The long-standing Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market quickly moved areas final week to make method for an upcoming inexpensive housing challenge led by the house owners of the market, the Masjid Malcolm Shabazz Home of Worship, relieving the fears of some about what would occur to the power within the close to future.
Final week, greater than 60 African and Caribbean distributors had been shortly moved to the momentary market location, which alarmed some locals not conscious of the development of the housing challenge. Earlier in January, information circulated over social media that the market was closing, with posts on Harlem-centered Instagram accounts, together with “Black Harlem Lives” and “All Harlem World,” and content material creators like Nicholas Nuvan and Sire.vs.Siri. Some indicated uncertainty about what would come of distributors and if they might be displaced.
State Sen. Cordell Cleare visited the momentary indoor area situated at Malcolm X Blvd. and West 116th Avenue throughout the road. Contemplating the flip of bitter chilly climate outdoors, she was excited to see distributors up and working in a secure and heat place.
Cleare informed the Amsterdam Information that the distributors knew in regards to the transfer forward of time. “You’ll be able to’t simply do issues for hits,” she mentioned, calling out the misreporting that unfold on-line. “There’s been some misinformation … that might harm individuals who don’t know or consider what they had been listening to.”
The African-themed open-air market, domestically known as “the previous Conway” or “Harlem World,” started as part of the Harlem Market Enterprise Incubator Program established in 1994 and has occupied the lot on 116th Avenue in Harlem for greater than 30 years. The lot grew to become a secure haven for distributors typically harassed for establishing and promoting their wares alongside a hundred and twenty fifth Avenue.
“The Masjid is a caring place, an establishment in our neighborhood that’s wanting into the long run on what we’d like whereas we construct up our neighborhood,” mentioned Councilmember Yusef Salaam in regards to the improved momentary area for the market. “They’re going to have a ribbon chopping, nevertheless it’s already open, so go patronize them.”
The thought of finally reworking the market’s lot right into a housing challenge and a grand indoor market area has existed because the market’s inception, mentioned Imam Izak-EL Mueed Pasha, who runs the Masjid Malcolm Shabazz and their associated nonprofit, the Malcolm Shabazz Improvement Company (MSDC).
“We intestine, rehab the buildings for neighborhood revitalization which have retail area. We’ve moved the [vendors] by this system, after which we started to place them within the shops in all of the buildings that we personal all through this space itself on 116th Avenue,” mentioned Pasha. “Within the earlier days in loads of these city-owned buildings, the retail was empty, so we made a cope with the town to [allow] us to rehab the areas, give them three years of a really low lease, and provides them an opportunity to construct up.”
Housing plans lastly received nearer to actuality in 2024.
Harlem’s Group Board 10 accredited a decision for a Uniform Land Use Overview Process (ULURP) software in June 2024 for Pasha’s MSDC and Procida Improvement, in a three way partnership with the New York Metropolis Division of Housing Preservation and Improvement (HPD), to develop the market website. The proposed challenge was for 2 mixed-use nine-story buildings with 108 inexpensive (100%) residential items and a ground-floor neighborhood facility devoted to the renewed Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market.
In line with an HPD spokesperson, the company closed on building financing on January 15, 2026, with a number of updates to the challenge.
“I feel there must be a concentrate on ensuring that that market thrives and survives. It occurred shortly as a result of it was so well-planned. Everyone was knowledgeable,” mentioned Cleare.
The net response noticed a mixture of concern over the concept of the market closing, questions on correct information, a dialogue of the state of the neighborhood, and members being saved updated about what is occurring domestically. Commenters amongst neighborhood members expressed frustration about why that they had not heard of the information of the market relocation and new improvement.
“It was reported a number of occasions through the neighborhood board and the mayor’s workplace. Please attend the neighborhood board conferences or get on their mailing listing,” CB10 member William Allen posted in a remark responding to the discourse.
Residents close to the market location informed the Amsterdam Information that they need to know extra and that extra ought to be completed to maintain the neighborhood knowledgeable about neighborhood board enterprise.
Cherylann Lloyd, 61, lives close to the market location and has been a patron for near 30 years. She mentioned she solely came upon the information by a detailed good friend who’s energetic in metropolis authorities. She agreed that residents want to know extra and that extra ought to be completed to maintain the neighborhood updated about neighborhood board enterprise.
“We all know that there’s neighborhood board conferences … however no person is aware of the place,” Lloyd mentioned. “There are not any posters, there’s no person strolling round shouting it out on the rooftops.”
She additionally gave the Amsterdam Information her candid ideas in regards to the new improvement. She and different Harlem residents have come to count on that it will likely be one other “excessive rise that no person within the neighborhood may afford to dwell in.”
“The benefit of the [market’s] transfer is it’s actually throughout the road,” Lloyd mentioned.
On Friday, Jan. 23, Pasha and Cleare took a strolling tour of the brand new location and had been in a position to communicate to a number of distributors who had settled into their new cubicles, with Pasha even shopping for a few objects for Cleare.
Aicha Sissoko, who runs Aicha Fashions and sells West African garments, jewellery, Black Cleaning soap, and extra, has been with the marketplace for nearly 10 years. She mentioned the transfer was made very straightforward and that the brand new area contains some enhancements.
“We don’t really feel chilly; it’s properly maintained, clear — the flooring, ceiling, all the pieces,” Sissoko mentioned. “Anyone who comes right here says they like it as a result of it’s indoors; they don’t must [wear] a jacket all day lengthy.” She additionally enjoys having cupboard space within the new location.
The brand new constructing website on 116th can have a everlasting new dwelling for the market on the bottom ground; with 123 items of inexpensive housing as much as 80% AMI ($1,760–$3,031), 50% AMI ($1,031–$1,767), and 30% AMI ($ 545–$925), mentioned HPD. This breaks down to incorporate 27 studios, 52 one-bedrooms, 27 two-bedrooms, 16 three-bedrooms, and 19 items put aside for previously homeless people and households.
Pasha additionally hopes to work on a separate housing challenge on a hundred and twenty fifth Avenue that reserves items particularly for youngsters getting old out of foster care.
Development is about to start early this 12 months. Pasha estimates building will take one other three years to finish.
