Category Archives: real estate

Is The Wall Street Journal in love with Harlem?

Jul 19, 2010 @ 12:18

By HarlemGal
I can’t help but notice how the Rupert Murdoch business publication called The Wall Street Journal keeps writing and profiling Harlem in their real estate section in a very positive light! It just happened again over the weekend with a highly complimentary article titled Costco, Condos Accent Today’s East Harlem, which is also known as Spanish Harlem.
To my knowledge, this is about the third or fourth positive article in this conservative publication about Harlem this summer. Based on those brief statistics, I have to ask: is The Wall Street Journal in love with Harlem, a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, long known as the black capital of the world? Let’s recap to answer that question.
About a month ago, Austin2Harlem told us about the raving WSJ article on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Then we see ongoing coverage about the Emmitt Smith hotel project. Up next was a somewhat sympathetic article about a condo titled Getting Deals Done. This talked about the unique structure called Gateway Condominiums. And now in July, we see a glowing article about East Harlem by the Journal saying it “has come alive.” These are the printed words you will now see in what I believe to be one of the most conservative business papers on the planet. I am not knocking their coverage of Harlem. I am just saying I am shocked that this is now happening and that I somewhat agree with some of the things mentioned by the Journal about Harlem, which leads me to answer my own question with an enthusiastic YES!, I do think The Wall Street Journal is madly in love with Harlem. Can you blame them?

Gateway Condo in Harlem sheds part of scaffolding curtain

May 14, 2010 @ 10:52
By HarlemGal
If you were wondering what’s behind those scaffolding curtains drapping over Gateway Condominiums located at 2098 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Central Harlem, we now have a preview! Part of the curtains are down. I believe it came down yesterday. I guess the developer wants us Harlemites to see that the center part of the construction is almost finished. I use the words “almost” cause I am hoping the center building will be painted to match the other buildings it is joined next to.
The center building that we can all see now was a vacant lot. There’s not too many of those lots left at the base of Central Harlem. Vacant lots are slowly vanishing.
As for Gateway Condo, let’s hope the other part of the curtain comes down soon from the part of the building that’s sitting on top. Last week, I saw a giant crane taking big items to the very top of the building. The construction worker on site said they were trying to cover the 11th floor.
Given all this recent activity, let’s just hope those efforts continue so that the project can be finished!

Top ten reasons on why Harlem is one of the best places to live in New York City

Apr 14, 2010 @ 7:19

By HarlemGal
This is a blog that writes about all things positive about Harlem. We tell our stories from “nuestros corazones.” Unfortunately, we don’t have data, grids or a fancy magazine to back up our stories. We only have words, life experiences and a love for all things Harlem. And what better time to use these descriptions and tools than right now-especially given the recent edition of New York Magazine.

To profess our reasons on why we believe Harlem is one of the best places to live in New York City, we created our own Top Ten List. Sorry Dave. We have to borrow a page right out of your playbook to make our point. Here we go….

Top Ten Reasons on why Harlem is one of the best places to live in New York City:

10. Harlem is almost 400 years old. And guest what?….we will still be around for another 400 years! Isn’t lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn suppose to sink under water?

9. Harlem is very green. We are near several three parks: Central Park North, Jackie Robinson Park, Morningside Park, Riverside Park, Riverbank State Park and Marcus Garvey Park. Harlem also has St. Nicholas Park, which a reader told us “is one of the most historical (along with Hamilton Grange, City College, Hamilton Heights and Striver’s Row near).” Shouldn’t we count Riverside Park too? Then that would be four parks we are near.

8. We are home to the highest institution of higher learning in the State of New York, Columbia University. Park Slope kids will be living in Harlem when they get older and head to Columbia.

7. We have many different neighborhoods and some of their names are sweet, like sugar, or romantic as Spanish.

6. We are one of the happiest according to a recent survey. To tell the truth, we are very happy in life. However, we are not happy with New York Magazine right now….

5. Because you can have a date with red, not Red Butler, but red as in red velvet cake at Lee Lee’s Baked Goods on 118th Street. Delicious!

4. We have famous songs about or that mention Harlem that are as diverse as its people. Harlem River Quiver is by Duke Ellington. Angel of Harlem is by U2. Spanish Harlem Incident is by Bob Dylan and Across 110th Street is by Bob Womack.

3. We have some serious wide sidewalks where there is plenty of elbow room for you and your baby stroller. Parts of the Village are like walking through a football field.

2. We have the famous Apollo Theater. Need we say more.

1. And the number reason on why Harlem is one of the best places to live in New York City, because This blog is going to go negative for once on its blog. We don’t believe or give a flying hoot about Nate Silver and his recent findings. Politics done right does not necessarily mean neighborhoods done right!

