo, just a small taste of the collezione!

For Uptown Flavor, the following post regarding Magic Johnson Theatres and the Hip Hop Cultural Center is all you!

Eff Dee Bee, Part 2

I would just like to say to thanks to everyone for their support of my efforts on this blog. My Dwyer post may have thrown some of you for a loop, but my goal was to show that development, gentrification and the neighborhood can have a mutually beneficial relationship. No other building in Harlem is as uniquely positioned to do this...and I just wanted to present a point of view where a thoughtful development can in fact achieve this fine balance. As a result, I am introducing something known as the "Gentrification-o-meter" where the scale of this relationship will be given a score from 1 to 10; 1 being a completely self-serving tower of vanity and 10 being a harmonious paragon of community love. For example, 111 Central Park North, where the cheapest apartment is still 20% more expensive than the Dwyer's most expensive apt, gets a 1. Its Ivory Tower architecture literally turns its back on Harlem, only facing south. Its high falutin' ads promising "great views, starting at $1.5 million, and is minutes from mid-town," only further its reputation as harboring rich snobby people who care nothing about the neighborhood.

(This may in fact not be the case, but there's absolutely no way of telling, and there's absolutely no outreach to the community to dispel this notion). Where as the Hamilton--my former building--with its high proportion of native Harlem residents, modest scale and vital retail services gets an 8. My goal, as stated from the very first posting, is to add nuance to the Gentrification debate, something that the ultra-Right and ultra-Left hate me for (believe me, I've seen the chatrooms), because it challenges their inflexible attitudes on this issue. So to them I say "keep on hating, you only make me stronger" and to the rest, thanks for your support, feedback and fair-minded criticism. So without further ado, Part 2 of FDB!

The crux of 116th is a interesting place. Old and new places of business meet in a strange detante. On the one hand are old throw backs like the car-fixin-place, while newer places like The Wine Store, and this African fashion shop (Petit Paris) compete for foot traffic.

Across the street is a new building that was one of the first in Harlem to go from co-op to rentals. It houses some decent businesses like Subway, Tribal Spears and Prudential. A healthfood store, Carrot, is just around the corner on 117th.


It will be interesting in the coming months to see how these real-estate offices do.
Across the street to the north is my buddy, Chef White, and his 5 star grill.

(He gets a 10 on the gentrification-o-meter).
The empty lot next to him is going to see some development soon.

On the east side, we have this monolith, that I know next to nothing about.

Moving North, we have the much bally-hooed Soha--the buidling that coined a neighborhood--or so they'd have you think.

This building gets a 5 on the gentrification-o-meter. They cleaned up some empty lots and decrepit buildings, but we get yet another Chase and Starbucks.
Directly across the street is this hideous project that has been in Stop-Work-Order hell since they began this truly terrible conversion.

Just north of this is the successful and African owned Cafe les Ambassades.
Moving on is Moca, one of the first "upscale" lounges in Harlem.

North and to the west is the first affordable new development of this whole re-zoning effort. The Harriett Tubman Gardens...

on the gentrification-o-meter it gets an 8. Most of its original apartments were affordable to local residents and it was the pioneer of FDB. It also houses two great Black-owned businesses, Harlem Vintage and Nectar.

Looking east, is this oddly shaped new development.

Here's the crossroads of FDB and St. Nicholas Ave., with The Dwyer in the background.

A closeup of a crazy tribute to Harriett Tubman herself.

There are still some signs of the old look...

but the new is making its final push here.


The old block here...

torn down to make way for the new ALoft.

Across the street to the west is Magic Johnson's visionary development.

It gets the 10 spot on the gentrification-o-meter...It was the first of its kind in redeveloping this area with goods and services that the neighborhood is dying for. Special shout out to Hue-man Bookstore.

Coming next, an inside look at Magic Johnson Theaters!