Grahame Shane
Brian Mc Grath
Victoria Benatar
RE-URBANIZATION- INTRODUCTION
" The arts are an agent for community revitalization. the arts can be used to
increase community morale. people are able to sense their community is worthy
of attention. "
Aldopho Nodel, 1988
The Urban Arts Corridor project was conceptualized through a grant proposal
to the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) in 1995. The applicants were
Joyce S. Lee, architect, Miguel Baltierra, urban designer, in association
with Fernando Salicrup, Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Workshop in
East Harlem.
The Urban Arts Corridor will weave and create a comprehensive streetscape
identity which encompasses East Harlem's emerging and established cultural
resources. The project's intent is to reaffirm and demonstrate that art is
integral to the physical and psychological rejuvenation of deteriorated
communities. This effort is inspired by the objectives set forth by the
Empowerment Zone Program Strategic Plan. In principle , the Urban Arts
Corridor will create a clearly defined cultural zone where all people, poor,
rich, or middle class can find a common ground enriched by art spaces.
The corridor will originate at 106th Street and Lexington Avenue, the
"Cultural Cross Road" of East Harlem. The node will host the soon to be
realized Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center, the Puerto Rican Workshop
with its Taller Boricua Gallery, the Metropolis Television Studio, and the
proposed Rain Forest Cultural Center. The corridor will extend west along
106th Street to 5th Avenue.
The length of the Urban Arts Corridor will host landmarks such as Saint
Cecilia's Church and Convent, the Jackie Robinson Educational Complex, the
Washington Carver public housing projects, and other assorted building types.
These building projects provide an opportunity to revitalize open spaces in
cooperations with the local communities.
The corridor proposal also seeks opportunities to extend the northern end of
the "Museum Mile" beyond its uncelebrated termination at the Museo del Barrio
at 105th Street and 5th Avenue up to 110th Street and 5th Avenue. This
intersection, Duke Ellington Circle, will define East Harlem's gateway with a
major cultural building at its corner. The Urban Arts Corridor will also
encompass the northern periphery of Central Park along 110th Street between
5th Avenue and Central Park West at Frederick Douglass Circle. Some derelict
buildings and vacant lots across from the park will also be potential
cultural sites.
Prior to the grant proposal stage, Fernando Salicrup had been working with
Community Board 11 to revitalize sites in the general area. The proposal
represented the culmination of various stages of thinking and a comprehensive
approach to integrate community needs evolved over the past decade.
With the unanticipated funding cut at the NEA in 1995, the applicants decided
to explore options locally. Joyce Lee approached the School of Architecture
and Planning at Columbia University about sharing the conceptual framework of
the Urban Arts Corridor as a studio program; Fernando Salicrup invited fellow
artist Al Miller who is also a key member of the Harlem Gateway Committee to
join the Client Group; Miguel Baltierra continued the research of grassroots
activities in the area.
After a meeting with studio instructors, Richard Plunz and Grahame Shane, an
urban design studio and an architectural studio were conceived. In addition
to in-house critiques and reviews within Columbia, the students had three
major meetings at the Puerto Rican Workshop in East Harlem with the Client
Group (i.e. Joyce Lee, Miguel Baltierra, Fernando Salicrup and Al Miller).
While the Urban Arts Corridor has expanded into surrounding neighborhoods
from the students' proposal, the overall arts and cultural orientation has
not only been kept intact but also investigated thoroughly and articulated
visually. In fact additional opportunities have surfaced as a result of
students' probes and exploration. We applauded their effort, creativity, and
diligence.
Joyce S. Lee AIA
An exhibition of the students' work will be at the Puerto Rican Workshop
Taller Boricua Gallery from February 28 to March 14, 1997. Drawings, models
and computer and video images will be on display.
Address: 1685 Lexington Avenue at 106th Street
Phone: (212) 831-4333
Hours: 1pm to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.
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