Dwyer developer John Cross threw a hell of a nice gathering this weekend for the building's owners, commercial tenants and neighborhood luminaries. Being none of these, I somehow got in.

There on the rooftop flooded by the warm light of a serene blue sky, with impressive views spilling out across Harlem to far reaching parts of the city, I could not help but wonder, Can this moment be captured for others to enjoy? Can this sublime experience, transcending language to become what Lacan calls 'The Real,' be transcended back into the symbolic?

Yes. The man who did it was Harlem Hybrid.

A Titian of the digital camera, Harlem Hybrid's Dwyer rooftop party oeuvre shows his mastery of both landscape and portrait genres. Be it the city as a subject or the city within the subject, Harlem Hybrid proves himself to be "the sun amidst small stars" or "the man with the SLR amongst those with point and shoot compacts." At times he is a Stieglitz exploring the play between spaces carved out by the city's rising buildings, and at other times he is an O'Keeffe rendering explicit the provocative power of the flower in full bloom.

But his greatest production of the evening? This piece. Simply amazing.

Here we see captured the full essence of the city man. The technical fibers of his sweat wicking shirt pairing sport and a gentlemanly embrace of life, his denim trousers a duality of working class roots and urban style, and of course, the stripped collared shirt slung long across the back at day's end.

Grandiloquent prose aside, and for those of you who have not thrown up all over your computer, John Cross put together a great project, both in terms of the building and the party's guests. I've been to a few development parties, and they can be difficult to pull off without feeling like all the rest. However, this party had two great things going for it: the people and the building. Amazing, but I actually wanted to talk to everyone there. And the Dwyer does a first class job of accessing the the lay of its surroundings for killer views and light.

Our hats go off our furry little heads to you, Harlem Hybrid, for landing a pad in such a cool building.

Posted by Chris at 12:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The little bundle of sass called Harlem BuBu seems to have brought in an offer on her apartment through her blog 68 Bradhurst. Thou not for the reasons you might suspect. Instead of posting about finishes, appliances and floorplans for a listed unit, her writing on life in the new luxury building prompted a buyout offer for her to leave.

68 Bradhurst, as the subtitle says, tackles the good, the bad and the nasty in The Langston. As an example, a post from earlier this month covers some of the bad getting nasty with a board member at the near-by Duane Reade. A rather unrestrained public exchange turns noticeably cooler back in the building lobby.

So is the offer to buy out her apartment real? Will the person behind the anonymous offer be revealed? Is this a viable sales strategy in a soft real estate market?

Who knows.

Posted by Chris at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Insanity now comes bunked four to a room in Harlem's Lotta Hostel.

Walking past the former 118th St Lotta Condos building on Saturday night, I noticed that the time honored Harlem activity of socializing on the stoop was being carried out in several languages by a mix of late teen to twenty somethings. At first I thought that the Harlem Experience tours had really gone too far (Gospel service, Sylvia's, African Market, Stoop?), but then noticed the fully functional check in desk and a faint wiff of college.

Maybe it was fate, or maybe it was the full moon, but I am guessing that two of the French-speaking guests came from Quebec, based on the license plates of the Smart Car parked down the street. (Right! Because how could this story not include a Smart Car?) It was enough to make me run home and grab a real camera, as my cell phone could not capture the car in the dark.

Posted by Chris at 01:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Emotions can run deep over Columbia's proposed Manhattanville expansion, so let's all first inhale deeply, hold it at the top of our lungs, and exhale slowly...

No matter what one's personal feelings toward the development project are, we can pretty much assume that it is going to happen. So why not take advantage of the opportunities it presents? As our economy looks a little thin, Columbia is ready to dump $7 billion worth of development into our backyard.

To help make sure that Harlem talent can get in on the activities, Columbia appointed La-Verna Fountain as its new associate vice president for construction business services. Fountain looks at the project as an "expanded opportunity for local businesses and for local people to have good jobs." The addition of 1,200 construction-related jobs a year for more than two decades is just at start.

Columbia's Minority and Women Owned Business initiatives has a 25 percent goal for total construction, maintenance and repair spending—15 percent minority, 5 percent women and 5 percent local. in the past two years alone, purchasing relationships with vendors, consulting agreements for services, and contracting for construction, renovation and repair services under the initiative have been worth $127 million.

I'll post on informational sessions or upcoming opportunities when I know of them, but I strongly encourage anyone interested in potential opportunities to contact Columbia sooner than later.

Posted by Chris at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lance Smith, Harlem's second most renowned distace runner, posted a great video on Lenox Terrace's development and early years. Lenox Terrace just turned a spry 50.

Harlem's most renowned distance runner would be Ted Corbitt, the first President & founding member of the New York Road Runners. Lance also includes a write up on Ted today as well.

Posted by Chris at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

[Manhattanville photo from Joe Schumacher]

Checking out of Fairway one night years ago during my first week in New York, I watched the slimeball Yuppie ahead of me in line slip the girl who bagged his groceries a ten spot. He then gave his chin a quick cocky upturn as he told her to have a good night. It just didn't register. Fairway was in such a dirty, desolate area; it didn't make sense that someone would have that much disposable cash.

I now understand that the slimeball was probably on his way home to Westchester. The only thing I knew of the area at the time was what I saw on the walk down from my Riverside Drive sublet: old parted out Volvos and Mercedes under the Henry Hudson Parkway, dark empty streets, random pools of oil, and the overpowering stench of bum urine at the base of the Riverside Drive viaduct on St. Clair Place. The place was a dump.

So it strikes me as odd that people are all up in arms about Columbia expanding into Manhattanville. The area has been better in recent years, with Dinosaur, the Hudson River Cafe, and Floridita's tapas bar providing a little night life, but it is largely still an underutilized brownfield. It is not zoned residential, and Columbia already owns most of it. Plus, the Columbia expansion will be such a job creation machine, which I think few people will argue Harlem does not need.

