 An Introduction to East Harlem Preservation
East Harlem Preservation (EHP) is a volunteer advocacy organization founded by Marina Ortiz in 2005 to promote, preserve, and protect the neighborhood's rich cultural, architectural and environmental history. EHP provides news and updates on large-scale development, displacement and other issues of public concern to residents and business owners in East Harlem/El Barrio and surrounding areas through a regularly updated website, detailed email bulletins, and an extensive electronic and photographic library. Since its inception, East Harlem Preservation has collaborated with dozens of local organizations.
Since August 2005, EHP has accomplished and/or assisted in the following:
- Monitored and list news articles on East Harlem and surrounding areas
- Provided regular alerts about upcoming community events
- Documented summer street fairs, festivals, and other local events
- Documented the local landscape, including the East River shoreline and Randall's Island
- Provided technical and promotional assistance during local protest against the installation of a Con Edison substation in the “Triangle” section of East Harlem
- Provided technical and promotional assistance to Lakeview and Schomburg tenants protesting the planned sale of their Mitchell-Llama apartments
- Provided technical and promotional assistance to La Casa de la Herencia Puertorriqueña
- Monitored the work of the 125th Street “River-to-River” Taskforce
- Documented the work of the “Uptown NY” taskforce
- Provided information on large-scale development and displacement
- Documented various development projects throughout East Harlem
- Created public awareness campaigns to combat negative media stereotypes
- Supported the greening of East Harlem, including the tree planting efforts of the NYC Parks Dept. and the “Car-Free” Central Park Initiative
- Gathered hundreds of petition signatures supporting the proposed renaming of East 106th Street in honor of the late Puerto Rican poet, Julia de Burgos
- Monitored local outreach of the Randall's Island Sports Foundation
- Presented testimony before the NYC Council Parks & Recreation Committee opposing a 30-year franchise to maintain Randall's Islands ball fields that would have benefited private schools at the expense of surrounding public schools, and successfully lobbied to have said deal reconsidered by the City Council.
- Endorsed the campaign for a "Car-Free Central Park" and supported the call for more bike lanes on city streets
- Conducted research on housing, health, and environmental issues in East Harlem
EHP also conducts neighborhood tours, coordinates public forums and other projects promoting the neighborhood's culture and history, and extensively documents issues of local interest. The website is also available to help promote the work of neighborhood organizations and nonprofit cultural, educational, health, economic development, and environmental agencies.
Although we have been incorporated as a not-for-profit agency, our 501(c)3 application is still pending. While donations are welcomed, they are not yet tax-deductible.
ARTICLES
How I Became a Preservationist (NTHP's Diversity Scholarship Program Alumni Newsletter, Spring 2008)
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