Some thoughts on the destruction of a Harlem landmark...
Andrea R. Roberts, PhD
Associate Professor, Urban & Environmental Planning; Faculty Director, Center for Cultural Landscapes at University of Virginia
This is prompted by the following article:
Harlem's legendary Lenox Lounge is being demolished
So many things went wrong with Lenox Lounge leading to it being slated for demolition. This and other instances of destruction in Harlem and other Black historic enclaves around the country indicate that some serious consciousness raising around historic preservation as a social and economic justice struggle is required around this country; and especially within communities of color. We are stretched thin, but this is a battle inextricably linked to so many others regarding our quality of life and community control. Some reflections on the implications of this tragedy:
1) First, when we've gotten to the demolition permit release stage, its too late. And even if it hasn't been released we are way behind the eight ball here. Some things I want to call to your attention about this and other struggles over places that matter.
2) This place was never landmarked. It was included in a community plan but never officially landmarked. Local protections are what enable us to inhibit demolition. National register designations are nice too, but they don't stop people from getting demo permits approved.
3) The newest owners gutted the structure a few years ago, and made a number of other alterations damaging the building's integrity. Specially, the gutted materials are placed inside a "new" location elsewhere. When you lose integrity and evidence of what makes a place significant, it becomes harder to make the case for landmarking. We have to think about cultural sustainability as community sustainability. What are changes we make today to our buildings (churches, schools, parks, businesses) mean for the long term survival and protection of places that matter?
4) NY NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission should have been forced to move for historic zoning years ago...I find no record of that online.
5) Landmarking and organizing around building protections for places that matter doesn't happen without organizing, showing up to meetings and educating preservation professionals about what they can do in these situations. There is no automatic process that kicks in to protect buildings, blocks, communities. This is an ongoing struggle.
Historic preservation isn't about high style and fetishizing buildings built a hundred years ago by white architects. That lie is destroying communities of color and cedes power to elite preservationists. I would also caution against relying on gatekeepers . Too often their aesthetics and priorities reinforce ideas about what's historic that perpetuate white supremacist history cloaked in respectability politics. This same positionality or ethos silences and erases working class histories in communities of color.
We have to learn that our battles against gentrification, our pursuit of community control, and the right to remain in our communities are inextricably linked to historic preservation of districts, cultural landscapes, and buildings. This means you need to join landmark preservation boards, submit comments to public hearings even if you cannot attend. And always do cross generational work around raising consciousness about places and resources that matter in your communities. This is about more than nostalgia. This about power, control, and resistance.
Archaeologist at Galindo Environmental Consulting
7 年Well-stated and very insightful, thanks Andrea!
Yes, this caused much dismay to me. It has been a staple in the community. The larger reason nothing was done more rigorously with this "landmark/original Harlem Iconic location" is the community churches have a hand in big Harlem development, renovation etc. This piece of property does not have the history, (as a social lounge) that faith based organizations want to support. Not thinking about the true culture of the community, they allowed this property to be lost in senseless passing of the hands without filing 2 simple pieces of paper to keep the demolition from happening. As an urban planner, the core concept of community planning is "community" not relying on the neighborhood CDCs or faith based organizations to do it all, is a little activation that is sparked by people who value the community. The PEOPLE in the neighborhood, starlet's who rep this neighborhood and other activists should have gotten involved and this would not have happened. Saddened by this.... but also motivated to continue reaching out to people who have the ability, power, position and ear to make change in these neighborhoods. A lot of good work has been done, but when a community jewel is lost, the integrity of the original aesthetics of the community is forever changed.