A photo of Armistice Day in Harlem. The photo is taken looking up Lenox Avenue (you can see the 134th Street sign and the subway entrance on the crowded sidewalk).
One lone soldier appears in the crowd.
25th Precinct’s Community Council Meeting
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL,
We made it to 2023! New beginnings……..
I just wanted to remind you that our next Council meeting is scheduled for:
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 @ 6:00PMat the 25th Precinct120 East 119th StreetNew York, NY 10035 We look forward to seeing you there for this month’s conversation. Our guest for this month is TBD.Many thanks to all of you for your dedication to contributing to making our community safe.
Not Sure How To Get Rid Of Your Stuff? Paint, batteries, electronics—even clothing—there’s always something we don’t need taking up valuable space. Some items can live a second life with someone else, or may need to be safely disposed. We can help!
If you didn’t receive our June mailer highlighting all our disposal programs, you can download a PDF.
It’s available in English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Yiddish.
Park Avenue Metro-North Viaduct Replacement Contract Awarded
The MTA will be awarding the Design-Build contract for the Park Avenue Viaduct Phase 1 Project to Halmar International, following yesterday’s MTA Board Meeting. The Phase 1 Project will replace the existing viaduct in its entirety from the north side of E. 115th Street to the south side of E. 123rd Street along Park Avenue in East Harlem.
Halmar International was selected by the MTA for providing the overall best value solution that also minimized impacts to the surrounding community. Proposals were evaluated against several criteria such as their plan and ability to minimize impacts to the public, including the surrounding businesses, residences, and community gathering facilities, as well as the pedestrian and vehicular traffic through and adjacent to the project, while also minimizing impact to Metro-North Customers, and the Harlem–125th Street station. The project is expected to reduce local noise and vibration levels compared to those from the existing viaduct by utilizing modern design and materials.
Additionally, as part of the Project Labor Agreement, the MTA and Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) are working together to provide meaningful training and job opportunities for the local residents of Harlem. With partners in the Apprenticeship Readiness Collective (ARC), the MTA and BCTC commit to providing pre-apprenticeship training for Harlem residents that have real pathways into union jobs created by the construction of the project.
MTA and Halmar International will work together to uphold MTA’s commitment to minimize disruption to the surrounding community and deliver the project as safely and quickly as possible.
We currently anticipate construction to begin in the second quarter of 2023, and expect it to be complete in 2026. The community can also expect regular communication, during construction, including regular updates and at key milestones on the project’s webpage https://new.mta.info/project/park-avenue-viaduct and dedicated email address ([email protected]) to field concerns.
We appreciate your continued partnership on this as we deliver this vital infrastructure project as safely and efficiently as possible.
Thank you,
Park Avenue Viaduct Project Team
The Park Avenue Viaduct is an elevated steel structure built in 1893 (128 years ago) which carries four Metro-North Railroad tracks above Park Avenue in East Harlem.
98% of all Metro-North trains use the viaduct
750 trains and 220,000 customers use the viaduct on a typical (Pre-Covid) weekday
The viaduct served 5.3 million customers at Harlem-125 Street Station in 2019
Harlem-125th Street Station is 3rd busiest in Metro-North system (PreCovid)
DSNY will collect clean Christmas trees (and wreaths!) from Friday, January 6, 2023 through Saturday, January 14, 2023 — weather permitting.
Remember, Christmas trees and wreaths are collected separately from your trash and recycling. They are scouted at the curb to make efficient collection routes, so yours may not be picked up immediately.
Before your Christmas trees and wreaths can be collected, you MUST:
Remove ALL lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stands. Remove stands from trees and metal frames and wires from wreaths.
Make sure they are not wrapped in ANY plastic or placed inside a plastic bag.
Leave them at the curb between the designated dates (January 6 – 14).
Trees and wreaths are chipped, mixed with leaves, and recycled into rich compost for NYC’s parks, institutions, and community gardens.
Artificial Trees
Donate or sell used artificial trees in good condition at donateNYC.
You can also take apart your tree to recycle the base and trunk (pole) with your metal, glass, plastic and cartons. Remove all lights, ornaments and tinsel before placing at the curb.
Use evergreen boughs and branches from your Christmas tree as mulch to enrich the soil in your garden or street tree beds. Just cut off the smaller branches of your Christmas tree and remove the twigs from evergreen boughs. Lay three to four inches of these trimmings over the bare soil around street trees or in your garden. After removing the branches for mulch, you can take your tree to Mulchfestor leave it out for our collection.
Charlie Brown and Linus pick out a scrawny tree in A Charlie Brown Christmas, a TV special based on the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. The beloved show is airing for the 50th year Tuesda
Mulchfest
Remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and stands from natural trees and take them to Mulchfestfor free chipping.
The site of the former church at Madison/126th Street is being promoted as an investment opportunity. No word on the price.
Prime 80,000+ ZFA Multifamily Development Opportunity Vested in 421-a Corner of Madison Avenue and East 126th Street
Newmark is pleased to present the opportunity to acquire a prime development site located at 1975 Madison Avenue (“1975 Madison”, the “Site”, “Project”, or “Development”), a proposed eight-story, 93-unit luxury multi-family rental or residential condominium complex with approximately 35 underground parking spaces and approximately 3,500 square feet of premier community facility commercial space, in a rapidly improving, transit-oriented location. The Site offers potential investors a compelling opportunity to develop a boutique, luxury residential property in a prime location with high demand and the potential for significant capital appreciation.
