East Harlem

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.
Tour this parkside pad and visualize the options

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.
Details here

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

A lottery is now open for 27 apartments at a new rental building in East Harlem near the East River. Located at 2269 First Avenue, the building, known as East River Lofts, offers unique homes with loft areas and a long list of amenities. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income–between $58,286 annually for a one-person household and $167,570 annually for a five-person household–can apply for units that range from $1,700/month studios to two-bedrooms for $2800/month.
Find out how to apply

Affordable Housing

Enter a lottery for 7 affordable co-ops in East Harlem, available to buy for just $209K

152 East 116th Street, second from right. Photo © Ondel Hylton/CityRealty

August 26, 2021

Enter a lottery for 7 affordable co-ops in East Harlem, available to buy for just $209K

By Dana Schulz

An affordable housing lottery has opened for seven income-restricted HDFC co-ops in East Harlem. The two-bedroom apartments, located at 152 East 116th Street, are available to those earning 90 percent of the area median income, which correlates to a two-person household earning between $70,672 and $85,950 annually up to a five-person household earning between $70,672 and $116,010. The estimated sale price of the units is $208,854 and those selected will have to put a minimum of three percent down.
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Affordable Housing

600 affordable homes and new Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center coming to East Harlem

Rendering of Timbale Terrace courtesy of Lantern Organization, Mega Development, Urban Architectural Initiatives, HPD

August 16, 2021

600 affordable homes and new Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center coming to East Harlem

Nearly 600 affordable homes and a new performing arts center are planned for two sites in East Harlem, the New York City Department of Housing and Preservation announced Friday. The projects include a 330-unit residential building with a new arts center for the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance and a 250-unit development that will have an expanded East Harlem Multi-Service Center. The projects are among the first major developments under the East Harlem rezoning, which was approved in 2017.
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Photo credit: NOISE

March 29, 2021

This $2,662/month apartment at Bjarke Ingels’ Harlem rental has robotic furniture

By Dana Schulz

East Harlem rental The Smile is noteworthy for a lot of things--its design by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a fitness center with spa-like amenities, and the rooftop complete with a plunge pool, multiple whirlpools, and an outdoor movie theater. And now, a handful of its units have further bragging rights, as they've been outfitted with a modular furniture system by Bumblebee Spaces. Using a robotic system that's affixed to the ceiling, the bed, desk, and storage elements can all be easily summoned or stowed-away into the ceiling. The unit is actually asking $3,550 a month, but with four months free on a 16-month lease, the net effective rent is $2,662.
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Distinctive Homes

For the first time, East Harlem’s exclusive Rao’s is offering delivery

Photo courtesy of Thrillist

December 14, 2020

For the first time, East Harlem’s exclusive Rao’s is offering delivery

Noncelebrity New Yorkers will finally be able to taste the iconic Italian food of Rao's, long considered the city's most exclusive restaurant. As part of a joint program led by culture brand Thrillist and ghost kitchen operations company Zuul, the East Harlem institution will offer delivery of its signature dishes for the first time ever. As part of the program, ten New York City restaurants will lead a two-week chef residency with limited-edition menu items available for takeout and delivery.
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Food & Dining

See inside Bjarke Ingels’ new Harlem rental The Smile, with apartments from $2,056/month

Photo courtesy of NOISE

November 10, 2020

See inside Bjarke Ingels’ new Harlem rental The Smile, with apartments from $2,056/month

Living in a starchitect-designed apartment building is now slightly more attainable. The Smile, a new rental tower in East Harlem designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, has officially opened. The 11-story tower at 158 East 126th Street, named for its grin-like shape, contains 233 apartments, 70 of which are affordable. Leasing kicked off in September, with pricing for the market-rate rentals starting at roughly $2,056/month. New photos released this week take us inside the minimalist model residences and the impressive amenity package that is tailored to those working from home, including a co-working studio and a rooftop with a plunge pool, three whirlpools, and an outdoor movie theater.
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250-name waitlist opens for barely affordable units at East Harlem rental

Photo of 111 East 115th in August 2017, via CityRealty

June 4, 2020

250-name waitlist opens for barely affordable units at East Harlem rental

By Dana Schulz

When we wrote about the initial affordable housing lottery at 111 East 115th back at the beginning of 2018, we questioned how these "affordable" apartments provided any financial relief when they were, in some cases, even more expensive than the market-rate units. The same conundrum holds true now, as the East Harlem rental has just opened up a 250-name waitlist for those earning 130 percent of the area median income. The apartments include $2,253 - $2,675 one-bedrooms and $2,784 - $3,207 two-bedrooms. A recent market-rate one-bedroom rented for $2,575, while a two-bedroom rented for $2,716.
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Affordable Housing

May 21, 2020

70 mixed-income units available at Bjarke Ingels’s East Harlem rental, from $1,023/month

It's your chance to live in an apartment designed by acclaimed architect Bjarke Ingels. A housing lottery for his project at 146 East 126th Street in East Harlem will launch on Friday for 70 income-restricted apartments. Dubbed "The Smile" for its unique curved configuration, the 11-story rental comes with an impressive amenity package, including a rooftop pool, outdoor movie theater, fitness center, and more. New Yorkers earning 60 percent and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,023/month studios to $2,849/month two-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

2,000 spots open on waitlist for middle-income apartments across East Harlem

The building at 1660 Madison is near Central Park’s Conservatory Garden; Photo by Cultivar 413 / Flickr cc

March 12, 2020

2,000 spots open on waitlist for middle-income apartments across East Harlem

A housing lottery is launching to replenish the waitlist for a number of rental buildings in East Harlem. Starting Monday, applications will be accepted for 2,000 spots on a waitlist for buildings at 1890-1990 Lexington Avenue, 1940-1962 First Avenue, 420-455 East 102nd Street, 1295-1309 Fifth Avenue, and 1660 Madison Avenue. New Yorkers earning 150 and 160 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from $1,667/month studios to $3,714/month four-bedroom apartments. Eligible applicants will be randomly selected and placed on the waitlist for future vacancies.
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Affordable Housing

The city introduces a new branding initiative to unite NYC’s public markets

Photo of the Arthur Avenue Retail Market by Leonard J. DeFrancisci via Wikimedia Commons

November 11, 2019

The city introduces a new branding initiative to unite NYC’s public markets