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New York's massive rezoning effort for Harlem's famous 125th Street has brought a troubled and contentious conflict over its status as the most famous African-American commercial corridor. The plan, favored by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, encourages mixed-use development, while protecting the existing scale of occupied housing, particularly in brownstone areas. But while the Mayor hopes the action will revitalize the historical area, others attack the attempt as fundamentally changing the character of the historical neighborhood, even drawing charges of racism.

Harlem's 125th Street was for many years the longtime home of such venerated institutions as the Apollo Theater, and a center for the black community and entertainment. For decades 125th Street was the center of the New York Jazz scene. Here, cutting edge musicians, singers and comedians plied their trade. But now most of the old businesses are closed. One wave of re-investment brought chain stores like Marshall's and HMV, as well as substantial investment from Magic Johnson Enterprises. However, while the well-funded operations survived and in some cases thrived, other, less well-funded business shuttered. Now large areas of the neighborhood are scarred with empty storefronts and pockmarked blocks.

On Monday, May 10th, the New York City Planning Commission pushed through the controversial rezoning, approving 11-2 despite numerous objections, although with some modifications. Planning Chair Amanda Burden characterized the action as "a major milestone in moving this extremely significant initiative forward." She said the rezoning, which allows more housing on 125th Street and taller buildings, among other things, "will reinforce the 125th Street Corridor as an important regional business district and bolster its historic role as an arts, entertainment and retail corridor."

Overall, the proposals met with support from business, arts groups and labor interests. Yet while New York City is pushing for the rezoning to go through, the plan is drawing sharp and sometimes bitter condemnation. Critics charge the plan would price longtime residents out of the neighborhood by allowing market-rate housing to be developed and would replace an iconic African-American locale with chain stores, hotels, luxury housing and high-rises.

City officials argue that the plan will revive a cultural identity that is being undermined by development.
But residents fear a rezoned 125th Street - picked as one of the country's

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