Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations said he doesn’t look over his shoulder as much as he did a few years ago “ It's become a lot safer,” he said of his neighborhood on a recent afternoon “You could actually walk outside and not have to worry about getting shot.” Cadogan and five of his friends were playing cards inside the community center at the Wagner Houses one of more than two dozen public housing developments in East Harlem The site hosts one of about 100 “Cornerstone” programs that offer activities and resources for young people at NYCHA complexes citywide Experts say the relationships they foster there help prevent violence East Harlem was hit hard by the spike in shootings that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic, especially near its public housing. From 2020 to 2022, the neighborhood contained one of New York City’s gun violence “hot spots” — blocks with 10 or more shootings within those two years — according to a Gothamist analysis of NYPD data It was part of an overall rise in shootings as the pandemic destabilized antiviolence efforts and drove economic disruption and social isolation Police recorded 11 shootings in the square block around NYCHA’s East River Houses on East 102nd Street and First Avenue one of the city’s highest concentrations of gun violence But East Harlem’s public housing complexes have since achieved a sustained decline in shootings, while other NYCHA properties continue to struggle with high rates of gun violence Criminologists say shootings disproportionately affect public housing properties due to a lack of community investment unauthorized occupants with criminal histories and conflicts between crews from different developments reporting by Gothamist found that a special collaboration involving local nonprofits law enforcement officials and residents has reduced gun violence to its lowest level since 2019 — and could offer lessons for other neighborhoods The turnaround is the result of free-flowing communication among community leaders and organizations as well as targeted policing and trust built on months of face-to-face interactions with neighbors according to interviews with more than a dozen residents Cornerstone staffers and police leaders in East Harlem But they cautioned the improvements are tenuous: A single homicide can spark years of retaliation “You are able to work with these young people program director at the Wagner Cornerstone on East 120th Street near First Avenue “When you don't have that center in your development more than a dozen law enforcement officials youth organization directors and others filed into the third-floor conference room of a building near the East River Houses to discuss neighborhood violence since the year’s start who said gang members at two NYCHA developments had caused some of the incidents There were several other instances where shots were fired but no one was hit stood out in the group of predominantly Black and Latino New Yorkers Zuchman first earned the respect of civil rights activists when he joined the Freedom Rides in 1961 and was incarcerated for 40 days in Mississippi he began working with young people involved in gangs to counter crime he became executive director of SCAN-Harbor a nonprofit that has served East Harlem youth for nearly 50 years and receives millions of dollars in annual city funding for after-school and summer programming tutoring and youth employment initiatives at more than 20 sites in Manhattan and the Bronx What can we do to positively intervene here?” Zuchman asked those at the table referring to young men allegedly involved in the shootings where members shared on-the-ground intel and strategized ways to stop violence on specific streets NYCHA and the city’s Department of Youth and Community Development which administers the Cornerstone programs they all concluded their interventions needed to start with kids as young as 9 who they worried were already at risk of getting into dangerous situations there's nothing you can do,” Zuchman told Gothamist “By us coming together and talking to each other hosted at the complex's community center serves as a gathering place for young people who attended the April meeting with several of her officers listened to the group’s concerns and suggested how police could be deployed at the NYPD division’s headquarters on East 123rd Street she showed Gothamist a whiteboard with color-coded descriptions of recent shootings The colors represented whether the victims lived in public housing so Bukofzer-Tavarez and her team of almost 100 officers — many of whom she recruited — could determine how to prioritize their resources for some 38,000 NYCHA residents “Our crime related to violence largely has to do with crews,” she said “One particular group will live in a series of buildings and not really like another group that lives in another building.” Bukofzer-Tavarez said most of her officers are on duty between 5:30 p.m “ We create the culture here where they know that they're part of the community,” she said Lew Zuchman in his office at SCAN-Harbor's headquarters with rapper Trevell "G.Dep" Coleman an East Harlem native who mentors youth in the community Experts say the community centers and resident cooperation are just as crucial in driving down shootings as law enforcement is SCAN-Harbor staffs seven Cornerstone centers in the neighborhood and some bring together young people from different NYCHA developments A high density of local nonprofits can lead to reductions in violent crime, research has shown Talib Hudson — who founded a community development organization called the New Hood that works in northern Manhattan — said the Cornerstone model appears to be doing just that sufficiently funding such programs is essential whether to pay for organizers or repairs to local infrastructure East Harlem Cornerstones are budgeted for $3.5 million in city funding this fiscal year according to the Department of Youth and Community Development Cornerstones, which launched in 2010 and receive around $60 million annually from the city, served more than 19,000 youth and 7,000 adults last fiscal year, according to the latest Mayor’s Management Report Those numbers represent increases of 19% and 12% Several East Harlem nonprofits focused on gun violence prevention each won $20,000 grants in 2023 from the Manhattan DA’s criminal justice investment initiative who served as DA Alvin Bragg’s chief of staff at the time said it was part of a broader