There is the idea of displacing people in the surrounding neighborhoods. People argue that as Columbia improves the general area, rents will go up. But here too the response has been baffling. As best as I can tell from watching this unfold, it goes something like this:

Professional anti-gentrification protesters who have been 'fighting Columbia gentrification' for decades see the expansion as their time to shine. I mean, there is actually something going on now. The professional anti-gen protesters argue that the area should be kept as it is to preserve the community. Hell, they argue that maybe we should even bring back manufacturing in the process (I am not making this up). They don't want to see big new glassy buildings built, especially luxury housing, so the protesters help create what is called a 197a plan with the local Community Board. The plan outlines what the area should look like, and it does not include all kinds of new fancy stuff.

Columbia has their plan, called the 197c. Surprisingly, this plan includes their campus expansion.

The professional anti-gen protesters end up rallying around Tuck-It-Away Storage owner Nick Sprayregen, as he is the most vocal property owner in the expansion zone not to sell to Columbia. The protesters end up carrying Sprayregen's No Eminent Domain banner in their push to keep the status quo. But, it turns out that the storage owner doesn't just want to keep his storage business, he wants to build housing too. And it just might be market rate luxury housing. Sprayregen both floats an idea in the Daily News for swapping property with Columbia so that he can build a high-rise and submits his own 197c plan. Despite Nick's 197c plan including the creation of market rate housing, some of the professional anti-gen protesters support it, which makes one wonder who is paying them.

Meanwhile, real estate investors are buying property in the area. (Foreshadowing!) They are doing this all over Manhattan, but we are only concerned with the Manhattanville area.

Then the Borough President comes along. He sees that Columbia wants to expand their campus, and he sees that anti-gen protesters want the area to stay the same. So he offers his special zoning plan, which would allow Columbia to create their campus expansion in Manhattanvile and at the same time keep surrounding areas as they are- without big new buildings. It sounds like a win for everyone! Except, we have the real estate investors from the previous paragraph.

To sum up best how the real estate investors see this playing out, let's go to one of the all-time best quotes ever published in Curbed. This is from an investor in the Columbia area, feeling a bit of zoning stress:

Fuck it, I say. Manhattan is one big joke. I think they should let highrises go up anywhere at this point. What's the point of communities on the island anymore?

Everyone's so priced out, does it matter anymore?

If you want a neighborhood/community, move to Brooklyn.

Let Manhattan be just one big bullshit skyscraper. Tower of Motherfuckin' Babel. But for douchebags.

And the Lord spoke and said, "Let us make sure these douchebags do not understand each other, less they build a Tower of Douchieness. Let one douchebag not understand the other." And thus the languages of Goldman, Lehman, and Morgan were formed and the Lord saw it and it was good.

What does this mean? Well, real estate investors probably bought the property they did at a premium with the idea that they could create higher density housing to justify the price. If the area is zoned in such a way that they are prevented from building high density housing, then a couple of things might happen: (1) the real estate investors will want to kick out everyone currently living there so that they can up the rent in the places they do have, or (2) the rents and prices will increase due to demand, as who does not love a low-rise community, and they are becoming so rare in Manhattan.

Additional reading:
West Harlem Rezone to Appease Columbia Foes? [Curbed]
Rezoning May Ease Columbia Expansion [Sun]

Posted by Chris at 01:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

And for those of us who though Columbia Univeristy president Lee Bollinger pwning Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ballz was the most insane thing to happen Uptown today- just look at the newly released rendering of 2300 Frederick Douglas Blvd!

From the website: A ground up mixed use project of 137,000 SF. 50,000 SF would be used as high-end residential condo project (51 units), and 50,000 SF would be used as a "W" - "A Loft" (Starwood) Hotel rooms (120 Keys). Approx 10,000 SF would be used as retail space, and 10,000 would be used as community facilities such as rooftop, parking spaces, etc.

Appocolapse here and now.

Posted by Chris at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (32)

As per a press release from the City Comptroller's office today:

THOMPSON STATEMENT ON TERMINATION OF CONTRACT TO CREATE WATER PARK ON RANDALL'S ISLAND

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued the following statement following the City's decision to terminate a contract awarded to Randall's Island Aquatic Leisure, LLC to develop a massive water park on Randall's Island:

I would like to thank Mayor Bloomberg for terminating this contract and initiating a new process to best meet the needs of the community. I look forward to working with the Mayor in a collaborative, inclusive discussion.

As I have said from the outset, any development of Randall's Island should be through a transparent process and involve all stakeholders. I am hopeful that today's announcement will lead to improved recreational opportunities on Randall's Island to benefit city residents.

I guess kids will have to keep peeing in Lasker Pool.

Posted by Chris at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The city's Employees Retirement System and the New York State and Local Retirement System have invested more than $100 million in a private real estate group that purchased affordable housing complexes, including 3333 Broadway, the mammoth former Mitchell Lama building sitting on the west side of Broadway above Manhattanville. Some expect the new owners to drive up rents to justify the purchase price.

From TRE, this quote kinda sums it up: "A lot of people in these buildings are state and city employees and in the future they're going to depend on these pension funds to keep them through old age," said [Urban Homesteading Association Board organizer Dan] DeSloover. "In these apartments there will be pressure to drive them out from the same group that they rely on now."

3333 Broadway photo by haxonthego

Posted by Chris at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Let's see, $7 billion worth of neighborhood development with contract preferences for local talent, the creation of more than 6,000 permanent jobs with benefits in our backyard, cleaning up the waterfront for public enjoyment, and considered assistance for relocating those displaced, all with the creation of a public high school dedicated to math and sciences- sounds like a good thing to complain about, right?

People's ability in this city to protest exaggeratedly about any and all change never ceases to amaze me. One of my favorite examples to date is the community protest over cleaning up Washington Square Park in the Village. Bourgie residents from the tony nabe are all up in arms to prevent revitalizing the mounds, nothing more than large asphalt deposits infested with rats. But whereas watching stroller pushing moms fight to save dirty rodent dens in the middle of a park provides for great comedy, watching the way some people are choosing to protest Columbia's expansion can be embarrassing.

