East Harlem

An affordable housing project first conceived as part of the East Harlem rezoning 10 years ago has finally kicked off construction. The city on Wednesday broke ground on Timbale Terrace, a 100 percent affordable tower with 341 apartments and a new theater and performing arts center for Belongó, formerly known as the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance. Located at East 118th Street and Park Avenue, the site sat vacant for decades before most recently serving as a police department parking lot.
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December 3, 2025

500 affordable homes coming to East Harlem 125th Street development

A new addition to East Harlem's East 125th Street Development will bring nearly 500 affordable homes to the neighborhood. New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala announced on Monday the details for 2319 Third Avenue, a mixed-use project with more than 400 affordable rental units and roughly 80 affordable homeownership units. The new building completes a three-phase development, which included the adjacent One East Harlem, a 19-story tower with 400 apartments, more than half of which were designated as affordable, and the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute.
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Adams targets city-owned sites in Williamsburg and East Harlem for 1,700 homes

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

September 25, 2025

Adams targets city-owned sites in Williamsburg and East Harlem for 1,700 homes

Two city-owned sites could be redeveloped into at least 1,700 new homes. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday said the city will issue requests for proposals for 900 homes at 390 Kent Avenue, one of the last underutilized waterfront sites in Williamsburg, and 800 homes at 1880 First Avenue in East Harlem, currently a parking lot for NYC Health + Hospitals. The two properties were identified through an executive order Adams signed in August 2024, directing city agencies to determine if housing could be built on any properties they owned.
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New MCNY exhibit traces a century of NYC housing activism

A rent strike in Harlem, September 1919. Photo via WikiCommons

August 12, 2025

New MCNY exhibit traces a century of NYC housing activism

While New York City's current housing crisis has pushed rents to all-time highs and the vacancy rate to an all-time low, it's not a new problem. New Yorkers have been rallying for more affordable housing and tenant protections for over a century. A new installation at the Museum of the City of New York, "Housing Activism: Rent Strikes and Tenant Mobilizations, 1908-1939," explores the rich history and lasting impact of tenant organizing in the early 20th century through photographs, drawings, flyers, and other artifacts. The installation covers a period of immense housing pressure, harsh winters, overcrowded tenements, and soaring rents—and the grassroots movements that helped win many of the tenant protections still in place today.
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May 15, 2025

MTA proposes 684-unit development above future Second Avenue Subway terminus in East Harlem

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to rezone a block in East Harlem to allow for a nearly 700-unit residential building above the future terminus of the Second Avenue Subway. The MTA filed plans on Tuesday to rezone the south side of East 125th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues, where the station for the last stop on the Q line will eventually open as part of the Second Avenue Subway extension. As first reported by Crain's, the MTA plans to partner with a private developer to build an apartment tower with up to 684 units on the block's west side, an MTA-owned property.
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Leasing begins for apartments above new National Black Theatre in Harlem, studios from $3,145/month

All images courtesy of Ray

April 29, 2025

Leasing begins for apartments above new National Black Theatre in Harlem, studios from $3,145/month

Here's a chance to live above a legendary Harlem theater. Leasing kicked off on Tuesday for apartments at Ray Harlem, a new 21-story mixed-use development at 125th Street and Fifth Avenue that includes 222 units and a new home for the National Black Theatre, the longest continuously running Black theater in New York City. The gross rent for the apartments, available in June, starts at $3,145/month for studios.
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New Developments

March 3, 2025

Former East Harlem college dorm and migrant shelter to become 433 affordable homes

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.
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‘Songs of New York’ exhibit explores the soundtrack of NYC

LL Cool J with Cut Creator, ELove, and B-Rock. Museum of the City of New York. Gift of Janette Beckman, (2016.5.5)

February 25, 2025

‘Songs of New York’ exhibit explores the soundtrack of NYC

A new exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) immerses visitors in the rich musical heritage of the five boroughs. "Songs of New York: 100 Years of Imagining the City Through Music" showcases more than 100 songs from artists spanning the 1920s to the 2020s, all related to New York City life, be it the subway, nightlife, or neighborhoods. Located in a gallery on the museum's second floor, the exhibit features artists like the Wu-Tang Clan, Frank Sinatra, the Ramones, Jennifer Lopez, and Suzanne Vega.
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Events & Things To Do

Waitlist opens for affordable apartments at Bjarke Ingels’ Harlem rental, from $1,056/month

Photo © CityRealty

February 3, 2025

Waitlist opens for affordable apartments at Bjarke Ingels’ Harlem rental, from $1,056/month