strategy to address shootings in East Harlem by both engaging the neighborhood's most at-risk youth and doubling down on investigations the DA’s office would assign as many investigators to a nonfatal shooting as it would a homicide to better understand the origins of violence Deputy Inspector Rebecca Bukofzer-Tavarez at work in her office at the Police Service Area 5 headquarters on East 123rd Street Officials said the defendants were responsible for half of East Harlem’s shootings last summer “Enforcement and deterrence is really important but the prolonged effects I think are [from] the community groups,” Stockdale said “It’s about individual leadership to some extent People have to be trusted in the community.” some East Harlem residents said they were still concerned about gun violence “ You can’t tell me that it’s getting better around here,” said Charles Herring who spoke to Gothamist in front of the Johnson Houses “They just locked a whole bunch of gang members up for shootings from two years ago Residents also pointed to the fact that some blocks bear the brunt of shootings and life can look drastically different just a short walk away. Last year, Gothamist found that just 4% of city blocks accounted for nearly all local shootings from 2020 to June 2024. Johnny Cadogan, 19, plays Uno with his friends at the Cornerstone center at the Wagner Houses. Hudson from the New Hood said he understood those concerns. “ If even one person is shot, it can create a sense of ‘there's a lot of shooting going on here,’ even though statistically that may not necessarily be the case,” he said. Others in East Harlem said they felt safer than they could remember in recent times — even down to the sensory level. “As of late, it's been pretty quiet,” Anselmo Gustavo Ruiz said at NYCHA’s Washington Houses. “You haven't been hearing many gunshots.” Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected]. Donoghue exits after steering the department through budget cuts and lifeguard reforms. A months-long investigation into decades of sexual assault allegations on Rikers Island was a finalist in the audio reporting category. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. Gothamist is a website about New York City news Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The leading authority for the Architecture & Design community Recharge in a Restored Spanish Farmhouse in Menorca Words: Hayley Arsenault Photography: Ashok Sinha whose creative history with Espinet traces back to their shared backgrounds in the beauty industry—Miller’s at Estée Lauder and Lazic’s alongside Espinet at MAC—where a collective visual shorthand was cultivated over years of collaboration “Gordon and Helen both worked at MAC for many years,” says Miller “Gordon was the SVP of make-up artistry and training and Helen was the VP of the store design department As they were both under the same creative umbrella their aesthetic sensibilities inevitably meshed.” Miller who was VP of retail store development at Estée Lauder collaborated with Lazic on the development of all freestanding stores and their openings for close to 18 years the design process was built on trust and familiarity “The clients had very clear ideas of what they wanted their space to feel like,” says Miller “They leaned towards having a tranquil and playful space with simple and open and lit spaces.” The couple also wanted a home that could support entertaining showcase artwork and collected furniture from their travels with Espinet leading its placement throughout he introduced vibrant accents in thoughtful doses—balanced against wood “We wanted to open up the spaces so that they were linked by the light coming from the front and back of the house so that the new spaces would feel united and lend to the feeling of a single-family home,” Miller explains The narrow footprint limited the number of partitions so transitions between rooms were defined instead by texture and color—soft lighting and wood in the kitchen high-gloss paint surrounding a full-width sliding door in the dining room tailored to different levels of privacy and use The guest rooms are more open and expressive with lively tile accents and visual connections to the hallways The back library and primary suite feel more introspective—designed as retreat spaces with quieter “The owners were very specific about the lighting,” says Miller “We went with a very low number of recessed lights and focused on the strategic placement of the decorative pendant fixtures and task lighting.” She adds: “They wanted it to be complementary and background to the finishes and architecture.” With entertaining in mind the team also established a series of zones throughout the home—each suited to gatherings of different scales but still unified by natural light flowing in from the north and south ends The home is at once open and attuned—shaped by history from an eras-mixing Paris aerie to a food-themed Prague two-bedroom shops and showrooms worldwide embrace the season with a fresh palette of soft greens Affordable Housing Plan, Albany Housing Agenda, Housing, News It’s rare when the city, community, and developers can come together to throw their support behind a project, but such is the case so far with Carmen Villegas Apartments–a proposed LGBTQ+ senior housing site in East Harlem “Carmen Villegas Apartments is exactly the type of project I am excited to see in this borough,” said Manhattan Borough President (BP) Mark Levine Read the full story in Amsterdam News. Northern Manhattan Office431 West 125th StreetNew York General Inquiriesinfo@manhattanbp.nyc.gov212-669-8300 Constituent Servicesinfo@manhattanbp.nyc.gov212-531-1609 Presspress@manhattanbp.nyc.gov Schedulingscheduling@manhattanbp.nyc.gov Budgetbudget@manhattanbp.nyc.gov Accessibility Statement Notice of Rights and Grievance Procedure MBPO Accessibility Plan Frequently Asked Questions 2025 at 4:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Harlem Art Park located at East 120th Street and Sylvan Place will be part of a $50 million initiative to revitalize 10 city parks NY — Two parks in East Harlem are slated to get a major makeover in 2026 city officials announced will be part of a $50 million initiative to revitalize 10 public parks across the five boroughs The upcoming renovations are part of the New York City Parks Department's Community Parks Initiative which will bring state-of-the-art amenities and landscaping to green spaces in underserved areas "I have been advocating