$242 Million Mixed-Use Redevelopment Anchored by National Urban League Headquarters Brings 170 Affordable and Supportive Homes, Retail, and Cultural Space to 125th Street Corridor
Empire State Development Provided More Than $20 Million in State Funding to Support the Project’s Construction, Redevelopment, and Future Urban Civil Rights Museum
Governor Kathy Hochul today joined Empire State Development (ESD) President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight, community leaders, and development partners to celebrate the grand opening of the National Urban League’s new headquarters at the Urban League Empowerment Center in Harlem. The opening marks a historic homecoming for one of the nation’s most prominent civil rights organizations, returning to its roots in Harlem where it was founded in 1910, and represents the culmination of a transformative public-private partnership led by ESD and the City of New York to deliver new opportunities, affordable housing, and community investment along the 125th Street corridor.
The $242 million, mixed-use Urban League Empowerment Center includes the National Urban League’s new national headquarters, the future Urban Civil Rights Museum in Harlem, retail anchored by Trader Joe’s and Target, 170 affordable and supportive housing units, and additional office space for community-based nonprofits. To support the project, ESD has provided more than $20 million in total funding. New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is supporting 170 affordable housing units through its Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program which generated $34.7 million in equity, $31.1 million from its Supportive Housing Opportunity Program, $11.7 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds from its Housing Finance Agency, and $3 million from its Federal Housing Trust Fund.
“Harlem has always stood at the heart of our nation’s civil rights story, and the new Urban League Empowerment Center works to ensure that legacy will continue for generations to come,” Governor Hochul said. “This project embodies what happens when we invest in people and places, creating affordable housing, bringing jobs and essential retail to 125th Street, and reaffirming New York’s commitment to equity and opportunity. I’m proud to celebrate this milestone with the National Urban League and all the partners who helped bring this vision to life.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The Urban League Empowerment Center represents a true model of inclusive economic development — a project that not only honors Harlem’s history but also strengthens its future. ESD was proud to play a leading role in making this transformative investment possible, combining State resources and community input to deliver housing, retail, cultural space, and the National Urban League’s permanent home. This is economic empowerment in action, and a powerful example of how collaboration can drive both progress and justice.”
Read the full press release here.