125th St. Deemed ‘Great Street of America’

In recognition of what it deemed its “exemplary character, quality, and planning,” the American Planning Association honored Harlem’s 125th Street by naming it one of 10 Great Streets in America.

The APA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for and researches urban, suburban, and community planning, released the results of its first-ever Great Places in America contest last week, naming 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Neighborhoods. Among the other streets chosen were North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, and St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. 125th was the only New York City street to make the cut.

Denny Johnson, public affairs coordinator for the APA, cited 125th Street’s overall ambience as one of the deciding factors, calling it “a unique street with lots of character and an individual signature of its own ... When you’re on 125th Street, you know, ‘this one is something different.’”

The street’s prominent role in the history of black America was another important factor, according to Johnson, especially in light of the legendary Apollo Theater. He added that 125th has shown resilience and has experienced “ups and downs ... there’s something there even if the history hasn’t all been flowers and sunshine.”

Future changes may also be coming to 125th Street in the form of new zoning regulations that would develop “a regional business corridor by stimulating new investment as well as new arts, entertainment and retail activities,” according to a proposal by the Department of City Planning.

The proposed plan, which recently entered the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure phase, would create 2,500 residential units in the area surrounding 125th Street between 2nd Avenue and Broadway, 500 of which are slated to be low-income housing. It also includes a provision for large new developments to dedicate 5 percent of their floor space to furthering Harlem’s arts-and-entertainment culture. Some members of Central Harlem’s Community Board 10 have criticized the city’s zoning plan on the grounds that it would lead to excessive commercialization and exacerbate the trend toward chain retail. CB10 Chairman Neal Clark did not return calls for comment.

Jordan Fraade can be reached at news@columbiaspectator.com.