West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. (WHGA), a community based development corporation, was established more than 30 years ago to revitalize the under-invested West and Central Harlem communities - riddled with dilapidated and abandoned buildings. Ironically, WHGA's primary function has become to quell the negative impact of such rapid gentrification on our low to moderate income constituency as Harlem, over the past several years, is experiencing an influx of new businesses and investments.
It is also ironic that WHGA has played a major role in this era of Harlem's prosperity often referred to as the "Second Harlem Renaissance". In the 70s and 80s our tenant organizing operation prevented numerous arson attempts by gluttonous slum landlords seeking insurance payoffs. In the late 80's WHGA began re-building entire blocks which lay so vacant and destitute that even New York's poorest were only remotely interested in living there.
As the new millennium approached significant community and city based reconstruction had taken place. The once infamously barren communities of Harlem were becoming increasingly attractive to the for- profit sector. -There was the potential to generate revenue in a rapidly growing neighborhood where land was still relatively inexpensive - compared to neighboring communities on the southern border, known as the Upper Westside.
Today Harlem boasts a real estate market beyond comprehension. Renovated historic brownstones, former havens for drug dealers and prostitutes, now carry a minimum asking price of $1.2 million dollars. Two bedroom cooperatives and condominiums average $500 per square foot.
Very few of Harlem’s long term residents have the capacity to negotiate in this highly competitive real estate market. Yet WHGA operates on the premise that ownership, in the face of increased marginalization, is the best insurance against displacement. WHGA’s three- year strategic plan, therefore is guided by an ambitious asset building initiative which includes homeownership, enterprise, and education programs which target households earning less than 80% of area median income.
For the segment of the population that do not have the capacity for asset building, there is WHGA’s affordable housing development and preservation agenda that will continue to be a major component of our overall all strategy.
Internally WHGA has made great strides towards capacity building. In 1999 our five year strategic plan required that we assemble a program development team, develop a fund development plan to diversify our funding sources, implement and complete anti-drug program, and broaden the geographic and professional representation of our board of directors. WHGA is proud to report that all of this goals have been accomplished.
WHGA’s three- year strategic plan for 2005 through 2008 establishes additional goals for capacity building such as increasing income and funding diversification, broadening the ethnic representation on the board of directors, and assembling of an education department as well as a team devoted to for profit community enterprises.
The agency has also endeavored to complete a series of studies that will assess factors such as the underserved immigrant population in Harlem, the true impact of gentrification on Harlem’s working families, and Harlem’s failing public schools. In addition WHGA will form a resident advisory committee to assist with a self-evaluation report that will assess our impact thus far and provide us with guidance for improving our service to the community as we move forward.
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