Neighbors tour vacant Harlem building as city finalizes plans

HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) -- There's a lot of activity at a building in Harlem that has been vacant for years.

The city is moving ahead with plans for transitional housing at the building along Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard at West 130th Street.

Neighbors asked for a tour after a community meeting over the weekend. They spoke to PIX11 News after a meeting and walk-through with property representatives.

“I’m walking out of here feeling like there are shenanigans going on in Harlem and we need some answers,” said Tiffany Fulton.

Building records show recent permits for electrical, plumbing and elevator work.

The neighbors aren't giving up the fight for permanent housing based on the income of central Harlem.

Gilda Gillim said she saw new cabinetry and appliances in some apartments that appeared to have been reconfigured.

The community representatives said no cameras were allowed during the walk-through.

It was built as market-rate condos but has been vacant for more than a decade.

Mayor Eric Adams attended the weekend community meeting, and afterward, the city said it would not be a shelter for migrants or asylum seekers.

In a statement to PIX11 News, a spokesperson for the NYC Department of Social Services wrote about the development’s stalled plans.

“Instead of sitting vacant, this site will serve as high-quality transitional housing for long-term New York City families with children experiencing homelessness. We will be working with an experienced not-for-profit provider to help these families stabilize their lives and ultimately move into permanent housing. As we have always done, we will continue to maintain open lines of communication and work closely with the community every step of the way to ensure that we are collaboratively working to provide critical services for our neighbors in need,” wrote the spokesperson.

Neighbors said they will keep working for permanent housing options with realistic income levels for Harlem residents.

The city also said that’s a priority and reported that it has increased permanent housing placements from shelters by 17% during the last fiscal year.

An emergency action to fast-track the creation of 1,000 deeply affordable housing opportunities for CityFHEPS voucher holders in shelters through DSS’s Affordable Housing Services program was announced last year.