Gentrification in Harlem

Manhattan Uptown:

Gentrification in Harlem

Joan Rhee, Krystina Heidelberg

Sujung Hwang, Zhehan Zhang

Gentrification and Displacement in Harlem

Information-based Question:

Is there a correlation between annual median household income and urban development projects in East Harlem, Central Harlem and West Harlem throughout 2000-2020?

Values-based Question:

To what extent current residents of Harlem consider gentrification as a negative phenomenon?

Issues-based Question:

How can low-income, minority residents in Harlem, New York, advocate to sustain their daily lives against gentrification and displacement?

Overview

Gentrification in Harlem, New York, has led to the displacement of existing residents in the name of urban development in an attempt to fix the housing crisis. Such urban development has been happening since 1970s.

The Department of City Planning (DCP) rezoned major areas in Harlem, such as Frederick Douglass Boulevard in 2003, and 125th street in 2009
new luxury apartments and stores, as in the case of 125th street, which transformed into a shopping district (Morse, 2017)
government pushed towards urban development for the sake of mixed-income neighborhoods in Harlem

Consequences of this urban development

construction of new businesses and housing escalated the prices of living
drove African American owned businesses out from these previously politically and culturally flourishing districts
displacement of existing low-income African American and Latino/a residents from Harlem
- forced evictions from landlords for residents who were simply not able to afford the high housing costs
- The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) failed to provide affordable housing for Harlem tenants (Gørrild, Obialo, & Venema, 2008).
expansion of middle and upper-class white populations, as well as the undermining of African American local cultures and Harlem’s symbolism of “refuge from racism” (Prince, 2005)

Manhattan Uptown Location

West Harlem, East Harlem, and Harlem are considered Manhattan Uptown, as they are neighborhoods north of Central Park, specifically north of 59th Street. These neighborhoods stretch from the Harlem River and East River to the east and to the Hudson River to the west.

Central Harlem: north edge of Central Park at 110th Street to the Harlem River, from 5th Avenue to St. Nicholas Avenue
West Harlem: from 96th to 155th Street, bounded by Frederick Douglass Boulevard to the east and Hudson River to the west
East Harlem: bounded by 96th Street on the south, Harlem River on the north, 5th avenue on the West and FDR drive on the east (Explore Harlem NYC, 2023).

Relationship to Education

Gentrification in Harlem could affects education in the neighborhood as well, as it:

changes school demographics
impacts school funding
disrupts student populations
exacerbates educational inequalities

Forced migration due to rising housing costs may lead to higher student turnover in schools, making it more difficult for schools to achieve their educational goals.

an unstable living environment also have many negative effects on children's cognition and psychology.
Displacement will inevitably lead to children being exposed to a worse living environment, it will lead to great deficiencies in children's character, sense of belonging, and security (Chaudhary, 2015)

Relevance to today

The study of gentrification is relevant today because it forces residents against their will to move homes. The issue highlights forced displacement due to inequality. Some may argue that gentrification prioritizes refurbishing housing and attracting new businesses over the needs of long-time, existent residents in the area (Cordasco & Galatioto, 1970). The study of gentrification is relevant because:

it affects a majority of residents in the Harlem neighborhood
the demographics of Harlem are shifting due to gentrification
displacement of several primarily black residents and white in-migration (Schaffer & Smith, 1986).
new tenants moving into Harlem are often middle- and upper-income whites, adding a racial dimension to a gentrification conflict (Chronopoulos, 2018)
affects people such as business owners and residents
- many Harlem restaurants are closing down, being replaced by “soul food light” restaurants like Thai and Chinese restaurants (Gørrild et al., 2008)
- parks being renovated and increase in surveillance and police monitoring
- development of disregard for urban black life and prioritization of what white residents may find valuable (Hackman, 2015)

Harlem, known for its sense of community and beating heart of Black culture is America, no longer has such a strong heartbeat due to the displacement of the Black community that made Harlem what it was.

Learn more about the issue

Page updated

Report abuse