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Community Cookout, TODAY!
+ A Letter from Sugar Hill
The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association
August 17, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
The Marcus Garvey Park Alliance presents the Endea Owens Community Cookout
Saturday, August 17, at 3:00 PM
In Marcus Garvey Park (enter at Madison Avenue and East 122nd Street)
FREE Live Jazz and FREE Meals for the Community
A Letter From Sugar Hill
Dear Neighbors,
Apparently there’s a plan at work to build larger and larger homeless facilities in our area of predominantly private residential blocks. We are under siege as a 'suitable' locale for a concentration of homeless shelters.
First the good news: A 'Mental Health Crisis Center' on Convent at 148th, announced last month, was abruptly cancelled last week following the protest of our Block Association.
However, we now confront a more formidable foe: The lot on 1763-1771 Amsterdam at 147th owned by Moujan Vahdat (Iranian homeless shelter magnate) of Elmo Realty is back under construction. Elmo Realty is constructing a 126-unit (all studio) facility that will operate as a homeless shelter for nine years.
See links below on the scandal re the minister of Child’s Memorial Church (site of MalcolmX funeral) skimming off the $. The late April Tyler of CB9 had led a pre-COVID campaign against this, and the project has been dormant for years. Now, suddenly, it’s under construction. We don’t know if it was presented to CB9 again.
While Central and East Harlem are targeted for drug treatment and ‘safe’ injection sites we are becoming the site of transitional (not permanent affordable) housing developers claiming that we ‘need’ these facilities. We’re seeing the post-COVID impact in our blocks. Instead of proposing permanent affordable housing the city is supporting a real estate sector that supplies transitional housing.
In the past few weeks and months we have the following —-
(1) The completed construction and transformation of the Episcopal nuns’ home (Convent 149/150) into a homeless shelter
(2) The attempt to transform home on 148 /Convent into a crisis center
(3) The contested transformation of rhe Heritage Center 145/Amsterdam into a transitional housing building.
This list does not include the many more established but badly run halfway houses and other facilities in Sugar Hill Hamilton Heights.
We need to reactívate our Sugar Hill Concerned Neighbors Group (SHCNG) that successfully stopped the (still concerning) Argus methadone clinic proposed on the iconic and severely endangered strip of limestone houses on St Nicholas. We should pull together a steering group to begin with a strategy meeting this week. Thank goodness for Zoom we can move quickly. Greg Gresham spread the word on the W148 street project and the organization backed down. I heard from several irate neighbors ready to join. We can also join with the West Harlem Community Preservation Organization that is supporting a campaign against the proposed housing to replace the Heritage Health Center. It is rumoured that the beautiful brownstone and manicured lot on 145th street next to the Heritage Health Center has lost hundreds of thousands in value because of the proposed assisted living facility.
Please respond. First step is a census of existing facilities, location and population. A map!! And we have to move fast!!! The very active 145/Amsterdam group is on the verge of a legal strategy. We can form a coalition with them.
Carolyn Brown
Property Notes
1763-1771 Amsterdam Ave
In 2015, Bishop Kevin Griffin sold the building to developer Empire Development Fund LLC for $2,588,327, with Griffin allegedly receiving $900,000.
On November 11, 2021 Attorney General Letisha James filed a complaint on behalf of the People of New York State against Griffin, stating, “Defendant Kevin Griffin (“Griffin” or “Defendant”) is the Senior Pastor and President of Childs Memorial Temple Church of God in Christ (“COGIC”). Griffin violated his fiduciary duties when he acted in his own self-interest to the detriment of Childs Memorial Temple Church (“Childs Memorial” or the “Church”) and its parishioners in connection with the sale of the Church’s most valuable asset–its house of worship in Harlem–to an inexperienced developer, Moujan Vahdat, who has reneged on his obligations to the Church.
The building was demolished in 2018. The lot is still vacant.
Deed of Sale, 1/15/16
Update: Homeless Shelter Planned for 1763-1771 Amsterdam Ave.
April 10, 2019
Summary of CB9 Housing, Land Use and Zoning meeting April 9 re Amsterdam shelter 4/9/19
West Harlem Leaders Oppose New Shelter, Call For Housing Instead, Jan 25, 2021
NYS Complaint, 11/22/21
Harlem Pastor Accused Of Selling Out Church Says He Did No Wrong, Feb 28, 2022
Metropolitan Commercial Bank Lends $28M on Harlem Apartments, July 29, 2024
Elmo Realty's Saba Vahdat and a rendering for Elmo Realty's planned 126-unit project at 1763-1771 Amsterdam Avenue in West Harlem. Elmo Realty's Saba Vahdat and a rendering for Elmo Realty's planned 126-unit project at 1763-1771 Amsterdam Avenue in West Harlem.
Elmo Realty has nabbed $27.5 million of construction financing to build a multifamily building at a former historic church site that will soon be operated by a homeless shelter in West Harlem, Commercial Observer has learned.
Metropolitan Commercial Bank supplied the loan on Elmo’s project at 1763-1771 Amsterdam Avenue in West Harlem that will feature 126 studio apartments. The eight-story property will be leased to a homeless shelter for nine years upon completion, according to Saba Vahdat, vice president at Elmo who is lead developer for the project.
You're Invited to "The Battle For Hope: Uniting Harlem Against Gun Violence"
Event Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Time: Doors Open at 1:00 PM | Fights Begin at 2:00 PM
Location: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building Plaza
163 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027
Admission: Free
Join us for an afternoon of electrifying amateur boxing as we celebrate the first anniversary of Harlem House Of Champions and honor boxing legends who have made a lasting impact. This event, "The Battle For Hope," is dedicated to uniting our community against gun violence by showcasing boxing as a powerful and positive alternative.
Event Highlights:
13 Action-Packed Amateur Bouts
Recognition of Boxing Trailblazers
Free Community Event during the 50th Anniversary of Harlem Week
For More Information Contact:
646-645-9110
[email protected]
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