Harlem's Famed Alhambra Ballroom To Host French Charter School

HARLEM, NY — A famed Harlem ballroom that has played host to Billie Holliday and Duke Ellington has found a new tenant: a French-immersion charter school.

The New York French American Charter School has signed a lease to take over the entire third floor of the Alhambra Ballroom building on Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard and West 126th Street, brokers announced this month.

The third-floor space was previously home to the Harlem Lanes bowling alley. Alhambra's former ballroom space itself takes up the upper two floors and is not affected by the charter school.

The venerated venue played a prominent role in Harlem's booming jazz scene during the 1930s and '40s, was revived as an event venue in 2003, but then emptied out again during the pandemic, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Now, the charter school — which has an existing location nearby on West 120th Street — will occupy the space under a 15-year lease, set to hold its first classes this fall, according to an announcement. The school will get its own entrance on the building's ground floor.

According to Commercial Observer, which first reported on the deal, the space is newly renovated and will require few adjustments before the school moves in.

Brett Zelner and Dawn Chartoff, who helped broker the deal for Helmsley Spear, said in a statement that the school will gain "state of the art building mechanicals, new classroom and administrative facilities, cafeteria warming stations and excellent access to public transportation.

"We are extremely proud to have arranged this lease for a noteworthy Manhattan charter school that will serve the Harlem community,” they said.