Coalition to Save Harlem
Encyclopedia
The Coalition to Save Harlem (CSH) is a progressive movement of individuals and organizations who desire to reclaim, preserve and protect
the community
of the Village of Harlem
.
CSH desires to reclaim the legacy of achievement and greatness that has been established by the forebearers of the Village of Harlem in this world renowned community. CSH seeks to preserve that which is good and positive in the fabric of the Harlem community, and to protect Harlem from those forces which would displace its long-time residents and businesses for economic gain.
The Coalition to Save Harlem advocates for community improvement and development; however it believes strongly that development must be in the best interest of the long-time residents of the Harlem community. CSH believes in true community participation and leadership in the development process.
The Coalition to Save Harlem advocates for housing rights
— the rights of tenants and homeowners to live without the threat of forced economic evictions. CSH advocates for the rights of locally owned business and street vendors to thrive and prosper in this community. CSH believes that all aspects of community life — education
, transportation, housing
, business and government
— must be considered in a comprehensive plan to ensure the best for this community.
The Coalition to Save Harlem is composed of individuals and organization who share this common mission. These include residents, business owners, community based organizations, artists, activists and civic groups
.
The Village of Harlem is located on Manhattan Island (New York County) in New York City
.
Members of CSH address issues regarding gentrification, education, housing, employment
and economics in Harlem and adjoining neighborhoods/communities.
The CSH was extensively involved in rallying the Harlem community against the 125th Street Rezoning Plan initialled by the New York City Department of City Planning
from late 2007 to mid 2008. The CSH organized the "Hands Across Harlem" event that encouraged Harlem residents to demonstrate in a peaceful manner against the 125th Street Rezoning project.
To promote the cause for the Coalition to Save Harlem, members of the community hired a real estate attorney, Adam Leitman Bailey
. Bailey created a sub group titled the Save Harlem Association which engendered a fight to save Harlem from gentrification and its buildings' destruction. The focal point of these battles became the largest building in square feet in the Harlem Community. Bailey proposed legistlation requiring the owner to give the building back to the community. After many hearings and support from local policitians including Charlie Rangel, the legislation became a way for Harlem residents to be sure their culture is being preserved. He prevailed in a two hour oral argument getting an injunction to prevent the demolition of the building, which continued until a final settlement was reached a year later. The developer settled for over $1 million and allowed the tenants to continue their residencies in addition to the large payment. The building still stands as of July 2011. During the fight, Bailey was quoted as saying "This is Harlem's Last Stand. I don't think you can ever recreate it. If you are black, you feel proud to be there".
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
the community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
of the Village of Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
.
CSH desires to reclaim the legacy of achievement and greatness that has been established by the forebearers of the Village of Harlem in this world renowned community. CSH seeks to preserve that which is good and positive in the fabric of the Harlem community, and to protect Harlem from those forces which would displace its long-time residents and businesses for economic gain.
The Coalition to Save Harlem advocates for community improvement and development; however it believes strongly that development must be in the best interest of the long-time residents of the Harlem community. CSH believes in true community participation and leadership in the development process.
The Coalition to Save Harlem advocates for housing rights
Right to housing
The right to housing is the economic, social and cultural right to adequate housing and shelter. It is recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.- Definition :...
— the rights of tenants and homeowners to live without the threat of forced economic evictions. CSH advocates for the rights of locally owned business and street vendors to thrive and prosper in this community. CSH believes that all aspects of community life — education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, transportation, housing
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
, business and government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
— must be considered in a comprehensive plan to ensure the best for this community.
The Coalition to Save Harlem is composed of individuals and organization who share this common mission. These include residents, business owners, community based organizations, artists, activists and civic groups
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
.
The Village of Harlem is located on Manhattan Island (New York County) in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Members of CSH address issues regarding gentrification, education, housing, employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
and economics in Harlem and adjoining neighborhoods/communities.
The CSH was extensively involved in rallying the Harlem community against the 125th Street Rezoning Plan initialled by the New York City Department of City Planning
New York City Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning is a governmental agency of New York City responsible for setting the framework of city's physical and socioeconomic planning...
from late 2007 to mid 2008. The CSH organized the "Hands Across Harlem" event that encouraged Harlem residents to demonstrate in a peaceful manner against the 125th Street Rezoning project.
To promote the cause for the Coalition to Save Harlem, members of the community hired a real estate attorney, Adam Leitman Bailey
Adam Leitman Bailey
Adam Leitman Bailey is an American lawyer who practices residential and commercial real estate law in New York and New Jersey as senior partner and founder of Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. in New York City...
. Bailey created a sub group titled the Save Harlem Association which engendered a fight to save Harlem from gentrification and its buildings' destruction. The focal point of these battles became the largest building in square feet in the Harlem Community. Bailey proposed legistlation requiring the owner to give the building back to the community. After many hearings and support from local policitians including Charlie Rangel, the legislation became a way for Harlem residents to be sure their culture is being preserved. He prevailed in a two hour oral argument getting an injunction to prevent the demolition of the building, which continued until a final settlement was reached a year later. The developer settled for over $1 million and allowed the tenants to continue their residencies in addition to the large payment. The building still stands as of July 2011. During the fight, Bailey was quoted as saying "This is Harlem's Last Stand. I don't think you can ever recreate it. If you are black, you feel proud to be there".