for improvements to both Harlem Art Park and Dr McNair Playground for some time and am pleased that these parks now will be getting major upgrades," local Councilmember Diana Ayala said "They are integral spaces for socialization recreation and fresh air for many members of our community." The Community Parks Initiative was launched in 2014 to make "equity-driven" investments in parks that have not seen renovations in more than 20 years more than 67 New York City parks have been renovated Queens and Staten Island will also receive upgrades in 2026 as part of the $50 million project and high-quality parks — no matter what zip code they live in," Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said The initiative focuses specifically on areas with higher levels of poverty The Parks Department said that a study from CUNY found that New Yorkers living near a Community Parks Initiative-renovated park were 66 percent more likely to have visited their park than New Yorkers living near non-renovated parks "Harlem Art Park provides a creative space for artists and musicians to share their work enhancing cultural awareness within the community," Ayala said countless children will benefit from dramatically improved play space making this park a more enriching place for families." The design process for the parks will include input from the surrounding community Parks will host Community Input Meetings for these projects beginning in April Here's the full list of parks to receive upgrades in 2026 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. By: 8:00 am on March 2 Work has begun on a 19-story all-affordable housing complex at 1760 Third Avenue in East Harlem Designed by Dattner Architects and developed by Breaking Ground New York’s largest non-profit supportive housing developer the project involves the conversion of a former dormitory for Hunter College and Baruch College into housing for low-income and formerly homeless individuals with 434 units The property is located between East 97th and East 98th Streets Notable attendees included Breaking Ground president and CEO Brenda Rosen NYS HCR CEO and Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas Last week’s ceremony officially kicking off construction at 1760 Third Avenue Below are interior renderings of the lobby and exterior perspectives of a public plaza Two hundred sixty-one of the 434 units will be reserved for individuals exiting homelessness including a subset of 40 units for young adults aging out of foster care or who have experienced homelessness 172 units will be set aside for households with incomes at or less than 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) The remaining unit will be reserved for a live-in superintendent Residential amenities at 1760 Third Avenue will include a multi-purpose room as well as office space for Breaking Ground’s property management and social services teams The outdoor spaces along Third Avenue will also be transformed creating new public-facing areas with landscaping The developer will also provide on-site supportive services to formerly homeless residents ranging from case management through Breaking Ground’s signature Tenant360 program tenant service coordinators will also create recreational and social enrichment opportunities for residents year-round Funding for services will be provided by contracts with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) the latter of which provided $21 million through Governor Hochul’s landmark $1 billion mental health initiative Breaking Ground purchased the property last June for $172 million The building will become the fifth adaptive reuse project in New York City The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) provided $126 million for the acquisition alongside additional funding from the New York City Acquisition Fund Resolution A funds through the New York City Council and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance/Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (OTDA/HHAC) Financing for the renovation and refitting of apartments is provided in part by $24.6 million in 501(c)3 bonds issued by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) $75 million from HCR’s Supportive Housing Opportunity Program and with additional loans and grants from HCR Wells Fargo is providing the construction letter of credit $10 million also came from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program and $2 million as a discretionary capital grant from New York City Council Member Diana Ayala from Fiscal Year 2024 In addition to public and private financing Breaking Ground received philanthropic support for the project from the Wells Fargo Foundation in the form of a $500,000 grant and a $25 million letter of credit from the bank The Wells Fargo Foundation’s grant will assist in outfitting the building’s computer lab and fitness room to ensure that tenants have access to holistic health and digital literacy services Another significant major contribution came from Ilse Melamid who will ensure that Breaking Ground is able to establish apartments and specialized services for 40 young adults who are aging out of foster care or who have experienced homelessness 1760 Third Avenue was originally developed as the Florence Nightingale Nursing Center then was subsequently converted to a student dormitory in 2007 that largely hosted international students attending a variety of New York City private and public colleges and universities The structure had been sitting vacant before work commenced The nearest subways from the development are the 6 train at the 96th Street station one block to the southwest along Lexington Avenue and the Q train at the 96th Street station along Second Avenue The total development cost is $261 million while construction is expected to cost $71 million and work is planned to take approximately 18 to 24 months putting the anticipated completion date somewhere around the end of 2026 Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews This is a somewhat tame 1974 exercise in Brutalism by Breger Associates Why are the CUNY schools selling all their dorms The building was originally built as the Florence Nightingale Nursing Home in 1974 CUNY had been using it as a dorm since 2008 It appears that CUNY was just renting the building I found a 2011 article in the observer that listed 1760 Third as having been purchased by Joseph Chetrit in 2011 three years after it was renovated and opened as a dorm and six years