Harlem Mall and Harlem Sprawl

Harlem Mall and Harlem sprawl are striking again. It is not necessarily a bad thing that lots of construction is going on in Harlem, but isn't it premised on making $150,000 a year or so. This is in a community where family income hovers around $35,000/year or less. Even if it was $80,000, you can't afford rents over $2,000 a month really, or maybe barely.

So let's just list "the new projects'. Across the river in the South Bronx, the Gateway Mall is slated for 2009, along the Harlem River and the Major Deegan, starting at East 149th St. You have the construction of the East Harlem Auto Mall at East 127th to East 128th st. There is the East Plaza Mall, to have Home Depot and Costco, at 116th St and the East Side Highway.

On the West side, you have Columbia University's projects. You have the land grab around the Apollo theatre area. It seems like this is going to be big box store heaven, but where do the indigenous residents live, if they can't hit the $150,000 a year income?

So, show your Love Harlem Forever and I Love Harlem pride, at the Tee Shirt Queen. Peace and love.