Another Homeless Shelter Coming to Harlem

+ The Augusta Savage Initiative

Author

The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association
March 02, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

The building at 2201 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd is currently being converted from a residential building to another homeless shelter. Community push-back has been intense, and the organizers are hoping you’ll get involved in advocating that this building be used as permanent, affordable housing, and not another Harlem homeless shelter.

In February, a tour of the building revealed it's nearly complete and ready for occupancy. The original number of units (35) has been increased to 54.

There are a number of issues as to the building’s ownership, the original developer, Trevor Wittingham, claims ownership and is in court challenging the recent ownership transfer. He claims the sale was illegal and wants to convert 20% of units to low-income housing if he regains control.

If you are interested in joining the mobilization of neighbors to advocate for permanent affordable housing and not another shelter, Community Board 10's land use committee meeting on March 21 (Thursday) will discuss this issue.

Please contact Silent Voices to learn more and join the opposition to the further oversaturation of Harlem:

"Harlem Community Unites for Transparency: Elected Officials Challenged on Luxury Condo Shelter Conversion"

HARLEM, NEW YORK - March 2, 2024 - The Harlem community, represented by concerned community leaders, Tiffany S. Fulton, Silent Voices United Inc, Leslie Johnson, St. Nicholas Houses Resident Association, Ruth McDaniels Breaking The Chains of Your Mind, Gilda Gillim Tulinde LLC, District Leader William A. Allen, and Councilman Yusef Salaam, is voicing urgent concerns regarding the recent decision to convert the luxury condo located at 2201 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd into a shelter. Despite repeated appeals to Mayor Eric Adams, the Department of Social Services (DSS), and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the community's questions remain unanswered, and transparency is sorely lacking.

Mayor Eric Adams has made fleeting appearances in Harlem, accompanied by his team, including Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Anne Williams-Isom, Commissioner Molly Park of the Department of Social Services, and Valerie Vazquez, Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs CAU. However, their responses to community concerns have been vague and insufficient. Commissioner Park's inability to clarify crucial matters, such as building ownership and the decision-making process behind converting it into a shelter, has only deepened skepticism within the community.

Of particular concern is the need for more transparency surrounding property ownership. Questions linger about whether the building is owned by Trevor Whittingham, Douglas C. James, James Equities LLC, the non-profit Children's Rescue Fund, or the City of New York. Additionally, the community demands to know who authorized the conversion of the luxury condo into a shelter and why proper consultation with the community was not undertaken.

Furthermore, the recent behavior of Mayor Eric Adams during a community meeting has only exacerbated tensions. The disrespect shown towards Manhattan Community Board District Manager Minah Wythe, including attempts to silence her, reflects a disregard for community voices and concerns.

Despite assurances of transparency, the Mayor's actions speak otherwise. The upcoming meeting scheduled for March 4th at 4:00 PM, billed as an opportunity for Harlem Community Leaders to discuss pertinent issues, has raised eyebrows. Selective vetting of attendees and exclusion of organizers opposed to further shelter (creating a redlining effect of decreased value in home ownership) placements in Harlem suggest a predetermined agenda aimed at stifling dissent rather than fostering genuine dialogue.

In response to the lack of transparency and discriminatory practices, organizers have filed an injunction to halt the city's plans to move forward with the shelter at 2201 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd. This legal action is based on allegations of discrimination and the city's failure to engage in meaningful community transparency.

Councilman Yusef Salaam, District Leader William A. Allen, the organizers, and numerous concerned citizens stand united in demanding accountability and transparency from our elected officials. The time for lip service and false promises is over. The Harlem community will no longer tolerate decisions made without input or against their best interests.

As elections loom, the Harlem community urges fellow residents to prioritize candidates who demonstrate a genuine commitment to serving their constituents and advocating for their needs. Popularity should not dictate our choices; we must elect leaders who stand by Harlem, listen to its residents, and deliver tangible results.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Tiffany Fulton, SVUI Executive Director, 646-645-9110

About Silent Voices United, Inc. (SVUI)

Silent Voices United, Inc. is a community organization dedicated to advocating for the needs and concerns of residents in Central Harlem. Through outreach, education, and grassroots activism, Silent Voices United strives to empower community members and ensure their voices are heard in matters affecting their lives.

The Augusta Savage Initiative

The Augusta Savage Initiative is a coalition of people and groups who intend to re-create Augusta Savage’s 1939 sculpture Lift Every Voice and Sing - a work that was created for the 1939 World’s Fair held in Queens, New York.

Viewed by more than 5 million fair attendees, Savage’s sculpture was destroyed after the World’s Fair ended. Savage was an important part of the Harlem Renaissance and one of America’s foremost African American women artists. She worked as a sculptor and educator and fought against sexism and racism. Eighty–five years after its debut, Savage’s pivotal and inspiring artwork deserves to be re-created and known by a new generation.

We invite all organizations and individuals who are interested in joining our Augusta Savage Initiative to contact our team or call us at 347-224-8976.

Augusta Savage Initiative » Monumental Women

monumentalwomen.org/augusta-savage-initiative

Augusta Savage was the first person in the U.S. to open a gallery dedicated to African American art. A Harlem Renaissance sculptor and art educator, she was also one of the first Black women art activists of her time and fought for the inclusion of Black artists in the mainstream canon.

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