City Creates New Historic District In Central Harlem

HARLEM, NY — A section of Central Harlem that was a hub of African-American cultural and political history in the 20th century was designated as a historic district by the city this week.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission created a new historic district on the mid-blocks of West 130th to West 132nd streets to honor the architecture of the area and the people who lived there.

"This district is a remarkable reminder of the significant role the African American community of Harlem played in creating political and social change in New York City and the nation," LPC Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan said in a statement. "There is a lot of history tied to these buildings, from the Harlem Renaissance to the civil rights movement."

During the Harlem Renaissance, many of the buildings in the district were adapted to house a myriad of cultural, religious, civic and political groups and remained that way through the 1960s, according to the LPC.

This includes the headquarters for New Amsterdam Musical Association, the oldest African-American musical association in the county, and groups involved in the passage of the Civil Rights act also had headquarters in the district — like Friendship Baptist Church and National Headquarters for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, according to the city.

Aside from the headquarters of groups, the district also has the former home of composer and pianist Scott Joplin, who was dubbed the "King of Ragtime," the LPC said.

To highlight the history of the area, the LPC created an online story map with photos, text, maps and video to tell the story of the buildings and its residents.

"This collection of buildings is exactly why we designate historic districts: it's an architecturally distinctive and historically significant set of structures that together tell an essential piece of Central Harlem's story," Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said in a statement. "Future generations of New Yorkers should be able to visit this neighborhood and feel its history for years to come."

Image: Landmark Preservation Commission