Nate, come up and visit us any time. We will show you all the great things Harlem has to offer!

UPDATE: 2080 FDB in Harlem construction continues

Mar 10, 2010 @ 12:36

By HarlemGal

The construction site we first told you about awhile back, continues to make building progress in the lot right next to 67 Orange and two spaces away from the new restaurant opening soon on FDB! Today, at 2080 FDB they had the gates wide open! From the pics, they drilled fairly deep. It appears they are placing layers of concrete down along with those finder steal poles!

There goes another vacant lot to condos on FDB!.  A lot is happening on and around this little blvd of ours in Harlem!

Harlem condo receives FHA approval, Park Central taking calls

Feb 5, 2010 @ 0:17
By HarlemGal

There seems to be  plenty of condo activity happening along our favorite boulevard in Harlem, i.e. Frederick Douglass Blvd!

We received notice, along with every other site, that 2280 FDB, a new residential development in Harlem, has been FHA approved. Yeah!  Good for them.

Then as you walk south, you will see a new condo being built right on the intersection of West 121st Street and St. Nicholas and FDB (triangle intersection). This space is now getting dressed with glass.

And then a few more blocks down, you will see that the netting has come down on the Park Central Condo and a phone number is posted for those that want to inquire.

Those few blocks along FDB from 119th to 123rd are shaping up to be very nice. And of course, those that decide to move to this area of Harlem are expected to have a new cafe close by called Triangle Cafe. Nice!

Occupants seen in Adam Clayton Powell/Central Park North corner building in Harlem?

Dec 14, 2009 @ 11:50
By HarlemGal
A reader recently informed us that folks have been seen moving into the northeast corner building on Adam Clayton Powell and Central Park North. I went by there today and there are signs of occupancy of life in the building. There are blinds hanging inside a couple of apartments.
We are guessing that this building is not offering market rate apartments since there has been no outdoor for sale sign and another reader commenting that they heard it was an HPD building! Whatever the case may be,
we noted awhile back how this location is primo! Most of the apartments have park views! Nice!

Harlem’s Frederick Douglass Blvd gaining another restaurant

Oct 26, 2009 @ 0:03

HarlemCondoLife

By HarlemGal
American cuisine will be offered in the space pictured above and the chef creating and serving up those meals will bring experience from Eleven Madison and Chanterelle, according to the co-owner of this new restaurant space. This new restaurant will be located on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 112th and 113th Street. The opening date and name of the place are not ready to be disclosed yet, however  the co-owner stressed “hopefully soon, very soon!” Of course, HarlemCondoLife will keep you posted on the details!

HarlemCondoLife

With this restaurant coming soon, along with the anticipated opening of the Italian restaurant on the corner of FDB and 117th Street and recent openings, such as Questan’s, these actions continue to support our predication: FDB, also known as 8th Avenue, is on its way to become Harlem’s restaurant row.

HarlemCondoLife

Doctors, Deli’s and 111 Central Park North in Harlem

Oct 14, 2009 @ 13:39
By HarlemGal
I walked to the 2/3 subway stop today at 110th Street and Central Park North and noticed half of the retail space is gone at 111 Central Park North. HarlemCondoLife told you about Doctor Diego moving in to that space, and there had been a lot of chatter online about a McDonalds going there and Subway. Well, we know a Subway franchise got it’s way and a deli. I guess the tenents/owners in 111CPN were able to say “no way Jose” to the golden arches. If that is in fact true, as a homeowner in Harlem I am very happy!

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

New construction underway in Harlem

Sep 28, 2009 @ 7:35
By HarlemGal

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

In June, we posted about how we saw early signs of new construction starting, i.e. the big drill. Well, it looks like it’s official. At 2080 Frederick Douglass Blvd, between 112th and 113th Streets, the permit signs are up and stapled to the plywood! If it’s condos they are building here, it’s a great location in my view.  This lot is two two blocks away from Central Park North and one block from Morningside Heights Park.  Can’t get more green than that – unless they green the roof in the final construction.

Harlem lots are becoming a thing of the past!

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

The New York Times features Central Harlem

Aug 7, 2009 @ 8:53
By HarlemGal
I have been living in Central Harlem for about five years now and when I see a newspaper feature my community I get very excited. I immediately share these types of clips with my family back in the Southwest or friends in Washington, D.C or abroad…and now with you to say “hey, take a look at my home/community in this publication. This is where I live with so many different and interesting people. And I am proud to be a Harlemite.” Enjoy and cheers!

Central Harlem Featured in The NY Times