One45 development leaves community leaders asking questions at rally

On November 20, Harlem community members and activists, led by Defend Harlem with several faith and political leaders, gathered at the corner of 145th Street and Lenox Avenue to demand that One45 for Harlem, the new housing development set to be built there, be made affordable to Harlem residents.

- By JASON PONTEROTTO Special to the AmNews

Former City Councilmember Kristen Richardson Jordan, Tanesha Grant, and Dr. Dedrick Blue share remarks at One45 affordability rally. (Jason Ponterotto photo)

(Jason Ponterotto)

Specifically, they called for a housing subsidy so residents making between $34,320 to $70,000 can afford to live there.The push to ensure affordability of the project has been ongoing for more than four years. One45 is expected to influence the rates of future developments in the area and Harlem overall, which organizers say makes the decision to make it affordable so critical.

"You have the money to afford affordable housing," said Rev. Dedrick Blue, ministerial director of the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, in his remarks directed at city leaders. "It should not only be for those who earn over $70,000, but minimum wage workers who earn between $35,000 and $65,000 ought to have a place to live in Harlem."

One of the urgent issues protesters have pointed to is the current plan, approved by City Councilmember Yusef Salaam, for only 30% of the building's 1,000 units to be affordable, but also the rate of affordability, which goes by the Average Median Income (AMI) and would only work for people making $120,000 a year, as opposed to the $45,000 that residents in the area's ZIPcode 10037 actually make.