before Breaking Ground purchased it for this coming conversion I am glad to know the source of these funds which are likely not fraudulent: Thanks to Michael Young Under the Breaking Ground Organization,good luck The building that I live in at West 43rd Street was not the way it is now and has been for the past few years Too much illegal and negative activities,foul odors I remember living across the street in public housing and watching this building being built, it was originally Florence Nightingale Nirding home and it was helpful to our neighborhood Then it changed to a college damn and now,,, well nowchomeless and individuals growing out of foster care will reside here I Remember This Landmark Building Was Originally Florence Nightingale Home and It Was Relevant To Our Neighborhood and Community Also I Always Pass By The Hunter College Damn Near Mount Sinai Hospital,and Now This Building Is Being Built For New Homeless People & Individuals Who Can Afford Housing Thanks To Micheal Young and The NYCDCAS Hate the bland brutalism – but absolutely delighted to see this kind of project happening ga('send', 'event', 'beautyofblock', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Standard_336x280-100-2.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'PCRichards Builders Division', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PCR_Beko_Compact_YIMB_336x280.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'yimby+', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image.png', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram var sb_instagram_js_options = {"font_method":"svg","placeholder":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/instagram-feed\/img\/placeholder.png","resized_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sb-instagram-feed-images\/","ajax_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY® LLC YIMBY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF NIKOLAI FEDAK / NEW YORK YIMBY LLC NYC-based survivors of sexual violence can call the trauma-informed Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373 NY — A man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for forcing a woman to perform oral sex on him at gunpoint in East Harlem Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said was walking near East 117th Street between 3rd and Lexington Avenues on Nov approached her and demanded the victim turn over her cellphone then pulled out a gun and tapped it against the woman's abdomen and head and then forced her to perform oral sex on him ultimately entering a building on 118th Street “Albert Brown is now convicted of a horrific act of sexual violence and will face a significant prison term,” Bragg said “Every New Yorker deserves to be safe walking our city’s streets and I hope the survivor can continue to heal and recover from the trauma she has experienced." Brown pleaded guilty in a New York State Supreme Court to one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree Brown will serve 20 years in a state prison followed by 25 years of post-release supervision Brown will also be required to complete the New York State Sex Offender Registration This is a developing story and may be updated 2025 at 2:17 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}According to the police officers responded to a 911 call at the corner of 116th Street and Lexington Avenue in East Harlem and found a 31-year-old man with a gunshot wound in his leg NY — A 31-year-old man was shot in East Harlem on Thursday morning New York City Police Department officials said officers responded to a 911 call at the corner of 116th Street and Lexington Avenue and found a 31-year-old man with a gunshot wound in his leg Medics rushed the victim to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem the suspect they're looking for is a man in a grey sweatshirt and a black face mask who ran away No arrests have been made yet and the investigation is ongoing 2025 at 4:31 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}According to the FDNY the fire broke out at 65 East 112th Street between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue just before 2 p.m NY — A fire broke out on the seventh floor of the Taft Houses on Monday afternoon New York City Fire Department officials said Around 78 firefighters and medics responded to the scene and got the fire under control around half an hour later and the cause is under investigation by the FDNY's Fire Marshals 2025 at 11:55 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}According to Bragg the 16 gang members were charged in two separate indictments including charges like conspiracy with the intent to commit murder NY — A large group of rival gang members were indicted on Tuesday for committing 21 retributive shootings over the last several months in East Harlem the 16 gang members — nine from the "LA World" gang and seven from the "Wuski" gang — were charged in two separate indictments The rivalry between the gangs was sparked by the murder of an LA World gang member and led to 21 shootings in the East Harlem area between March and September of last year this rivalry was responsible for 50 percent of all the shootings in the neighborhood over a six-month period “These defendants allegedly committed months of reckless gun violence that terrorized their neighborhoods and communities," Bragg said "We have absolutely no tolerance for this pervasive which jeopardized the lives of many innocent bystanders." Fifteen firearms were recovered throughout the investigation and many of the shootings occurred outside as the defendants indiscriminately fired toward groups of people on the street or in public housing courtyards "LA World" operated out of the New York City Housing Authority’s Lehman and AK Houses while Wuski operated out of New York City Housing Authority’s Johnson Houses “These gang members unleashed a months-long cycle of gun violence that left East Harlem residents living in fear,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said “They opened fire near residential buildings showed a complete disregard for innocent life and fueled a dangerous pattern of retaliation that devastated this community." “By investing state resources into communities like Harlem, we can create the modern, affordable apartments that New Yorkers need,” Governor Hochul said. “This development on Third Avenue will bring new life to a vacant building by transforming it into affordable apartments that over 400 households will be able to enjoy for generations to come.”  