Applications are now being accepted to replenish a waitlist for affordable apartments at The Smile, an 11-story rental in East Harlem designed by renowned architect Bjarke Ingels. Named for its grin-like shape, the building opened in 2020 and contains 233 apartments, 77 of which are priced below market-rate. New Yorkers earning 60 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply to be considered for current and future vacancies; prices range from $1,056/month for studios to $2,849/month for two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Landmarked East Harlem public library reopens after $34M renovation

All photos courtesy of New York Public Library/Jonathan Blanc unless otherwise noted

October 25, 2024

Landmarked East Harlem public library reopens after $34M renovation

After a three-year $34.4 million renovation, a landmarked New York Public Library branch in East Harlem is reopening this month. Designed by McKim, Mead & White in 1904, the building at 224 East 125th Street had fallen into disrepair and had been closed since 2021. The revamped building will celebrate its reopening on October 30 at 10 a.m.
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First major exhibit dedicated to Shirley Chisholm opening at Museum of the City of New York

Chisholm on the Congressional Rules Committee, A. Dev O’Neill and K. Jewell, 1970s, Reproduction, Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries

June 5, 2024

First major exhibit dedicated to Shirley Chisholm opening at Museum of the City of New York

A new exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York honors the life and legacy of pioneering politician and Brooklyn native Shirley Chisholm. Opening on June 14, "Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100" is the first-ever major museum presentation dedicated to Chisholm; it coincides with the 100th anniversary of her birth. Located on the museum's second-floor North Gallery, the exhibition explores the life of the late trailblazer, the first Black woman elected to Congress, through historical artifacts, photographs, art, and archival footage.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC reveals design for esplanade and new 107th Street pier in East Harlem

Aerial rendering of proposed 107th Street Pier. Courtesy of NYCEDC

April 16, 2024

NYC reveals design for esplanade and new 107th Street pier in East Harlem

Plans to rehabilitate a 20-block section of bike and pedestrian paths and reconstruct a decrepit pier in East Harlem are moving forward. In a presentation to Manhattan Community Board 11 this month, the city unveiled its preliminary design to rebuild and rehabilitate the East River Esplanade between East 94th and East 107th Streets and East 117th and East 124th Streets, as well as construct a new pier at 107th Street, as Streetsblog first reported. Construction is expected to begin on the $294 million project in the later part of next year and wrap up in 2027.
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276 units available at affordable Passive House in East Harlem, from $498/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 13, 2023

276 units available at affordable Passive House in East Harlem, from $498/month

Applications are being accepted for 276 mixed-income units at the world's largest fully affordable Passive House in East Harlem. Located at 50 East 112th Street, the building is the second phase of Sendero Verde, a mixed-use project with affordable housing, outdoor space, a school, community space, and retail. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 60, and 110 percent of the area median income, or between $19,646 for a single person and $192,610 for a household of seven, can apply for the units, which range from $498/month studios to $3,169/month for three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

See gingerbread recreations of iconic NYC landmarks

The American Museum of Natural History by Loretta Bricchi Lee. All photos by Brad Farwell for MCNY

November 9, 2023

See gingerbread recreations of iconic NYC landmarks

These gingerbread creations take the holiday cookie tradition to the next level. The Museum of the City of New York is hosting its second annual gingerbread competition, Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off, featuring the work of professional and independent bakers tasked with creating festive displays depicting New York City icons in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. The installation will be on view at the museum from November 10 through January 15 and visitors are invited to vote for their favorites.
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Events & Things To Do

This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

Richard Estes. M Train on Route to Manhattan Approaches the Williamsburg Bridge. 1995. Copyright Richard Estes, courtesy Louis K. Meisel Gallery

May 25, 2023

This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

A new exhibition shares more than a century's worth of creativity inspired by New York City. The Museum of the City of New York's "This is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture" highlights what NYC has meant to generations of artists, musicians, writers, storytellers, and filmmakers who have captured the essence of the five boroughs through their work. The exhibition, which celebrates the museum's centennial is on view at the museum at 1220 Fifth Avenue from Wednesday, May 26 through June 21, 2024.
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Events & Things To Do

$599K Harlem condo has penthouse views and outdoor space, without the penthouse price

Photo credit: DDreps for The Corcoran Group

March 29, 2023

$599K Harlem condo has penthouse views and outdoor space, without the penthouse price

Atop the Style Condominium at 51 East 131st Street, a 21st-century addition to the vibrant East Harlem neighborhood, this one-bedroom condominium is a compact top-floor residence with private outdoor space and renovated interiors. Asking $599,000, the 658-square-foot home has unobstructed penthouse views and light to match, without the penthouse price.
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For $6.75M, this park-facing East Side condo is for sale or rent, with 10 rooms to use however you wish

Photos courtesy of Fox Residential

November 29, 2022

For $6.75M, this park-facing East Side condo is for sale or rent, with 10 rooms to use however you wish

