There are 276 properties in Harlem that will now fall under the jurisdiction of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. On Tuesday, it designated the Mount Morris Park Historic District Extension. Put simply, the new historic district contains most of the blocks running from Lenox Avenue/Malcolm X. Boulevard until nearly Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, and from the south side of West 123rd Street to the south side of West 118th Street.
The new historic district contains about 250 row houses and 12 apartment buildings. The area was initially Jewish, but has been largely African-American since the 1920s and much of its development can be tied to the advent of the IRT.
LPC Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan said she was “proud” to bring the district to a vote. She said the designation speaks to the not only the architectural history of the area, but also the cultural and social history.
The district was calendared in April. A public hearing, at which the LPC says 23 people testified in support of designation, was held in July. Designation means that any changes to existing buildings in the district or construction of new buildings within its boundaries must be approved by the LPC.
Additionally, the streets will get new brown street signs. If you’ve ever wondered, brown street signs mean a historic district, while green ones are simply street signs.
Evan Bindelglass is a local freelance journalist, photographer, cinephile, and foodie. You can e-mail him, follow him on Twitter @evabin, or check out his personal blog.
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