Push to add to Harlem complex grows

By Welcome to Harlem on Oct 17, 2011

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The owner of Lenox Terrace is intensifying its outreach to tenants to win their approval for its controversial proposal to add about six buildings to a famed, largely rent-regulated complex in Harlem. The move comes as the landlord prepares to submit a rezoning plan for the property.

On Friday, the Olnick Organization put up a Web site and sent mailings to the 1,700 apartments in the six-building complex, boasting of how the plan will add new retail stores, upgrade community facilities, add park space and create 1,100 jobs. Addressing community concerns about the height of the new towers, the proposal now calls for at least one of the new properties to be only four stories. At least one, however, is slated to be 29 stories.

Published reports had said that all the buildings would be between 26 and 28 stories. The existing buildings are all 16 stories, so residents were concerned they would be dwarfed by the additions.

“As we proceed with a plan to update Lenox Terrace, we are continuing to engage our residents in a conversation about how to make improvements so it remains Harlem’s premier residential community for the coming decades,” said Bruce Simon, president of the Olnick Organization in a statement. “Residents’ ideas and passion for the Lenox Terrace community have helped shape our vision for this plan, and we thank them for their efforts.”

Sources said the company plans to submit its proposal to the Department of City Planning in the coming weeks. Winning over the deeply skeptical community is crucial because the plan must pass the City Council, and it typically takes its cues from the local representative.

Councilwoman Inez Dickens shares her constituents’ concerns over how the new buildings would lead to overcrowding and much higher rents that would change the character of the complex, which was once known as the “Jewel of Harlem.” Stretching from Fifth Avenue to Lenox Avenue between West 132 Street to West 135th Street, the complex is home to former Gov. David Paterson and Harlem U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel.

“The councilwoman is concerned that residents be able to stay in the apartments,” said a spokeswoman for Ms. Dickens spokeswoman. “She is concerned that indigenous business be able to afford the retail rents and not just multi-million dollar chains.”

Over the summer, the Olnick Organization gave many presentations to residents, listening to their options and laying out some elements of the plans. Many weren’t happy with what they heard.

“They want to create an upscale community with wealthy people and upscale stores,” said Delsenia Glover, president of the Lenox Terrace Association of Concerned Tenants, who has lived in the complex for 30 years. “We don’t see this as a good thing. They want to kick out the people that made this a good neighborhood.”

Still, Ms. Glover was heartened to hear that some of the buildings are only slated to be four stories.

“Then we may have something to talk about,” she said.

In a statement, an Olnick Organization spokesman said that in the ten meeting the company had with tenants, the majority of the response was positive.