Naturally, one would expect neighborhood activists to take advantage of the situation and push to get the best possible outcome of these opportunities, but the last public hearing by CB9 devolved into romper room with protesters booing speakers, creating a racket with noise makers, and otherwise behaving like a bunch of hyperactive school children.

Is this really necessary?

I'm not saying that everything Columbia is doing is perfect, but the clean up and redevelopment of former manufacturing brownfields, creation of jobs with decent benefits packages and betterment of the local education system are usually things communities fight to have. Looking at job creation alone, Columbia will be pumping a lot of opportunity into the nabe.

Job Creation- Construction: It's no secret that the economy is coughing and sputtering a bit as of late, and construction especially may be loosing speed. With the pace of development in the city slowing down, Columbia is ready to pump $7 billion worth of clean-up and construction into an area that is mostly an underutilized brownfield. This translates into 1,200 construction jobs a year during the course of the project, which may last 15 years. Also, given that this is Columbia expanding its home and not a fly-by-night developer trying to make a buck and skip town, I am guessing the construction jobs will be union, rather than off the books, and construction quality will be better monitored than some Harlem projects.

Job Creation- Permanent: As I know it best, Columbia's expansion will create 6,000 new permanent jobs. I am sure that most people who have been in Harlem will agree that people in the area are in need of employment, especially employment with decent health and retirement benefits packages. People have to eat too, which probably means a boost for local restaurants and other establishments.

So, in advance of the Borough President's hearing this evening on Columbia's Manhattanville expansion, I thought I'd throw in my two cents on why this might not be such a bad thing after all. Hell, it might even be worth approaching the situation like adults. Of course, I look forward to any ideas on the topic everyone else has.

Time and location for this evening's Borough President public hearing on the University's expansion plan is:
Aaron Davis Hall's Marian Anderson Theater, on the City College campus, 138 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street. The meeting time is 6:30pm.

By Subway: #1 to 137th Street, A, C or D to 145th Street
By Bus: M11, M18, M100 or M101 to 135th Street

Manhattanville photo by masck

Posted by Chris at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (22)

And speaking of Columbia, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer will be holding a public hearing on the University's expansion plan this Wednesday, September 19th.

The meeting's location is set for Aaron Davis Hall's Marian Anderson Theater, on the City College campus, 138 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street. The meeting time is 6:30pm.

By Subway: #1 to 137th Street, A, C or D to 145th Street
By Bus: M11, M18, M100 or M101 to 135th Street
By Car: See Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.

Posted by Chris at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The often thought-provoking Sugar Hill Harlem Inn blog, which provides insight into running a small nabe business as well as social commentary, may have stumbled a bit with intellectual integrity. A reader points out a funny juxtaposition.

In a post criticizing a flyer Columbia issued regarding the Manhattanville expansion, the Sugar Hill Harlem Inn concludes by writing about Columbia's proposed parking plan:

Why would Columbia build car parks when the subway is right there?If you want to protect the environment,how do cars get to be in this picture?Aren't cars the biggest producers of greenhouse gas.This is supposed to be a school.What kind of uneducated moron wrote this? Columbia Goose Steps into Harlem

The title of the Inn's next post? Easy Parking near Sugar Hill Harlem Inn. 2nd edition

Hilarious.

Posted by Chris at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lance from Harlem 26.2, a must read for those who love running, Harlem, Central Park, or the inspiration of someone who goes balls-out after their goal, sends along this excerpt from New York Magazine on how the subprime mortgage crisis may affect Harlem:

Well, it looks a lot better than it did in the high-crime years, and despite Harlem's fast and recent rise, there are just eight foreclosures on the docket. Still, trouble's brewing: According to the 2006 "State of New York City's Housing and Neighborhoods" report published by the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy, *30 percent of refinance loans in Central Harlem in 2005 fell in the subprime category*; 10.8 percent in East Harlem; and 10.4 percent in Hamilton Heights. (The Upper East Side's rate, by comparison, is 1.6 percent.) Yes, some Australian mogul may have set a record by paying $12 million for the penthouse at 111 Central Park North, but "it's an emerging market, and that's where a lot of the subprime lending starts," explains Miller. "You have people priced out of lower Manhattan squeezing and making it work with less than a prime mortgage." A decent number of those people won't be able to make their payments when interest rates rise; that means sudden fire sales; that in turn brings oversupply, driving prices down. That Central and East Harlem are packed with new condos can't help, either: In 2005, the Department of Buildings issued 940 new certificates of occupancy in these areas, nearly double the number given out on the Upper West Side. *Brownstone owners in West Harlem are going to be best off*; many buyers of new condos, particularly those whose developers have vanished and left them with leaking pipes and buckling floors, have somewhat more to worry about.

New York Magazine: Neighborhood Watch

When working for an elected official in Harlem, I helped NACA set up a number of home buying workshops so that people in Harlem could pruchase and make gentrification work for them. This was hardly four years ago, but there were many apartments people could buy for $362,000 or less, the NACA loan cap.

Although one is hard pressed to find something for $362,000 now, for those who bought back then with a subprime loan, NACA's refinancing package could be the different between going broke and keeping your home.

Posted by Chris at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

If by everything bagel one means everything New York City real estate.

So Rachel Natalie Klein, Bagel in Harlem turn Bagel in TriBeCa, recently launched Into The Box. Despite what the title may lead you to think it is, the site offers a look at the news, trends and politics of the city's real estate market. Not that the copy would necessarily lead you to believe that. From the Behind the Scenes page:

Our team found him off Mandy.com (Well you came and you gave without taking- Ed.) and he must have thought he was about to film some high-end porno action (and close up too, duh, given the site's name- Ed.) when he saw me scantily-clad and sprawled out on the high-thread count sheets. A recent transplant from Toledo, the poor guy looked stunned (hoser- Ed.).

Then I told him about my obsession over the beaver... (...- Ed.)

