History Of Harlems Architecture example essay topic

There are a lot of various controversial statements about Harlem, this community has always been considered somewhat dangerous by the white inhabitants of New York, who were unwilling even to walk through it sometimes. However, the history of Harlem is rather interesting, there were a lot of events, which influenced the lifestyles of Harlems inhabitants and also had a profound impact on the countrys history as a whole. The history of Harlems architecture is closely related to the history of Harlem at large, since as the population of that district changed, so did the architecture, marking the transition from the solely white neighborhood from the very beginning to the almost completely black neighborhood it is now. Harlem is a community located in the Northern part of Manhattan; the name came from the city in Netherlands, which was the home of the farmers who settled there in the 1600's. By 1800's, the area also became home for some of the New Yorks most prominent families, who had their estates built there. Those states were built in different architectural styles, thus Harlems architecture of that period could be considered one of the most diverse throughout the whole city.

Harlem, however, remained mostly rural area until 1880's, when building of the railroad transformed it into more densely populated area and marked a turning point in its history. It also marked the transition to more simple architectural styles, the houses and other structures were built more with regard to functionality than to architecture and design. Harlem is known as mostly black community nowadays, and the reason for that are several events, which occurred in the early 1900's. The race riots were the primary reason why a lot of black New Yorkers started to look for a different place to live, since they were afraid to lose not only their property but also their lives. A couple of the real estate brokers, who were willing to make substantial profits out of black peoples misery, convinced the owners of the Harlem located property to rent it to blacks. Certainly, the architectural value of most of the Harlems buildings started to decrease significantly, due to the fact that African American families frequently lived in numbers so large, that the buildings were deteriorated in a really fast manner.

The period from 1908 to 1920 became the turning point in the history of Harlem, during that time span it has become a primarily black community, and whites started to avoid it. For years we have heard that Harlem and the subsequent revitalization of Harlem was right around the corner. But now, with celebrities like Harrison Ford dropping by little known clubs to listen to jazz, and with New Yorkers of all backgrounds competing for the neighborhood's historic townhouses, it becomes clear that the transformation of Harlem is upon us. Harlem has become an attraction for international tourists; restaurants and jazz clubs are packed; and retail services are beginning to increase. Charles H. Green thal & Co. opened a residential sales office at 125th Street to accommodate the extraordinary interest in Harlem, which may well be the hot residential neighborhood of the next 10 years. Certainly, due to this high interest in Harlems property, the architectural significance of many buildings and structures becomes more important now.

The unbelievably tight Manhattan residential market, the increase in safety and quality of life throughout the City, and the historic architecture in Harlem have combined to make this neighborhood a very attractive alternative. Not surprisingly, prices for Harlem townhouses are increasing, especially in the area's historic pockets. Astor Row, located on the south side of 130th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, features 28 brick homes with distinct Savannah-style porches and gardens in both the front and rear. Each home is 25 feet wide and approximately 55 feet deep on a 100-foot lot, with three stories and a basement..