WSJ wites love poem to Harlem's FDB

The transformation from just a few years ago is really amazing. Had dinner the other night at Zoma, really enjoyed it.

Lenox from 116th to 129th streets is Harlem's Gold Coast and where all the tourists frequent. FDB is littered with nothing but a bunch of new boxes with no history, character, nor charm.

Yes, there has been a big change in the area, even in the last 5 years. But "some prices falling to 600 to 700psf" .... ha ha ha ha ha ... the AVERAGE condo in South Harlem in the last 6 months sold for just over $550 psf.

Dg, I don't disagree that Lenox has more charm and architectural interest. FDB is still way ahead though, and will be for the foreseable future. Give it 5-10 years and I think you may be right.

To be fair to the WSJ, this ode never refers to FDB as Harlem's Gold Coast and instead makes it clear that this corridor is "appealing to all types of middle-class New Yorkers."

Don't disagree that true Central Harlem has more charm and history, and the tourists that come with that. FDB is more of a gateway that leads into Harlem because you come straight up CPW and all of a sudden the name changes to FDB and you are in Harlem. When the article calls FDB "one of the area's most attractive corridors" I think it is fair to say that really means that FDB is appealing to a lot of people that would otherwise have been looking at other areas of the city, like the UWS or UES.

FDB probably is starting to look more and more like the UWS, and that is probably why you find it cookie-cutter and unappealing (and that change obviously angers others). But from the perpective of people otherwise looking at the UWS or UES, and there are a lot of them despite the fact that those may be the two blandest parts of the entire city, it isn't too difficult to see why FDB is starting to look great: you get to live in a shiny new cookie-cutter apartment instead of one that needs to be renovated, you have the same proximately to the park (plus Morningside park) and are surrounded by the history and character of Harlem, and all at a cheaper price.

As far as I know, FDB is within Central Harlem...no?

kspeak - Besides the ton of new condos, how is FDB 5-10 years ahead of Lenox?

That's true. But most of the UES and UWS (especially the blocks surrounding the park) have nice architecture, not cookie-cutter condos like FDB, which are found in others spots on UES or UWS but not really CPW or 5th avenue. But yes, some people like new construction and it's certainly cheaper that UES or UWS. Of course, FBD is still Central Harlem, whether it feels like it or not. As you get farther East towards Lenox/Fifth, you are not as close to Morningside Park but you're closer to Mt. Morris, although I grant this isn't as gentrified in feel. I do think eventually Lenox might be percieved as more desirable - just because of the historic charm and architecture - but we're certainly not there yet, and it'll take a while.

Dg156, in terms of amenities, FDB has more than Lenox, this is a simple fact. I own closer to lenox than FDB (between Lenox and FDB) but let's call a spade a spade. I do think Lenox has more charm, this can't be denied, but work needs to be done, with the burned out brownstones, etc.

Fair point about the architecture of CPW and 5th and other stuff very close to the park, but I doubt those are realistic options for many of the people looking at the new buildings on FDB.

centsible, agree with this. and new construction usually has things like central a/c, etc. I get it, even if it's not for me.

Lenox has the potential to be a grand avenue with boutiques, restaurants, cafes and clubs. Now if only half the churches that dominate the landscape would just go away so the area could improve instead of continue in a rut.

kspeak, what amenties are you referring to that can be found along FDB and not along Lenox?

Just seems to me the WSJ local is following the NYT lead and publishing RE press releases, not reporting.

there's a wine place. there's a new gourmet market (which is huge for the neighborhood, huge). There's a French pastry place, there's a Italian place, there's a nice-looking Ethiopian place, there are a few other restaurants I've never been in. All this along with half-a-dozen new condo developments on a strip with great subway access.

If Fourth Avenue in Park Slope looked this good, I think we'd be reading about it every day for a month.

And btw, Liz, I think my old paper the Post was actually the first to catch this story:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/realestate/residential/better_off_fred_fHlUA89yCFqIk1UcfFIX5K

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

Lenox is improving rapidly but FDB has more retail still. The gap isn't as big as it once was, and I think Lenox has more potential - it feels grand and has wide sidewalks and architecture that FDB lacks -but it still has burned out buildings and a lot of churches taking up what could be retail space. I think it will take more time.

It continues to baffle me why people have this Lenox vs. FDB rivalry. They are a couple blocks apart - First avenue and third avenue are still both the East Village. Development on FDB helps Lenox, and vice versa. Nobody wants to feel like their neighborhood is confined to only one block.

Anyway as I walk down the streets mentally I get this list.
- Nektar
- Frizzante
- Questan's
- Mojo (right off it)
- 67 Orange
- 5 & Diamond
- Lee lee's (right off it)
- Best yet
- Starbucks
- SeventeenB
- Moca Lounge
- Patterserie des Ambassades
- Zoma
- Society Cafe
- Rite Aid
- Organic Forever
- Aloft (coming soon)
- Dunkin Donuts
- The Little Gym
- Atomic Wings
- Melbas
- Bier (opening soon)
- Modsquad

Lenox
- Settepani
- Spinner's
- Fine Fare
- Native
- Katrina's flowers
- Starburcks
- Red Rooster (coming soon)
- CVS
- Chez Lucciene
- Wild Olive (on 5th)
- Cafe Latte
- That mexican place

The good news is the list on Lenox is improving quickly. And the other good news is that many of these places didn't exist 5 years ago. So it's all good. Bashing FDB doesn't help you on Lenox, I assure you.

dg156 is delusional in this and many posts about Lenox versus FDB. And you ALL forget that Lenox not only has FAR more bombed-out and abandoned buildings and under-used churches, but a giant vacant lot at 125th and PROJECTS up the yin-yang from 111th-115th.

It MAY someday be as nice as FDB is now, IF 10 empty lots were built up, 10 old buildings refurbished, and 20 brownstones fixed up....but it can never support the amount of amenenties as FDB for the sheer lack of DENSITY...you need lots of "box condos" to support storefront after storefront...especially when you have four blocks of projects.

It's the churches. They are dragging Lenox down from a renaissance.

Churches, empty lots, boarded up buildings, and projects.

Don't get me wrong, the article in TOP is a fluff piece. And I do think Lenox is POTENTIALLY someday nicer than FDB. just not yet.