Marcus Garvey Village to Provide Affordable Housing in West Harlem

NEW YORK CITY—The affordable housing crisis existed prior to the first case of Coronavirus here, but the pandemic has heightened the need in low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods.

Marcus Garvey Village, a new 145,000 square-foot apartment complex, is expected to alleviate some of that need in West Harlem. The planned 3,000 square foot community will offer studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments. The building’s planned 330 units will be split between market rate units and affordable units. In total, the development will provide 168 rental units for low-and-moderate-income residents, with residents’ salaries capped at roughly 80% of the area’s median income, or 77% for a family of three.

Located at 212 West 124^th Street between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue, the complex will be 19 stories high and also include 3,500 square feet of retail space. The project is a joint venture between the West Harlem Development Corp. and Carthage Advisors, a real estate development company.  It is expected to be completed in fall 2021.

The development of Marcus Garvey Village was highlighted at a  panel discussion “Affordable Housing’s Response to the Pandemic” held last month that was hosted by AIA Brooklyn and Pratt Institute. The event organizers warned of the “economic disaster” the pandemic will leave behind, and how the subsequent unemployment and loss of income will “exacerbate” the lack of affordable housing issue.

Body Lawson Associates was selected to as designer and architect for the project.

“As with all our affordable housing designs,” said Victor Body-Lawson, the firm’s architect, “we are using efficient and economical construction approaches to craft an uplifting, sustainable and resilient cornerstone for this urban community.”