After filming in the hotel, we went downtown into the financial district where new residential construction is popping up everywhere (finally, real estate- Ed.).

Anyway, in a somewhat related story, I stopped by 5th on the Park's sales office a while back. They have a scale model of the building hooked up to a touch screen- when you select an apartment on the screen, the same unit will light up on the model. It's a lot of fun.

I asked one of the representatives if they would mind me taking a photo of the model to put on Harlem Fur. They seemed a little hesitant, and told me that given the name, they wanted to first make sure it is not a pornographic site.

Huh?

Who, aside from the developer and architect, would be aroused in that way by the scale model of a building?

Posted by Chris at 12:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

This is an amazing thing to watch: Nick Sprayregen, owner of Tuck-It-Away Storage and main Columbia foe who riled up Harlem anti-gentrification activists against the University's expansion, is now proposing that in exchange for his buildings, Columbia give him lots in the expansion zone to build 25-story residential towers of market rate housing.

Will there be any low income units? Oh, of course, if the University subsidizes them, that is.

One of the towers would go up where the Nash building stands, a building the same anti-gentrification and preservationist activists sought to preserve. [Columbia Spectator]

Sick of banks and pharmacies being the only new retail? Someone in the City Council has heard your pleas for a better shopping selection, and are proposing ideas from tax breaks to mom and pop shops to "a zoning proposal in the works for 125th Street in Harlem that would bar banks, offices, and hotels from occupying first-floor retail space, except to allow entrances and lobbies." Chipotle, thankfully, is allowed. [Sun]

Despite the nation's credit crunch, the sale of parking garages for conversion to office and residential space continues, with a four-story garage on 132nd between Lenox and Adam Clayton Powell on the market. [Sun]

Looking for a penthouse below a million bucks? The Langston is your best bet. Plus, it has parking, you know, which seems to be a more difficult thing to find these days. [Sun]

And it's not just parking garages that are undergoing conversions. The trend of condos springing up all around continues, with some appearing in rental buildings at the expense of residents' safety. [Newsday]

amNewYork has an article in the print edition titled The new, old Harlem, Vibrant black middle class survies gentrification, but I can't find it online.

And in culture, which is kinda like real estate, in the sense that it's an integrated pattern of human knowledge and all...

Harlem-born Daily News editorialist Errol Louis says comedian Eddie Griffin, "like Michael Richards and Don Imus before him," is out of touch using the N-word. [Daily News]

Posted by Chris at 08:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The idea I had here was to climb to the Acropolis atop Marcus Garvey Park and from there shot a photo of 5th On The Park's development. We've had all summer for the 28 story church/residential mash-up underway at 5th Avenue and 120th St to put on a few floors, especially with that giant on-site crane which can be seen from blocks away. I was set to title it "Scenes from the Acropolis."

Anyway, the best laid schemes went gang aft a-gley again when I noticed that that high up I couldn't see any of the project. The trees completely blocked it out. Even half way down the park's slope the construction was still too low to really see much. So back on the street it was.

Sales, on the other hand, seem to be going well. According to the project's website, 62 apartments were sold in the first three months. Street Easy does not have sales for 5th OTP listed, so I cannot back that up with third party information. But given 5th OTP's nostalgic website music, how could you not believe them?

Posted by Chris at 11:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

It's been a while (thankfully!) since any of the humans or animals here at The Fur have had to look for a place, so when two readers wrote in asking about current Harlem rents, we didn't know what to say. But that doesn't mean that someone out there doesn't have the desired insight.

Here is what they ask:

We are two responsible young women seeking a 2 Bedroom Apartment in the Harlem area and MUST move in by the last week of September. We are willing to pay up to $1500/mo. We have ALWAYS paid our rent on time; we are very respectful of others' privacy and look for a positive environment with good energy.

Apartment Musts:
*Clean & modern
*Preferably with wood floors & a washer/dryer (not required)
*Within walking distance of the 2,3,A,C,E train

We appreciate your response and/or ideas of where to find something we are looking for. THANK YOU!!!

So if anyone has an suggestions for these two quiet, professional women, please drop them in the comments section, or send them along directly to: suavelady4 [at] hotmail [dot] com

Posted by Chris at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Progress is underway at the East Harlem site of the Home Depot/ Best Buy/ Target East River Plaza complex going up on 116th St.

I'm a little torn over how I feel about this. On the one hand, there is the whole destruction of a neighborhood's feel, suburbanization of the city, and death of mom-and-pop shops side of things. On the other hand, after checking out at CVS today, there is the very welcoming idea of an area locale where I can buy toiletries for a reasonable price.

Posted by Chris at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Community Board 9 will hold a special board meeting this evening to vote on both Columbia's and the Community Board's plans for the University's proposed expansion into Manhattanville/ ViVa.

Last week's meeting on the same drew a disappointing response from some attendees, who booed speakers such as former Mayor David Dinkins. However, members of both Columbia and the Community Board did seem to walk away with the feeling that there is a great opportunity to reach agreement.

There are arguments both ways (I do not support the use of eminent domain for private use), but Columbia's plan is by far the best for making the neglected Manhattanville/ ViVa area into something nice. And it is Columbia, so they will be building to stay as a member of the nabe, not building to make a quick buck and then cut town.

This evening's meeting will be held at the Manhattanville Community Center, 530 West 133rd Street, starting at 6:30pm.

Posted by Chris at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cheryl and I stopped by Sunday's Fitzgerald open house. The 47 individually considered residences, as the website says, are for those who "see the unknown and want to know it."

Walking into the model apartment, we saw what is know to us: the spacious floorplans that are common above 96th Street, high-end appliances including a Liebherr refrigerator and Bosh cooktop, range, hood and dishwasher, dark hardwood floors, quartz countertops, and a washer and dryer for each apartment.

Well, as Donald Rumsfeld always says, "there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know." Join us after the jump as we come to know unknown unknowns.

