Tag Archives: West Harlem

Columbia University expansion survery overview

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About a month ago I put out a survey both on my Facebook and Twitter asking for people to express their opinions on the Columbia University expansion throughout Manhattanville in West Harlem. I heard from Harlem locals that the expansion was causing a lot of small businesses to relocate or shut down completely. Many also feared that whatever resources Columbia could get with the expansion wouldn’t be shared with the community.

So, I put out a survey to see how others feel. In the survey, I asked two questions. The first question was what could be the worst effect of the expansion. The second question was what could be the best effect. This is the rundown:

The first question possible answers were:

Both had an “other” option for people to add in other possibilities. The general outcome:

1. For the first question, three out of the five people who responded chose “all of the above.” This tells me that with a project as big as the Columbia expansion, many feel that it is inevitable that there will be a plethora of effects, not just one. However, the other two people who answered were split, with one choosing the option that West Harlem will lose its originality/mom and pop shops and the other one choosing the option that there could be increased tension with locals and newcomers.

2. For the second question, there was a another three to five split with answers, and many believed the project will bring new employment opportunities to the area. The other two chose the all of the above option. Overall, I think many believe that the opportunities may be outweighing the negative effects that could come out of the expansion. It seems that the possibility of more employment is better than the risk of tension or the loss of old shops.

3. Another way I got responses were by comments on Facebook and by continuing to ask the general public in the West Harlem community.

A. Facebook comments: Three people responded and all believed that overall the expansion will give the area a better face value, however will increase the overall cost of living which would be trouble for locals who may not be able to stay.

B. Many locals say that this project is just another example of how gentrification works. The overall feeling is mixed: many like and appreciate that new businesses are coming to the area so that Harlem locals don’t have to travel downtown to shop. However, the main concern is the increase in living costs for the people who have lived in Harlem almost all their lives and the idea that the people of Harlem don’t have much of a say with what changes are made in their community.

 

In the end I felt I got better responses on the issue by physically asking locals rather than relying on social media, since many people who responded via social media aren’t even from Harlem.

 

Cedric’s bistro newest restaurant in Oktoberfest

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West Harlem participated in its second annual Oktoberfest on Oct. 25 with a restaurant and bar crawl featuring some of the more upscale restaurants in the area. For $20, participants were able to stroll from bar to bar and enjoy the specials available. The restaurants in the crawl included 5 & Diamond, Harlem Tavern and 67 Orange. Cedric, the French bistro that opened on Aug. 15, 2011, was the newest restaurant in the mix and another addition to the trending restaurant scene booming in West Harlem.

At Cedric’s bistro, the DJ was playing a mix of R&B with a hip hop beat. Cedric Lecendre, the owner, discussed his excitement for being a part of the event which he said was a great way for the restaurant to mesh with the neighborhood.

Rashawn Austin, a resident of Harlem since she was three and photographer was at the event and discussed Oktoberfest. Kysha Harris, Harlem native and food columnist at Amsterdam News was also at the event and discussed the restaurant trends in West Harlem.

[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/383/files/2011/10/CEDRICcedric1.mp3|titles=CEDRICcedric] [audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/383/files/2011/10/SHAWNAcedric2.mp3|titles=SHAWNAcedric] [audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/383/files/2011/10/KEYSHAcedric2.mp3|titles=KEYSHAcedric] [audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/383/files/2011/10/AMBIANCEcedric1.mp3|titles=AMBIANCEcedric]

Bringing Sexy Back: Restaurants giving West Harlem a little something-something

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In light of Uptown Restaurant Month, it’s easy to remember the originality, history and prominence associated with Harlem eating. One of the first restaurant that come to mind is Sylvia’s- “Queen of soul food,” which has been around since the 1960s.

Now, West Harlem in particular is trending in the restaurant scene, and is becoming a hot spot for culinary expertise such as with Chef Marcus Samuelsson from the Zagat-rated restaurant Red Rooster which opened in October 2010. Red Rooster’s prominence inspired the opening of Cedric, a French Bistro on St. Nicholas Ave. and 119th Street. Zagat-rated Cedric first opened in August 2011. Like Red Rooster, there is an old school charm that collide with a new school renovated feel.

Dard Coaxum, General Manager of Cedric and Harlem native, said that Red Rooster “puts character back in Harlem.” “Harlem is becoming sexy again,” he added.

Two other notable restaurants include bar and grill, and a beer garden Harlem Tavern, which opened in late June 2011, and Food For Life Supreme, which is almost three years old and offers healthy dining, deriving its novelty with its Bio-coffee. Harlem Tavern offers outdoor seating reminiscent of the type of restaurant one would find in downtown Manhattan. Harlem Tavern along with Cedric will be participating in Harlem Oktoberfest with the Bar and Restaurant Crawl on Oct. 25 from 6:00 p.m. to  9:00 p.m. Food For Life Supreme has a more “family” vibe compared to the other three and offers an array of healthier foods such as carrot fries and Bio-coffee, which consists of wheatgrass and bears the slogan “the healthiest coffee in the world.” Food For Life Supreme is the only restaurant that carries it.

As West Harlem changes over time, and in light of Uptown Restaurant Month it keeps its charisma and overall taste in good food with good atmospheres. The following photos are of these four restaurants, which are four examples of the innovativeness and sexiness affiliated with West Harlem.

Red Rooster
Red Rooster
Cedric
Cedric
Cedric
Food For Life Supreme
Food For Life Supreme
Food For Life Supreme
Harlem Tavern
Harlem Tavern

[Show slideshow]

Survey says: Is Columbia Project good or bad for West Harlem?

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Columbia University has been in the process of a major expansion project that will weave the university further into its West Harlem location. The expansion, called The Columbia Project, has been underway since the final public approval was made by the New York State Public Authorities Board in May 2009.

According to the Columbia University site that focuses on the project, the plan will result in 6.8 million or more square feet of space for teaching, support services and underground parking and the growth can also create new jobs. However, one Columbia University site about the expansion explains that negative results would be the closing of an estimated 80 or more businesses and destroy 132 affordable housing units, the influx of Columbia University affiliates to the area could increase housing costs and the new businesses that derive from the expansion could cater more to new residents.

Basically, the expansion most likely will change the original character of West Harlem.

Community Board Manager of district 9 Eutha Prince said that there is practically no commercial space, and with the school expansion, people and businesses are being displaced. “Businesses are closing, there are not as many ‘mom and pop’ shops,” she said.

Let’s face it, New York is crowded enough. Columbia University is already taking on a global expansion, Phase One, to Rio de Janeiro and Nairobi, which is explained more in four separate YouTube videos . There isn’t a lot of room for a well-known school to expand so the neighborhood has to put itself in a position where it would sacrifice small businesses.

However, Columbia University as mentioned before suggests job possibilities, or 6,000 as a result of the expansion. Jobs include administrative assistant jobs, cooks, lab technicians and mechanics, which are open to various ages and skill levels, retired or new to the workforce.

Please fill out the survey to express your thoughts on the pros and cons of this expansion and for me to continue researching possibiities.