Breaking Ground, the project developer, will transform the vacant structure at 1760 Third Avenue into a 433-unit mixed-use development for households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. The redeveloped property will include 261 units reserved for formerly homeless individuals living with serious mental illness, with services provided by Breaking Ground.  The project will include a subset of units for young adults aging out of foster care or who have experienced homelessness. Onsite support services will include case management, medical and mental health care, benefits and entitlement counseling, and connections to employment.  The renovations to the building will incorporate sustainability measures such as energy-efficient rooftop air conditioners and hydronic heating system pumps that use water—rather than air—to transfer heat. The building will also feature water-conserving plumbing, efficient lighting, vegetative roofs and ENERGY STAR ® refrigerators to support cleaner living.  The outdoor spaces along Third Avenue will also be transformed, creating new public-facing areas with landscaping, seating, and community-focused spaces. Constructed in 1974, the 1760 Third Avenue building originally housed a Florence Nightingale Nursing Center. The structure was later converted into a dormitory for the City University of New York’s Hunter College and Baruch College.  The project received $75 million from HCR’s Supportive Housing Opportunity Program and a $24.6 million first mortgage structured as a 501(c)3 bond from its Housing Finance Agency. In addition, the development was awarded $126 million from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Supportive Housing Loan Program.  In the past five years, HCR has financed nearly 6,600 affordable homes in Manhattan. 1760 Third Avenue continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.  The project also received $10 million through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program and a $2 million discretionary capital grant from New York City Council Member Diana Ayala from Fiscal Year 2024. The New York City Acquisition Fund provided an acquisition loan originated by the Low-Income Investment Fund. Wells Fargo is providing the construction letter of credit.  New York City Council Member Diana Ayala said, “We are excited to celebrate the start of construction at 1760 Third Avenue. Our office was pleased to have invested $2 million in capital discretionary funding in this project and we look forward to welcoming residents home once construction is complete. Thank you to all our partners.”  The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro Housing Certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. Currently, 275 communities have been certified, including New York City.  Older New Yorkers waiting to pick up free groceries at the New York Common Pantry in East Harlem said it's getting harder to pay their food bills Some say they've stopped buying meat or consuming as many eggs Others say they eat just enough to fill their stomachs Mercedes Rodriguez said she had to put some of her grocery bills on her credit card “ I buy whatever's on sale,” she said while 61% said their mental health was affected As the Republican-led Congress eyes deep cuts to food subsidy programs local pantries question whether they'll be able to fill the gap when the need is already so high “ We heard from other families who told us that they have had to not only put more debt on their credit card but to take money out of their 401k due to the rising cost in food,” said Rachel Sabella What can I do right now?’ And the rise in costs the challenges mean New Yorkers are eating less,” she added Rodriguez says she stretches her budget by loading up on starch more starch than anything,” said Rodriguez But she said she had to be careful about how much starch is in her diet because she has diabetes She said she hasn’t had eggs in more than a month and now shops mostly at discount supermarket chain Aldi’s dozens of older New Yorkers waited for their names to be called to pick up nonperishable groceries Almost everyone had a strategy for making their food go further “I'm not having a spoonful more of what I'm eating I don't let that tempt me to eat more I'm pretty much eating to the point where I feel fulfilled and satisfied and I refrain,” said Calvin Davis Altagracia Grullon said meat is so expensive that she doesn’t really buy it anymore. She can’t afford it with her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP, which pay an average of about $6 a day per person according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities “You can’t throw away food,” she said in Spanish “You have to control yourself a little more in order to survive.” “ That's a large part of everything, is just the uncertainty right now,” said Judy Secon, deputy executive director of New York Common Pantry.  ”How many more people will that then bring to our doors?” Secon said demand at their sites has increased 7% in the last two months, compared to the same period last year. The nonprofit has nearly doubled the number of meals it distributes a year. It distributed 6 million meals prior to the pandemic and is on track to distribute 12 million this year. Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park said New Yorkers are still struggling to put food on the table, even with current federal funding levels for food insecurity programs. “So if you roll them back further than that, I think we're going to see really devastating consequences for lower-income New Yorkers,” she added. Volunteers and workers at New York Common Pantry distribute shelf-stable foods to older adults on a recent Monday morning in East Harlem. Karen Yi covers homelessness and poverty. She joined the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom in 2020. Before that, Karen covered Newark for the Star-Ledger and spent almost a decade working for newspapers in New Jersey and Florida. She grew up in Miami and has a dog named Cashew. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-589-1460. The Legal Aid Society cites a Gothamist report showing thousands jailed instead of receiving summonses — including two men who died in custody. Because Trump's trade war against Canada could ultimately kneecap the American toilet paper industry, here are your afternoon links: E-ZPass complications, drama in a Brooklyn tennis league, Talk Tuah to keep talkin' and more. 2025 at 1:19 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Peter Senzamici/Patch)EAST HARLEM NY — A fire started in a 14-story New York City Housing Authority apartment building in East Harlem on Monday night According to the FDNY, the fire started on the eighth floor of the apartment building at 2185 Second Ave., between East 112th Street and East 113th Street at 10:45 p.m. That address is part of the Jefferson Houses Seventy-eight firefighters responded to the blaze and put it out by 11:39 p.m Authorities said that no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation ...but your activity and behavior on this site made us think that you are a bot Note: A number of things could be going on here Please solve this CAPTCHA to request unblock to the website Free! Cap off our 2024 Uptown Bounce series featuring East Harlem's own DJ Ted Smooth Co-presented by El Museo del Barrio.  producer and remixer from East Harlem whose work has made a significant impact on the music industry Ted Smooth has created award winning remixes and original productions that have been enjoyed by fans all over the world Ted Smooth continues to use his platform to give back and support local initiatives His free Roller Skate Jams have become a staple in East Harlem for over 18 years Doug E Fresh and the NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden you can catch him on 94.7 fm “The Block” Friday nights at 10pm.  About Uptown Bounce:  Join the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) and El Museo Del Barrio for our annual, co-presented series of free summer block parties featuring top DJs, special guests, live performances, art-making activities, drinks and bites, and more.  Click here for more.  Uptown Bounce is presented in collaboration with El Museo Del Barrio 7,500-square-foot manufacturing facility in East Harlem The new facility represents a big expansion for the family-owned business Ess-a-Bagel can scale up bagel production and sell their famously jumbo bagels wholesale across the country The bagel shop will also receive $450,000 in tax credit from Empire State Development to create 12 full-time jobs at the new factory for bakers with the potential to expand up to 41 jobs in total an Empire State Development spokesperson said “We are thrilled to open our new manufacturing facility in Harlem which represents a significant milestone in our company's history," Frost said "This state-of-the-art facility will enable us to increase production and meet the growing demand for our authentic New York City bagels." Ess-a-Bagel — which translates to "eat a bagel," in Yiddish was opened on First Avenue downtown in 1976 by Florence and Gene Wilpon along with Florence's brother Aaron Wenzelberg Routinely on top bagel lists in New York City Ess-a-Bagel expanded to Midtown in 1992 and then opened another location near Penn Station and a Brooklyn location in 2021 This new manufacturing facility represents the company's first uptown expansion "This expansion not only solidifies Ess-A-Bagel's position as a beloved New York City institution but also brings 12 new full-time jobs to our community with the potential for 41 more," Assemblymember Edward Gibbs who represents East Harlem and Randall's Island as well as parts of the Upper East Side "This investment is a testament to the power of community-driven economic development where local businesses are empowered to grow and thrive while remaining true to their roots." The new factory is located at 1751 Park Ave 2025 at 12:31 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a news conference outside Manhattan federal court NY — Twenty-one East Harlem apartments will be returned to rent-stabilized units next month after Attorney General Letitia James found the landlord illegally inflated the prices a real estate company with 13 buildings in the East Harlem area illegally deregulated rent-stabilized units and overcharged tenants The landlord failed to keep tenants' security deposits in separate accounts, as required by law, according to court documents. In addition to returning the deregulated apartments to rent-stabilized units James is also requiring Emerald to repay $54,799.66 to the tenants who were illegally overcharged “Emerald blatantly ignored rent stabilization laws denying many New Yorkers access to affordable Emerald is required by law to return the 21 apartments to rent stabilization within 60 days and has 30 days to return the excess rent money they illegally collected directly to the renters Emerald must also notify all impacted tenants of the changes and establish separate accounts for security deposits within 30 days the landlord must pay a $500-a-day penalty until each violation is resolved “By returning these units to rent stabilization and ensuring tenants are reimbursed for overcharges we are bringing justice to the families that Emerald harmed and ensuring more fair and equitable housing for future renters," James said The apartment buildings with illegally destabilized rentals are: Emerald filed for bankruptcy and these buildings will be transferred to Emerald's lender who will ensure the new owners will be bound to the same settlement PIX11 The school's principal in 2015 said that it was "a graceful moment of connection The school's principal in 2015 said that it was "a graceful moment of connection as Knicks fans held their breath until the very last second of the game The issue of street vendor licenses will be center stage Tuesday in the New York City Council Chambers 12 jurors and 6 alternates will be put on the panel It will be an unsettled week featuring showers for basically the entire week Both were diagnosed with breast cancer as they were preparing for Genna's wedding day last spring Thousands of new families seeking assistance may be waitlisted unless additional funding is secured Environmental organizations are happy to see lawmakers on both sides of the aisle chipping away at the issue FEMA cuts will threaten multiple flood mitigation projects in Queens Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said Dozens of cats are now up for adoption after other deceased cats were found -- some in a freezer -- in a home on Long Island A small dog named Penny was injured after being attacked by two pit bulls on the Upper West Side Newark Airport has been dealing with numerous delays and cancellations since last week due to staffing shortages and equipment trouble the executive chef of Hellbender in Queens Every