When the 125th Street Rezoning project in Harlem received approval for its comprehensive list of recommendations in 2005, it was a result of countless hours of input by community participants and Advisory Board members. The project, undertaken by the New York City Department of City Planning, was massive in scope with ambitious goals to rezone for the multi-dimensional purposes of arts, culture, entertainment, aesthetics, functionality, and transportation. Beginning in 2003, the project team, composed of a richly diverse group of elected officials, civic groups, cultural organizations, and investors, continued to provide ongoing feedback to the Advisory Committee through an ongoing series of meetings. Cultural heritage landmarks such as the Apollo Theater rose to the spotlight during discussions about promoting identity to create “critical mass,” while other presentations centered on issues of economy and creating a functional and aesthetic streetscape.
Sharyn O’Halloran, a Political Economy professor at Columbia University, served on the New York City Department of City Planning’s 125th Street Rezoning Advisory Board.