East Harlem District Nominated For Historic Designation

EAST HARLEM, NY — A sizable section of East Harlem was nominated by the state for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places as the designated "East Harlem Historic District," state officials announced this month.

The historic district spans a number of blocks on Park, Lexington, Third, Second, First and Pleasant avenues from East 114th to East 120th streets, according to the New York State Board for Historic Preservation. The area "best reflects the neighborhood’s predominantly late nineteenth century historic fabric," according to the state agency.

East Harlem was one of 17 state sites to be nominated for the historic designation. Other New York City sites include St. Luke's Hospital, the George Washington Hotel and two Brooklyn apartment buildings known as "Alku" AND "Alku Toinen" that are remnants of Sunset Park's "Finntown."

"The State and National Registers listing is a key step forward on the path to protecting and revitalizing these landmarks. Preserving and revitalizing our historic places helps lift local economies, instill community pride, encourage smart growth, and boost tourism," Erik Kulleseid, Acting Commissioner of the state office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said in a statement.

More than 800 buildings are included in the East Harlem Historic District, but nomination to the National Register of Historic Places does not prevent redevelopment. Unlike a city landmark designation, the National Register is largely a ceremonial honor. Landowners in the East Harlem Historic District will be able to apply for preservation assistance grants and special tax credits.

While the state's nomination doesn't mean as a city landmark does in terms of preventing development, East Harlem preservationists are glad to see years of effort pay off, Gothamist reported. A community group called Civitas told the publication that neighborhood preservationists hope that placement on the National Register will incentivize the city Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate its own historic district in East Harlem.

"It brings to light how important East Harlem is for the city," Civitas' Executiv Director Alexander Adams told Gothamist. "Telling the story of immigrants is telling the story of New York City."

Much of the development in the East Harlem Historic District took place between the Civil War and World War I, according to the state board of historic preservation. The residential character of the area is reflected in a large number of row houses, flats and tenements, according to the state agency. Over the years, the neighborhood evolved from a middle-class area to one populated by various groups of new immigrants from places such as Germany, Italy and Puerto Ricans. These days the neighborhood is most closely associated with Puerto Rican immigrants, and is often referred to as "El Barrio."