Historic sites from late 19th-century Harlem are at risk for destruction because of the lack of landmark designation.
Residents of New York's Harlem neighborhood have seen a significant change in recent years--a decrease in crime and an increase in real estate prices, primarily. Brownstones, historic theaters, and street signs remain as reminders of the 1891 construction, however, preservationists and historians claim that rapid development of the area may endanger these sites. The complex process of designating historic landmarks does not help, especially in an area like Harlem.
Michael Henry Adams, a local historian and graduate of Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, agreed, saying, “Harlem is grossly under-landmarked, and so is every black neighborhood in the city.” He added, “If you look at the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, all the places where the richest people live, there’s the most landmarking.” Landmarks Commission Preservation spokesperson Elisabeth de Bourbon contested these claims, saying, “I don’t see how anyone could conclude that it is an underrepresented neighborhood in terms of buildings that are landmarked.” |