product is independently selected by editors Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission one can find all sorts of housing configurations: park- and subway-adjacent studios one-bedrooms hidden in carriage houses or former shoe factories We’re combing the market for particularly spacious or otherwise worth-a-look apartments at various six-digit price points we’ve found you a beautifully renovated one-bedroom in Prospect–Lefferts Gardens that’s right next to the park and a shockingly well-priced Harlem two-bedroom 125 Ocean Avenue, Apt. 2G A one-bedroom with an extremely nice renovation high-ceilinged rooms; hardwood floors; a sunken living room; and a windowed dining nook that’s currently outfitted as an office There are sound-reducing windows in the bedroom the building sits across the street from Prospect Park with the B and shuttle to the Botanic Garden right nearby And while the price is a little steep for a one-bedroom in this neighborhood a two-bedroom in the building has already sold for over $1 million 80 Macombs Place, #61 155 E. 49th Street, #9F Midtown East consistently has some of the better deals in Manhattan and there’s a separate kitchen with a little dining area and a huge closet that once served as a sleeping area as you might expect for a suspiciously well-priced apartment in such a convenient location: The layout is a little awkward with a front door that basically opens into the kitchen; there’s no view to speak of (the living-room windows look out at the building next door); and the maintenance is high at $1,913 a month But it’s in an elevator building with a full-time doorman and 49th between Lexington and Third is about a five-minute walk to Grand Central 35-24 78th Street, #A67 this two-bedroom co-op is a classic middle-class prewar apartment with stylish light fixtures and sleek kitchen finishes The second bedroom looks to be on the smaller side with an insane dressing area surrounded by closets (The downside: You need to pass through either the dressing area or bedroom to get to the apartment’s only bathroom.) It’s on the top floor of the building where two bedrooms regularly trade for a few hundred thousand more with the dining area in what would normally be the foyer and the smaller bedroom right off the living room this apartment looks like it may have been converted from a one-bedroom Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York the Department of City Planning presented its long-awaited draft rezoning framework to East Harlem’s community board Take a short anonymous survey to help us deliver content to empower our community and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" a Michelin-starred noodle bar is expanding — and more intel If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy Benjamin wrote of the hardships in the industry: “Rising crime forced us to hire full-time security I took on side jobs just to afford health insurance,” he said and declining numbers proved insurmountable.” The restaurant was on the New York Times top 100 restaurants in New York two consecutive years A post shared by Yannick Benjamin (@yannickbenjamin) Jeju Noodle Bar is expanding from Greenwich Street and is headed to Nolita Kim is an alum of Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare and Per Se Neighborhood organization Welcome to Chinatown has profiled New Kam Man, a supermarket dating back to the 1970s, the “first self-service Chinese supermarket for its time” according to the post including the factoid that “new” was apparently added to the name in 2006 All the new restaurant openings in New York this month 2024 at 10:43 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The police have released surveillance photos of the suspects NY — Cops are looking for the perpetrators of two violent robberies on Dec a block apart from each other in East Harlem on East 105th Street between Lexington Avenue and 3rd Avenue striking him in the head several times with a metal wrench before forcibly removing his wallet and running away The victim was taken to New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in serious but stable condition a group pushed inside an apartment building at East 106th Street and 2nd Avenue and robbed a 54-year-old man at gunpoint No injuries were reported in the second incident Police said anyone with information on these incidents can call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) Nine years after an earthquake in New Jersey caused an East Harlem pool to be shut down due to a crack in its foundation it has finally been repaired and the pool reopened Six hundred second graders are ready to make a splash A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in River East Elementary on Oct marking the reopening of a pool that will grant second grade public school students in East Harlem’s District Four access to free swimming lessons The reopening of the pool–and the swimming program–were made possible thanks to the Wave Makers initiative a collaboration between nonprofit Asphalt Green and the offices of New York City Council Members Julie Menin from the UES and Shekar Krishnan Menin and Krishnan had co-sponsored a city council resolution that was passed in 2023 that for the first time required that all city second graders in the pubic school system receive free swimming lessons But when the city ran into a $7 billion budget shortfall later that year the $5.2 million allocated for the Learn to Swim program was cut funds for some parks programs were restored and Mayor Adams found money to re-open the city’s libraries on Sundays the budget never came up with the $5.2 needed to get the swimming program on track 68 percent of NYC residents lack access to pools and one out of four New York City children remain unable to swim Asphalt Green believes its River East Elementary programming can serve as a blueprint for pools at other schools in NYC and help rapidly expand access to swim instruction Attending the ceremony were officials from Asphalt Green NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles Ramos as well as several Olympic and World Championship medalists the president of the Stand By Me Swimming Foundation a former member of the Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics (AGUA) team “I am enormously proud of the ongoing expansion of the Wave Makers initiative that I launched with the Gray Foundation and Council Member Shekar Krishnan,” said Council Member Julie Menin “I look forward to the expansion