Vested in Affordable New York / “421-a” Providing a 35-Year Property Tax Abatement•The Project satisfied all requirements for the Affordable New York / “421-a” tax abatement program in May 2022•Extensive evidence of satisfying these conditions is available•The Project is thus eligible for the program that expired in June 2022 and will enjoy a 100% property tax abatement for the first 25 years of occupancy and a partial abatement for the subsequent 10 years•As one of the city’s last projects eligible under the expired program, 1975 Madison Avenue will enjoy a significant financial advantage to long term holders of the asset•As of today, no replacement program exists replacing 421-a, further constraining the supply of multifamily housing Shovel Ready 1975 Madison is ready to commence construction with:•Approved plans•Advanced entitlements•Required access Multi-Family Development Site in Manhattan, Facing Critical Housing Shortage•Demand to live in Manhattan remains robust with rents achieving new high prices, including in Harlem•The Project provides an opportunity to access one of the world’s most desirable investment markets that faces continued housing supply constraints•The tax advantages secured by the Project offer significant financial advantages, particularly to long-term holders of the asset If you are interested in acquiring this prime development opportunity, please sign and return the attached Confidentiality Agreement and the full offering memorandum will be forwarded to you. Ronald A. Solarz Executive Managing Director O (212) 372-2306 | [email protected] M (917) 545-8862
Issa Abbassi Director O (212) 372-2221 | [email protected] M (917) 455-7373
Metropolitan Hospital and Nursing Burnout and Shortages
Our district leader William Smith also serves as the chair of the Metropolitan Hospital’s Community Advisory Board. In that capacity, William writes of the dire need for adequate compensation for Metropolitan’s hard-working nursing staff so Metropolitan can deliver world-class care.
If you’re experiencing symptoms and don’t know what you have, now you can go to any of dozens of mobile “Test to Treat” sites around NYC and get tested for covid, flu & rsv AND if you need it get an Rx for paxlovid or tamflu *on the spot*.
Tomorrow night at 7:30, all are welcome on East 126th Street to join in the holiday spirit, build community, and celebrate all that we have to be thankful for.
Tomorrow, December 16th. 7:30 PM.
57 East 126th Street.
Ummmm?
As seen on Madison Avenue. A New Jersey plate headed southbound on Madison Avenue.
125th Street BID Opposes Legal Weed Shop Across from the Apollo
The 125th Street BID is opposing opening the state’s first legal cannabis shop across from the Apollo. The BID president said she was not opposed to a cannabis store, just opposed to that prominent location when the community is working so hard to address other stressors on businesses – loitering, trash, shoplifting, mental health, open-air dealing/using, etc.
If you’d like to sign their petition opposing this location, the Change.org petition is here:
Here’s your chance to celebrate with the neighbors you know, meet some of the ones you don’t, and finally introduce yourself to a few who you’ve seen, but haven’t connected with yet…
All welcome. Feel free to pass this invite on to a neighbor who you think would be interested.
The goal here is to build community by creating the links that make us all stronger, healthier, safer, better informed, and connected.
HNBA’s Holliday gatherings are always welcoming, filled with food and good cheer, and we’ll be thrilled to have you join us. Just sign up below, and let us know what dish or drink you can bring and share.
The gathering will be at Studio 125 – a new event space where the Serengeti Tea House used to be on 125th between Madison and 5th Avenue – 22 East 125th Street.
While the phrase ‘blank check’ may live on, increasing numbers of young people have very little experience with physical checks. When I saw this pristine blank check from the Harlem and Spuyten Duyvil Navigation Co. for sale on Ebay, I was taken by the partially prefilled-out date: “187_”
The image on the left-hand side of the check is also wonderful. It shows the High Bridge when it was exclusively a masonry structure. (A steel span now has replaced the center arches.). You can also see the bucolic Bronx, and yes, a steamship with a paddlewheel, plying the Harlem River.
The traditional Harlem Holiday Lights celebration, a production coordinated by the 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with Manhattan Community Boards 9 and 10, as well as Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association, is focusing on a call for Unity and Peace in the Community, as the theme of the 29th year of this celebration.
Originally scheduled for Nov 15th, due to inclement weather, it will now take place TODAY, on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
Health Department trucks will spray pesticides in Harlem and East Harlem on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.
In the event of bad weather, spraying will take place on Sept. 19.
The Health Department will also spray the area:
Bordered by Spuyten Duyvil Creek to the North;
Harlem River, East 102 Street, Park Avenue to the East;
West and East 57 Streets to the South;
Hudson River to the West.
Throughout the duration of the spraying, the Health Department will use very low concentrations of Anvil® 10+10, Duet®. The risks of pesticides are low to people and pets, but some people who are sensitive to spray ingredients may experience short-term eye or throat irritation, or a rash. People with respiratory conditions may also be affected.
The Health Department encourages New York City residents to mosquito-proof their homes and take precautions when spending time outdoors, and reminds them that the best way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate any standing water. Use an approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (not for children under three), or products that contain the active ingredient IR3535.
New Yorkers are encouraged to eliminate any standing water from your home and make sure your gutters are clean and draining properly. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs and should be empty or covered if not in use, and drain water that collects in pool covers. Make sure windows in your home have screens, and replace any damaged or ripped screens.
For more information about West Nile virus, call 311 or visit nyc.gov.
New Food Baazar Has Opened
East Harlem’s Triangle now has a new supermarket. Food Bazaar has opened up at the corner of 3rd and 125th Street. Take the escalator up and check out the introductory deals.