Please note that Cheryl and I actually really liked the layouts, and the Halstead broker showing us the apartments was courteous and helpful. However, the decor was probably designed to be a conversation piece, so converse we will.

Continue reading "Fitzgerald Condo Decor Will Blow Your Mind" »

Posted by Chris at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The NY Times runs a story on Central Harlem in the real estate section today similar to a previous Sun article or two, but with fewer glaring errors.

A Neighborhood Worth the Big-Ticket Investment [Times]

Posted by Chris at 07:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Just a reminder that State Sen. Bill Perkins' town hall meeting is this evening at 6pm.

The meeting will take place at 6pm on the 8th floor of the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street. Guests are asked to please register in advance by calling Sen. Perkins' office at 212-222-7315.

Posted by Chris at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For part two in my impromptu micro-series on tactics for long-time Harlem residents unsure about their position in the changing nabe to secure an affordable home, I offer the HPD housing lottery. Part of Bloomberg's New Housing Marketplace Plan to create and preserve affordable homes and apartments for half a million New Yorkers, the housing lottery features residential developments for rent and purchase at prices below what one would pay on the open market.

Prospective buyers and renters are chosen in a lottery style from those who submit applications and meet income requirements. Preference is given to those who live in the immediate area, as determined by Community Boards.

Most of us in Harlem have heard of at least one of the buildings taking part in the program: The Renaissance, The Langston, The Kalahari, and the building we here at the Fur call home.

For more information, and to find out which lotteries are currently taking applications, check out the HPD website for apartments to rent and homes to purchase.

For those who really want to get creative, you could combine an HPD housing lottery purchase with a NACA home loan.

Posted by Chris at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

From posts here on The Fur and UPTOWNflavor, I am guessing that many long-time Harlem residents actually appreciate some of the effects of gentrification: safer streets, better schools, increased services and better food in the grocery stores. It's loosing one's home in the process of this change that, understandably, people don't like.

So how do people find a way to stay in their homes thru gentrification? The best defense is to own your home.

If one rents and property values increase, one can expect their rent to increase, with the possibility that their rent may exceed what their income allows, and they may have to move. If one owns and property values increase, one builds equity that can be used for retirement, investing or passing on to one's children so that their family can build wealth across generations.

Right, but this is easier said than done.

As mentioned here, down payments and closing costs can add up to a huge financial barrier for those crossing over into home ownership. However, the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), a national non-profit organization advocating home ownership, not only provides mortgages with below-market fixed rates, even for those without perfect credit, but the organization's program also eliminates down payments, closing costs and associated fees. They will even pay for a broker and an attorney when you purchase.

The whole program costs about $20.

From the website: NACA began in 1988 in Boston as the Union Neighborhood Assistance Corporation (UNAC). Its roots are with the Hotel Workers Union - Local 26, an activist union that won and established the country's first housing trust fund for union members. NACA employed the union's activist tactics to confront lenders that were redlining communities by denying credit to minority neighborhoods and exploiting low- and moderate-income homeowners.

The result is over $10 billion in funds for providing below-market rate, 30-year fixed-rate loans to get people into home ownership. And yes, you can use NACA's program to refinance if you are on the butt end of predatory lending.

There is no income ceiling for participating in NACA's program, but there is a limit on the purchase price of the place you can buy. Currently, purchases for a co-op or condo are limited to $362,790, with higher limits for two, three and four family homes.

Check out NACA's website for more information.

Posted by Chris at 12:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's almost as if Sen. Perkins reads Harlem Fur.

Harlem State Senator Bill Perkins and New York State Division of Human Rights Commissioner Kumiki Gibson will host a town hall meeting to discuss housing discrimination and civil rights in Harlem on Wednesday, August 1st.

The meeting will take place at 6pm on the 8th floor of the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street. Guests are asked to please register in advance by calling Sen. Perkins' office at 212-222-7315.

Posted by Chris at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

From experience, I can say closing costs can take the dream out of home ownership. Cheryl and I actually had an attorney who warned us about the vast majority we would have to pay when buying our Harlem pad, but it still really hurt. (At one point, and I am not making this up, I asked the bank rep "So basically, you're going to stick a vacuum hose in my ass and suck my money out?" He replied "Yes.")

We can't imagine what it would be like to be blind-sided by closing costs, but from reading comments on UPTOWNflavor from those who purchased at The Langston, we get the basic idea: "End of the day closing cots were $2500 higher than the estimates in the offering plan + bank. Oh and then there was the 500 moving deposit, they forgot to mention that this the, I dunno, 6 months I've been dealing with this!"

It's not just closings at The Langston that have irked people. Transatlantic Zeppelin describes his ordeal when closing at a different development, where the seller's attorney was "the bitchiest woman I've met since I was touring the former Soviet Union."

The last character in all this was a title insurance woman, who was at least semi-professional and had her stuff mostly in order, though she turned up 15 minutes late. The shocking thing is that I'm expected to tip her $50 to $75, which is perhaps the most absurd tip request I've heard since I was in India six years ago. Here I'm paying $8600 to the title company (Judicial Title), who pays out less than 1% of premiums in claims, and I'm supposed to tip their rep? Get friggin' bent. I tip taxi drivers, hair dressers, doormen, porters, waiters, barmaids, cocktail servers, bouncers, maitre d's, superintendents, and baristas, all of whom have reasonably hard customer service jobs. Still, I don't tip the shoe salesman at Bergdorf who gets a nice commission off my Ferragamos, and I don't tip people to whom I pay their firm $8600 and only hire them because I have to. What ever happened to just doing your job?

Cheryl and I do have this advice for anyone who is going thru or has recently gone thru a closing: if the sponsor's attorney is Andrew S. Hodes of 80 Cuttermill Road in Great Neck, check to make sure you get your full interest back on any money you put down to hold the place. Mr. Hodes mistakenly moved the decimal when calculating interest for people who bought in our building, and gave everyone in our development chump change on thier money, until a member of the board pointed out it should have been hundreds of dollars back for each purchaser. Oops. Check to make sure he does not make the same clerical error in your case.

