"Restaurants have been slower to arrive in Central Harlem than housing. One impediment, developers and community leaders said, is the preponderance of churches and schools. A 1934 state law bans liquor sales within 200 feet of their front doors.
There are exceptions, though, like Moca Lounge, at 2210 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, where a jerk chicken entree costs $12. Nearby is the Tribal Spears Gallery, which serves fruit smoothies alongside ebony carvings."

Here we have the tale of the 2 New Harlems - Frederick Douglass Boulevard from 110th to 125th that has no churches or projects and Lenox Avenue from 110th to 125th which has 1025 project buildings and 567 churches!!!

Which avenue do you think is going to become the better neighborhood to live on????

The Liquor Law is a non excuse. "The Den" on 132nd & 5th is adjacent to a Church sharing the same wall structure, Harlem Grill though now closed, operated across the street at 132nd & 7th ave. from a large Church, Emperor's Roe, also now closed stood directly across Lenox Ave. at 120th from a large church. There is no shortage of examples of newly arrived businesses, somehow able to work around this law and sell alcohol within 100' of the front door, much less 200', from Churches. Isn't it a bit silly to keep blaming this law when it's clearly not stopped a business from selling alcohol within 200' from a Church? Next Excuse?

Where is this all heading? The Brooklyn based Black newspaper The Beacon I would characterize as the Black "Fox Network" but in newsprint. (Biased, slanted, one-sided and lousy journalism). I noticed the cover features a tremendously large photo of a rendering of a new plush hotel coming to 125th St. in Harlem, but on the inside they have maybe 2 paragraphs of story ot text dedicated to their front cover?

Can anyone explain that? I can, the paper has no journalism resources or skills, their readership does not demand it, and it's there only to incite and not really discuss the issues (the benefit and value of growth, development, etc.). Low brow for the poorly educated "See Jane Run" caliber journalism.

I am Black however the surest sign that I know we're lost (Black people) is when we rail against improvement and growth and seek to preserve an impoverished existence and culture. People trying to justify lifetime privilege of public housing, poverty, and a welfare class mentality, it's unbelievable. People are actually upset that Harlem's getting its first hotels in decades? People are upset that income earners, people with jobs and disposable income are moving to Harlem? That is a real mentality in Harlem believe it or not.

There is a significant percentage of Harlem that want it to remain Ghetto, ghetto stores, people, eateries, etc.

"There is a significant percentage of Harlem that want it to remain Ghetto, ghetto stores, people, eateries, etc."

If the MASSIVE projects are demolished, this problem won't be as significant!