Options are many in this 3,225-square-foot condo on Manhattan's Museum Mile between East Harlem and Carnegie Hill; the combination of two apartments resulted in a collection of rooms that work as bedrooms (as many as six), playrooms or entertaining spaces, depending on your needs. What you can't change: a coveted spot on Central Park and amazing panoramic views of the park and Conservatory Gardens. Asking $6,750,000, this sun-filled home can be found in the Emery Roth-designed 1920s building at 1200 Fifth Avenue known as The Park View. Not ready for a commitment? You can rent the pretty pre-war home for $25,000/month.
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East Harlem street where Cicely Tyson grew up has been renamed after the pioneering actress

Photo of Cicely Tyson via Wikimedia; Google Street View of East 101st Street, Map data © Google

September 16, 2022

East Harlem street where Cicely Tyson grew up has been renamed after the pioneering actress

A stretch of street in East Harlem was renamed Cicely Tyson Way in honor of the late trailblazing actress. Tyson, who grew up in a fifth-floor railroad flat at 178 East 101st Street, died last January at the age of 96. Throughout her 70-year award-winning career, Tyson defied racial stereotypes and became famous for her depiction of strong Black women in theater and film.
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Celebrities

New MCNY exhibit explores what New Yorkers eat and why it matters

Mary Mattingly, Biosphere, 2015. Courtesy of Mary Mattingly, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de la Habana

September 8, 2022

New MCNY exhibit explores what New Yorkers eat and why it matters

A new exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York dives into the "powerful connections" between New Yorkers and food. Called Food in New York: Bigger Than the Plate, the indoor-outdoor show features the work of more than 20 artists that explores the city's food systems and the challenges that come with it. Food in New York opens on September 16.
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Events & Things To Do

Apply for 268 mixed-income apartments at new 19-story East Harlem tower, from $625/month

Rendering courtesy of S9 Architecture

May 27, 2022

Apply for 268 mixed-income apartments at new 19-story East Harlem tower, from $625/month

About three years since breaking ground, One East Harlem has launched a housing lottery for 268 affordable apartments. Designed by S9 Architecture, the 19-story tower is located at 201 East 125th Street and contains over 400 units of housing, an affordable grocery store, and a new home for the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 40, 50, 100, and 165 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from a $625/month studio to a $3,142/month three-bedroom.
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Affordable Housing

51 middle-income rentals available in East Harlem, from $2,200/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 12, 2022

51 middle-income rentals available in East Harlem, from $2,200/month

Applications are currently being accepted for 51 middle-income units at a new residential development in Upper Manhattan. Located at 1998 Second Avenue in East Harlem, the 12-story building gives residents access to a host of amenities and the Upper East Side's wide variety of restaurants and stores. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income-- or between $75,429 annually for a single person and $215,150 for a family of seven--are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $2,200/month studios to $3,750/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

In Harlem, a treasure-filled corner condo with a huge outdoor terrace asks $4M

All photos by Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

March 16, 2022

In Harlem, a treasure-filled corner condo with a huge outdoor terrace asks $4M

What's old is new again at this totally renovated corner apartment in the center of Harlem. On the 27th floor of the high-rise condominium at 1485 Fifth Avenue, this three-bedroom home is currently a showcase of antiques and artwork. Custom built-in lighted shelving throughout the apartment displays collected treasures in the most elegant way possible. Asking $3,995,000, this Uptown aerie offers breathtaking Manhattan views through walls of windows and a layout that maximizes privacy.
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Pablo Delano, “Dancers at Dominican Day Parade,” Midtown, 1994-1995. Museum of the City of New York, 20211.15.15. Courtesy of Pablo Delano

February 11, 2022

New MCNY photo exhibition is a love letter to NYC

A photo installation that captures the essence of New York City is opening this month. The Museum of the City of New York will open the new exhibition, "Celebrating the City: Recent Acquisitions from the Joy of Giving Something," on February 18. The series features roughly 100 photographs selected from more than 1,000 that were recently gifted to the East Harlem museum by Joy of Giving Something, a non-profit organization devoted to photography.
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Events & Things To Do

Lottery opens for 324 units at world’s largest affordable Passive House, from $388/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 29, 2021

Lottery opens for 324 units at world’s largest affordable Passive House, from $388/month

A housing lottery opened this week for more than 300 apartments at the world's largest fully affordable Passive House. Sendero Verde is a mixed-use project currently under construction in East Harlem that includes affordable housing, community space, retail, outdoor gardens, and a school. As part of phase one, the 100 percent affordable building designed by Handel Architects is now accepting applications for 324 mixed-income units. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $388/month studios to $2,524/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Apply for 27 middle-income loft apartments in East Harlem, from $1,700/month

Image courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

October 27, 2021

Apply for 27 middle-income loft apartments in East Harlem, from $1,700/month