of this program and its continued success.” The pool at River East Elementary School was decommissioned in 2015 after an earthquake in New Jersey the senior director of Asphalt Green’s community programs “[The earthquake] resulted in a crack in the foundation of the pool and the pool has been closed since then,” Ludwig said “It’s larger than a lot of pools that are inside public school buildings It’s got really spacious locker rooms and a nice pool deck It even has some little bit of stadium seating Asphalt Green conducted a feasibility study to determine what would be needed to rehabilitate the facility which was presented to the School Construction Authority the Division of School Facilities was able to bring the pool back online Asphalt Green plans to offer after-school aquatics programming at River East to allow kids to be able to pursue competitive swimming through the AGUA Swim Team (sponsored in part by the Stand By Me Swimming Foundation) “We are so excited to bring Wave Makers and our other celebrated aquatics programming to River East,” said Asphalt Green CEO Jordan Brackett “Every child deserves free and equitable access to swim instruction We hope the partnerships we have forged to bring this pool back online serve as inspiration for similar projects across the five boroughs.” A former college dormitory in East Harlem that also served as temporary shelter for migrants will become an affordable housing development. Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced construction kicked off at 1760 Third Avenue a 19-story building that once operated as student housing for CUNY and later housed hundreds of asylum seekers Developed by Breaking Ground and designed by Dattener Architects the project includes renovating and converting the building into 433 supportive and affordable homes including 261 units reserved for individuals with mental illness This marks the first supportive housing project funded under Hochul’s landmark $1 billion mental health initiative The $264 million project will repurpose the former dormitory, which previously housed Hunter and Baruch College students, into affordable housing. In June 2023 Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to open a humanitarian relief center at 1760 Third Avenue for 500 families with children seeking asylum The city closed the shelter this past fall Breaking Ground had been in talks to purchase the property since 2022 but delayed the acquisition when the city proposed turning the site into a temporary migrant shelter The new building will be open to households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income and will provide on-site supportive services by Breaking Ground The project will also include a portion of units for young adults aging out of foster care or who have experienced homelessness “This $264 million development is a testament to the power of innovation in addressing New York’s housing crisis By transforming this former college dorm into affordable and supportive homes and a way forward for more than 430 individuals and young people in need,” HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said Renovations to the building will add sustainable features such as energy-efficient rooftop air conditioners and hydronic heating system pumps that use water instead of air to transfer heat The building will also utilize water-conserving plumbing and Energy Star refrigerators to promote cleaner living The design also integrates the green space along the public right of way to enhance entry circulation and wayfinding This design creates a “transitionary zone” between the street and the residential entrance while providing an exterior amenity space for residents to enjoy passive recreation Constructed in 1870 as the Florence Nightingale Nursing Center the building—designed in the Brutalist style by William N Breger Associates—was renovated in 2008 to serve as a college dormitory According to the architects the building’s bold Brutalist exterior required a thoughtful and respectful approach to designing its new public and amenities spaces “The new interiors recall the Brutalist style, while infusing it with a more contemporary and sustainable take; we explored design cues using strong geometric forms, carved ‘portal’ spaces and volumes, clean lines, modular elements, and patterns focusing on repetition and texture,” the firm described on their website The project received $75 million in funding from the state’s Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) along with a $24.6 million first mortgage through a 501(c)(3) bond from its Housing Finance Agency HCR has financed nearly 6,000 affordable homes in Manhattan The redevelopment of 1760 Third Avenue is part of this ongoing effort and aligns with Gov Kathy Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan which aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across the state The State Office of Mental Health contributed $21 million through Gov Kathy Hochul’s $1 billion mental health initiative which allocated funding to create 3,500 specialized housing units So far the initiative has led to the creation of nearly 1,300 new units including supportive housing and apartment treatment units with an additional 2,150 capital housing units currently in production The project also secured $10 million through the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program along with a $2 million discretionary capital grant from Councilmember Diana Ayala for Fiscal Year 2024 By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a6b1ee2bda7a79416d73d7dfc31adfa8" );document.getElementById("d57a537edf").setAttribute( "id" By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find the home of your dreams We’ll provide current market comps and connect you with a trusted expert By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can unsubscribe at any time Sonal Shah The chewy, savory flatbreads topped with things like greenmarket mushrooms are a great snack, and if you're in the area, you should also keep an eye out for specials like a rich fig bostok made from leftover challah, and apple custard pie at Thanksgiving. There’s just enough seating to enjoy a coffee or a Mexican hot chocolate stirred in an earthen pot, along with a little treat and some chatter about fair trade grains with the owners Mauricio and Caroline before you’re on your way. But these restaurants remind us why we live here anyway Sonal spent many years in India before returning to New York