Posted by Chris at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Game on. As I passed by Graceline this evening, there was no sign of the stop work order on the plywood out front.

Posted by Chris at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A quiet "nooooo" rang through my head tonight when I came home and saw Curbed had posted on this:

Yes, a stop work order has been issued for Graceline Court. Maybe that peach color bothered other people too.

Posted by Chris at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Given that UPTOWNflavor is on vacation running the Missoula, MT Marathon this Sunday, July 15th (Go UPTOWNflavor!), Cimbi and I thought we would fill in with links to the morning's news.

We've only found one article this morning, but damn if Columbia University's announcement that it will not use eminent domain to evict residents of 132 apartments isn't a big one. [Times]

More on the annoucement in The Real Estate.

And what Cimbi missed from yesterday...

Conversion of a long vacant school into condos is causing some to look down their glasses with a disapproving glare while tapping a ruler on the open palm of their free hand. [Sun]

The Daily News had an article on the entrepreneurial undertakings of Broadway stars Lisa Rinna and Brenda Braxton. Brenda started BBraxton, the upscale men's grooming salon in 116th St and 5th Ave. I can't find the article on the Daily News site, so here it is after the jump.

Continue reading "All The Harlem News That's Fit To Click" »

Posted by Chris at 08:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Urban Digs has a review of the Harlem real estate scene. The conclusion is, of course, that it's "Hot, Hot, Hot."

How hot is "Hot, Hot, Hot" you ask? For starters, check out UD's Google Map mash up of new and planned developments. Central Harlem is nearly blanketed, and a strong current runs up the middle of Manhattan from there.

But real estate assessments do not live on development maps alone. So, UD then supplies a few facts and figures to give the map some context. While some of those elicit eye rolls (A new bank and CVS? In Manhattan? No. Way.), others will probably cause your next sentence to begin with "I should have..."

I'll give you a couple teasers, and encourage clicking thru for the rest:

· Harlem real estate price appreciation far outpaced that of NY City, with a 300% increase in the 90s, vs. 12% in New York City overall.

· The median value of all owner occupied housing in Harlem rose 295% from 1995 to 2000 vs. 12% for New York City as a whole.

· The Harlem population grew 8.4% during the decade of the 1990s, vs. 3.3% for Manhattan overall. Households grew even faster at 10.2%.

· Why Harlem is Hot Hot Hot [Urban Digs]

Posted by Chris at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A tipster sends along a photo showing the Associated supermarket on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 123rd and 124th my friends and I lovingly called "The Ass" has now been assed out by demolition crews.

In addition to The Ass having razin's in all aisles, the corner building formerly home to a cocktail lounge is also no more.

As per a tipster, Property Shark shows "Hotel" in the name of the lot's owner, and rumor has it that a W Hotel will be going up.

The photo comes from inside SoHo North.

Posted by Chris at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I don't normally post during the day, but someone emailed to say that the building under renovation on the Southeast corner of Lenox and 126th that was supposed to be an ESPN Zone is actually going to be an M&T bank.

Uh, seriously?

Posted by Chris at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

First, I want to say that I am in favor of Graceline Court. The building's design adds a conversation piece to 116th Street, and a little bit of texture to the skyline.

That being said, seeing the color on the facade made me pause. It's there in the rendering, but still, peach? Will it be a refreshing splash of color, or a cacophonous insertion of Miami in Manhattan?

I'll hold off final judgement until more of the material is in place, and of course post photos along the way.

Posted by Chris at 08:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For anyone checking out South Harlem residences this weekend, gorilla marketers 5th On The Park would like to give you a free ride to their sales office.

Armed with fancy 6 page color brochures with an embossed cover printed on quality card stock, the men and women of Revolution Rickshaws have been spotted around other Harlem residential developments. Their offer? Enjoy a leisurely, pollution-free, tour of Harlem from the comfort of their pedicab on the way to 5th On The Park.

That's Revolution Rickshaw's CEO Gregg on the left, and Robby on the right.

Posted by Chris at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

In a move that was completely unintentional, I shoot some clips of the Marcus Garvey Park drum circle on the last Saturday before the city's new noise ordinance went into effect.

The drum circle has been hotly debated on Curbed and UPTOWNflavor for some time, especially on posts about new residential developments 2002 5th Avenue, 10 Mt. Morris Park West and 5th on the Park.

So, I shot a clip right at the circle, on both corners of the park near the circle, and at the developments (except for 5th on the Park, as there was nothing at 10 MMPW, and absolutely nothing at 5th OTP). The camera only films at one sound level, so comparisons between the locations can be made.

It's far less sophisticated than the noise meter used by a Post reporter checking the decibel levels outside Manhattan clubs, but my Canon does provide a little objective material for this debate.

A map of where each clip I shot is after the jump.

SCORE! A reader sends in this clip of the drum circle taken from inside 2002 5th.

Continue reading "Marcus Garvey Park Drum Circle WITH BONUS FOOTAGE!" »

Posted by Chris at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)

:: Hey, so the Sopranos finale kinda sucked, right? Cheap, cheap, cheap. Way to send America to bed mad HBO. ::

Graceline Court's 111 Lenox Avenue sales office is open. On site features include a mocked-up kitchen and bath, simulated views, and a four piece jazz band. Thankfully, the band was far better than the music on Graceline's website.

Also, small cookies and bite sized brownies were readily available in a buffet style setting, but Cheryl and I could not seem to get table service for drinks.

As for the apartments, they will include granite countertops (check) and stainless steel appliances (check). As for the building, it will feature a fitness center, common roof-top terrace, a two shift doorman, and a pet friendly policy.

Apartments start at $475,000 for a 668 square foot 1 bedroom, 1 bath with Southern and Eastern exposures. The priciest unit I see is a 1417 square foot 3 bedroom, two bath on the 8th floor with Northern, Southern and Eastern exposures.

