Growtime at the Apollo
Thursday, May 01, 2008
WNYC's Siddhartha Mitter explains the new zoning plan for 125th Street and what it means for residents of the area.
Are you happy with the new zoning for 125 Street? How do you expect the neighborhood to change? Sound off below!
Are you happy with the new zoning for 125 Street? How do you expect the neighborhood to change? Sound off below!
Comments [6]
Hey, JOHN...
Change is not the issue here. It's the HOW.
Change can be implemented inclusive of the majority of the community who WANT to implement change via the leveraging of Harlem's cultural and historical resources. Know about those? It appears not if you compare this neighborhood to "anyplace on Broadway between 59th and 125th". Or is this not valid? Does Harlem have an inflated sense of importance?
Know why home ownership rates in Harlem are disproportionately low? Know the history behind that?
I love how this is spun by the city council. Just be honest. The city is kicking out hard-working middle and lower class people to bring in upper class professionals, students and tourists, period. Goodbye poor people, there is no place for you in the new corporate New York, what a city ... I would feel bad, but I believe this neighborhood's own city council member was a staunch proponent. Bloomberg and you, perfect together, as long as your not middle class or poor.
30 years ago you had to be afraid to stop at a light driving to broadway on 125th street in my car with my wife and two children. The car was attacked by a woman with a hand ax. I ran the light to escape. There is nothing on 125 street that is any more worth saving than Broadway between 59 street and 125th street. Change is change for everyone.
Politicians today, including those who voted for this plan, are elitist, corrupt and have financial interest that outweigh any commitment to the larger community or democracy.
Marty:
Maybe we're on shpilkes due to new exposure. You keep heading your guests off, thereby throwing them off. Let them finish their sentences!
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THE PLAN is inadequate given the cultural and historical significance of this neighborhood - with the highest name recognition value in the most famous city in the world - and Martin Luther King, Jr. boulevard - "one of the top ten streets in America" -- to the worldwide black Diaspora and to ANYBODY who can appreciate black cultural output in all its diversity.
THE PROCESS was corrupt in the way it was developed in the shadows, exclusive of the majority of the community and thereby perpetuating the historical disenfranchisement of this community.
FYI - The existing zoning in Harlem would have prevented wholesale high rise "development" on this boulevard. Opponents to this plan advocate for a moratorium and a restarting of this plan, as we are not absolutely against "development"...
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.