As an endorsing member of the New York City Community Land Trust Initiative (NYCLI), the A. Philip Randolph Square Neighborhood Alliance is developing the Central Harlem Community Land Trust (CHCLT), a program designed to created CLTs in distressed, low-income, working class, and gentrifying neighborhoods and communities throughout Central Harlem. For more information about the NYC Community Land Initiative, click here.
In 2024, the Neighborhood Alliance was one of fifteen organizations recognized as a New York State Community Land Trust training cohort, a yearlong opportunity to acquire the tools and resources to understand development processes, analysis of joint venture opportunities, and housing operations to better position the CLTs we form to steward permanently affordable community-controlled housing. For more information, click here.
Working with legal partners and advisors, we are in the process of drafting Certification of Incorporation for the Central Harlem CLT as well as collaborating with residents in similar neighborhoods and communities to incorporate CLTs as a way of preserving permanent affordability.
During Black History Month 2023, the Neighborhood Alliance organized a month-long forum that introduced its CLT model to Harlem residents to raise awareness, pique consciousness, and increase community buy-in. During Black History Month 2025, CHCLT is launching a critical public education campaign, #HomeSweetHarlem. The campaign’s purpose is to generate awareness, increase CHCLT involvement, and celebrate Harlem’s extensive Black history of housing advocacy; while planning for Black futures filled with housing security. Throughout the month, we will be reaching out on various platforms including a newsletter, a CLT 101 virtual event, and an updated digital presence on our website and social media platforms (@centralharlemclt on Facebook and Instagram; @charlemclt on Twitter).
This month, we are hosting a virtual Community Land Trust 101 Workshop on Tuesday, February 25 at 6pm-7pm; CLICK HERE to register for the event. The workshop is facilitated by Shanna Sabio from the BLAC Land Trust and Allyson Martinez from Brooklyn Level Up, both amazing Black women leading active New York City Community Land Initiative (NYCCLI) member organizations, to give us an opportunity to learn about CLTs generally; while also connecting with the wider CLT movement in NYC.
The #HomeSweetHarlem campaign is a means for intentional outreach and engagement with our neighbors. We hope that you will get involved and share information about CHCLT, the #HomeSweetHarlem campaign and our upcoming events. Follow us on social media!