Posted by Chris at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Who knew that Cantilever Watch 2007 would provide enough material for one post a week, let alone two? But it does.

Graceline Court proves to be a continual fountain of surprises as it goes onward, overward, and upward.

Today, we give you the development's logo (on the right) AND website. For those of you who have been following the Cantilever, the M. C. Escher-esque horizons on the buildings facade are still there, and now set to music!

Advertecture on the development's scaffolding promises a sales office soon.

Cantilever Watch 2007

· Cantilever Watch 2007: Sneak Peek At Graceline's Backside

· Cantilever Watch 2007: In & Out Edition

· Cantilever Watch 2007

· Cantilever Get Some Respect?

For those who just can't get enough of Harlem real estate news today, Curbed has gone all A96 with posts on:

· Grzywinski Pons's MINI-THOR on East 118th,

· Castle Village's wall collapse,

and

· mega-church / mega-development 5th on the Park.

Posted by Chris at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's Thursday, time to check in for the week on Graceline Court, the residential building in the process of cantilevering over Malcolm Shabazz Mosque No. 7.

I took this week's shot from 115th Street to check out Graceline's posterior.

Posted by Chris at 04:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Much like a watched pot never boiling, a watched building does not cant (or lever). I walked by daily waiting for the canting to start, my camera at the ready, with no luck. Then I take off for a week, come back, and the canting has begun.

For those able to drop by 116th and Lenox Ave, more canting than what is shown in the photo awaits. I took this photo in the morning, and came back to see steady progress. However, without night vision, the shots are not too revealing.

· Cantilever Watch 2007: In & Out Edition

· Cantilever Watch 2007

· Cantilever Get Some Respect? [Includes rendering with digitally enhanced blue sky]

Posted by Chris at 08:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Harlem Assemblymember Keith Wright passes along the following announcement that nominations are needed for the board negotiating on the nabe's behalf in the Columbia University expansion. Nominees must live in Community Board 9 (boundaries outlined below), or, of course, we would nominate Cimbi.

The West Harlem Local Development Corporation ("LDC") was formed for the purpose of negotiating and creating a community benefits agreement with respect to Columbia University's proposed campus expansion. The LDC's annual meeting will be held in May and nominations for the Board of Directors must be submitted by May 14. Some Directors of the LDC represent specific organizations that are already organized, but the LDC also has Directors representing various interest groups that are not an organized entity or coalition. In order to facilitate nominations from the non-organized interest groups listed below, a meeting will be held on May 10, 2007 at 541 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027. Session A will take place form 7pm - 8pm and Session B will take place from 8:15pm to 9pm. All interested parties must reside or operate in the boundaries of Manhattan Community District 9, which are south to north: 110th Street to 155th Street and west to east: the Hudson River to St. Nicholas Avenue; all nominees must maintain a leadership position in good standing in the organization which they represent.

Session A: 7:00 - 8:00pm
Tenant's Association Members
Small Residential Owners
Community Based Organizations
Faith Based Organizations
Educational Institutions and Organizations

Session B: 8:15 - 9:00pm
Owners of Commercial Properties
Arts and Cultural Organizations
Youth Based Organizations
Commercial Renters in Proposed Rezoning Area

Posted by Chris at 05:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Never mistaking ourselves as a source for hard news, the Fur is excited when legit outlets validate our careless rumor mongering.

Erin Jones in the Spectator looks into the possible opening of a W Hotel in Harlem on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 124th Street. Her article tickles many of our fancies.

Quotes from our favorite dog parent / broker Danni Tyson? Check.
Quotes from the owner of our new favorite plant shop Harlem Flo? Check.
Mention of our favorite wine shop Harlem Vintage? Check.

For this and more, check out Erin's article.

Posted by Chris at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Here is what is IN and what is OUT since we last checked in with the 116th Street cantilever building-in-canting.

(1) IN: Two more stories framed out

(2) IN: Risque orange fishnet trimming

(3) IN: Heavily reinforced joins on the sixth floor

(4) OUT: The sky

I don't know what it is with my Canon, but on cloudy days the sky vanishes in every shot I take. I've looked around on Flickr for other SD450 photos, and they quite often include rich blue skies, so I am guessing the problem lies with me.

Regardless of my photography skills, Graceline Court pushes onward, overward, and upward.

· Cantilever Watch 2007

· Cantilever Get Some Respect? [Includes rendering with digitally enhanced blue sky]

Posted by Chris at 11:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the void in South Harlem pet services rapidly filling up, I feel the need to refocus Harlem Fur on something else.

But I am hit with a problem: What other measurement can be used to gauge the neighborhood's change? What else, other than pet services, can be seen as such a pure, material, teleologically oriented embodiment of our esprit de voisinage, the nabe zeitgeist, who we are as both the knowers and the subjects of knowledge?

The slow creep of produce quality at Fine Fare toward Fairway quality?

The quite appearances here and there of specialty beer in local delis?

Maltepoos?

Maybe, but these all require some real legwork. So, I offer tracking Graceline, Harlem's cantilever building, on 116th Street and Lenox Avenue, which shouldn't be that difficult to do.

Here is the first photo of Cantilever Watch 2007.

Posted by Chris at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Across 124th Street from the rumored W Hotel parking lot, around the corner from Harlem Flo and with The Dwyer viewable from the living room windows stands SoHo North, 11 two bedroom condos in a former warehouse.

Cheryl and I dropped by for a look. Photos are after the jump.

Continue reading "Sneak Peek Inside SoHo North" »

Posted by Chris at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

A fairly creditable source said that the rumored development replacing the Associated supermarket and a night spot on Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 124th Street will be a W Hotel. I kid you not. (I know the hotel idea was discussed on Curbed back in January, when my job was keeping me from such reading, but I don't know if conversation ever settled on a W.)

