NEW YORK – Nearly 200 families are about to move into their brand new, affordable apartments Marcus Garvey Village in Central Harlem. A vision that started decades ago has finally become a reality.
Seventy thousand applicants anticipated lottery allocations for 170 fully affordable apartments on 124th Street, for families earning 50% of the area median income or less.
$100 Million Project Completed in Harlem
The $100 million project was subsidized by the city and market-rate neighbors in the apartment complex next door.
“We basically took the exact same concepts of what we did and worked in the market-rate building and put it here,” explains developer Ed Poteat.
Poteat ensured that the facilities were not just for the happy families who will live there. Also the opening for groups to come together is a square that is named after it the late local leader Bill Perkinsa tribute to Poteat’s mentor.
“He was the only person I knew who went to college and worked growing up,” Poteat said, “and who devoted decades to Central Harlem, so it was the least I could do, which was to honor his legacy with this communal terrace.”
Poteat also developed a relationship with Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Churchwho owned the land before entrusting the project to Poteat’s team.
“I thought they would both still be alive and doing their thing,” Poteat said, “but Rev. Butts had a vision from the ’80s to build Harlem for the Harlemites, by the Harlemites.”
“I hope this is a template”
Another part of the plan for Marcus Garvey Village, offering free rooftop reservations for local nonprofits. Organizers of the African-American Day Parade already held their appreciation party in the space.
“I just want to commend them for having the foresight and insight to say, this is worth it,” said Yusuf Hasan, chairman of the African-American Day Parade. “It’s just something that touches my heart.”
“This was the first time in all these years that they were able to really give honor, respect, accolades, awards and proclamations to the people of the community who participated in that parade,” added Mari Moss, regional director of the parade. Community Action Board.
The bottom of the building still has room to grow, next to the new home of the Harlem Center, a safe space for the black and brown LGBTQ community.
“I hope this is a template for what other developers can do,” Poteat said, “and I hope it’s a template for what the community should be asking for.”
Poteat has already broken ground on a similar twin development nearby.
Families will move to Marcus Garvey Village on December 1.
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Jesse Mitchell