Although I am all for a legit (versus by the hour) hotel coming to Harlem, I want to echo a Curbed commenter who laments the loss of a grocery store with potential. The area is hurting for more in the line of standard grocery stores, and the Associated had the potential for being upgraded from its less-than-stellar state. The Citarella on 125th would be cool if I was eating duck patte every night, the Fairway on the Hudson is one of my favorite places on earth- but a bit of a hike, and the Fine Fare on 116th seems determined to make sure all produce is at least slightly imperfect. I find myself doing most of my grocery shopping either at the Fairway on 74th or via Fresh Direct.

So why this photo of a vacant lot behind the Associated? It seems that this lot's air rights are part of the development, and using them will limit anything there to about two stories, ample height for the hotel's parking garage. Hmmm, if you are buying across the street at SoHo North (7 of 11 sold says a broker), you might want to start asking if monthly parking is available.

Anyway, for those seeking a boutique Harlem hotel experience in the immediate future, may we suggest 102 Brownstone or the Sugar Hill Harlem Inn? Both websites are quite nice, and the rooms in each look rather pleasing.

Just saw that this post looked like ass in IE (what does not?) and fixed it.- Chris

Posted by Chris at 12:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I've developed a near cat-like curiosity over what could be going in behind the frosted glass storefront windows on 264 West 124th. If anyone knows what will be there, I am all ears.

I caught a construction worker from a neighboring development filling a gallon jug from the building's outside faucet and asked him if he knew what was planned for the space. He seemed a bit startled, and didn't know.

The building, which is between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards, sits across the street from former Curbed Development Du Jour, SoHo North.

Posted by Chris at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

First, the bad news.

UPTOWNflavor reports that the Sugar Shack closed. Boo. The Strivers Row place once "the site of impromptu gatherings, first dates, comedy shows, poetry readings and down and dirty dancing," is now home to an open lease sign. Moan.
· Closed - Sugar Shack [UPTOWNflavor]

Then, the medium news.

Jeremy from City Specific stops by the reformed women's prison cum condos and checks out one of the few Manhattan residences that opens directly onto the side walk. He ponders boob-flashing recidivism. (Photo is of an actual 10 MMP bedroom from which boobs may be flashed.) This would be a great post if it was not for this text: "I stopped by a part of Harlem I haven't visited as much in the past year, and which I probably won't be seeing much of anymore after Saturday..." What the hell, this is right near the Fur! Are you snubbing us? Come on man, we just washed the cat.
· 10 Mount Morris Park West [City Specific]

Now, on to the good news.

Today, Central Park's Bethesda Arcade is re-opened. It's not Harlem exactly, but Central Park serves as our collective backyard, so it makes a valid entry. After a $7 million renovation, the intricate, custom-made tiles are restored to their original glory. Given the weather today, the Intelligencer points out that, luckily, it is one of the few places in the Park one can enjoy in the rain.
· Central Park Restoration Delivers Ornate Detail, Potential Nookie [Daily Intelligencer]

Tomorrow, the Friends of St. Nicholas Park will be moving wood chips to prepare for the dog run's new permanent entrance, and they need your help. Stop by beginning at 11am. It's a great chance to meet your neighbors.
· Woodchip Workday at Dog Park Scheduled for March 3rd [Friends of St. Nicholas Park]

And an ongoing story we are sure to watch, Curbed highlights coverage by Dwell and Joyce Cohen on David Alan Basche and Alysia Reiner's green Harlem townhouse renovation. The acting couple's new home will have a bunch of environmentally conscious stuff and four dual flush toilets. Oh please, oh please, oh please invite us to the housewarming. Please.
· Going Green (and Going Zen) in Harlem [Curbed]

Posted by Chris at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I'm a huge fan of odd-ball projects like this.

Curbed today highlights Graceline Court, the development going up immediately west of of the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque No. 7 on Lenox and 116th Street.

The most obvious curiosity is that about a third of floors 6 through 16 are cantilevered over the mosque below. A second curiosity, pointed out in Curbed's comments section, is the building's ability to go beyond three dimensional physical imitations. Look closely at the rendering and you will see that Graceline's facade creates an event where it is simultaneously on the same plane as the mosque's facade, and extending far beyond it.

Look for brokers to exaggerate the square footage of the event horizon.

And look for more Graceline info from Curbed; they hinted of more to come...

· Behold the Graceline Court, Harlem's Amazing Cantilever [Curbed]
· UES Getting in on the Cantilever Fun? [Curbed]

Posted by Chris at 11:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Non-bank, non-drug store retail Wynn Optics is now open in the Normandie's last vacant storefront space on Lenox and 119th Street.

Given the rate at which they are popping up, I am actually kind of surprised that a newer Aphrodite Cleaners did not open next to the new-ish Aphrodite already in the building.

And for those leaving Wynn who can now see down the block, Halstead has it's new awnings up.

Posted by Chris at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Contributed by Neha Singh Gohil.

For the old Dwyer Warehouse, the third time is certainly the charm. After two serious accidents and decades of abandonment, this historic Harlem structure is finally on its way to becoming a vital part of the area's community and economy once again. Developer John Cross is renovating the Dwyer into a residential loft condominium complex, complete with 6,100 square feet of commercial space and a basement devoted to public theatre and cultural events, according to his broker, Denice Johns. And the best part? In a time of reportedly widespread upset about the gentrification of Harlem, Cross' development appears to have hit the mark for contextual progress in this culturally rich, historically African American neighborhood. Yasmine Cornelius, District Manager and a Harlem native, calls the building "a great fit" for the community.

Continue reading "Sunday Reading: The Dwyer" »

Posted by Chris at 12:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So concludes another campaign with another victory. And this being the case, this is the third instance in a year's time that I am reassuring ConEd that I will not forget to pay the bill, pleading with the credit card company not to charge a late fee, and re-introducing myself to Cheryl and the cat. ("Seriously, you know me. I live here, with you. We sleep in the same bed.")

Thankfully, my being around has absolutely nothing to do with Harlem rockin' along. Here is some of what I missed posting on:

Zoma, the Ethiopian restaurant on 8th Ave at 113th Street is now open, and Cheryl and I had a very en