125th Street boasts a unique character and many distinct arts, culture and entertainment assets, many of which have historic importance for the Harlem community.

The 125th Street corridor contains a diverse building stock with a variety of retail, commercial, arts, cultural, institutional, educational and residential uses. Taking advantage of its many public transit assets, 125th Street also serves as a gateway for local residents and visitors to the greater Harlem area.

NYCEDC, in collaboration with the Department of City Planning, continues to maximize community outreach, public presentations and discussions to ensure community consensus for the following strategies.

Since December 2003, the City has engaged the study's Technical Advisory Committee -- a diverse group of over 100 individuals representing elected officials, local civic groups and cultural institutions, stakeholders, and Community Boards 9, 10 and 11 -- in a series of meetings to discuss changes and opportunities for 125th Street. The strategies developed for 125th Street are based on eight public technical advisory committee meetings, and over 60 presentations to local community groups and leaders.

The City seeks to  sustain and enhance the revitalization of 125th Street as a unique Manhattan Main Street through the following zoning strategies:

• A new specific purpose district for the 125th Street corridor that allows the proposed zoning regulations to respond to specific conditions with customized density, building form controls and use regulations.
• A balanced rezoning approach that creates incentives for new mixed-use development where appropriate.
• Protecting the corridor's existing scale and character.
• Expanding opportunities for the creation of housing, including affordable housing.

The City also seeks to support the growth of 125th Street as a premier arts, culture and entertainment destination through the following strategies:

• Strengthen Critical Mass by developing a visible and accessible concentration of cultural and retail destinations in order to increase visitation to Harlem.
• Foster Complementary Uses, such as retail, restaurant and entertainment, in order to promote a vibrant pedestrian environment and encourage repeat visitation to Harlem.
• Promote Identity and Improve Signage to encourage awareness and patronage of local business establishments, restaurants and cultural venues, both on and off of 125th Street.

In addition to the rezoning effort on 125th Street, NYCEDC is involved in a number of projects on 125th Street:

Mart 125
Location: 260 West 125th Street; south side of 125th Street between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell boulevards.

Description: Mart 125 is a 10,000 square foot, City-owned commercial real estate property at the center of 125th Street's emerging entertainment hub. Mart 125 is directly across the street from the legendary Apollo Theater and the historic Victoria Theater site. The site offers a tremendous opportunity to create a 50,000-60,000 square foot destination venue that supports a program comprised of specialty retail, arts and culture, multi-media information center, unique dining, as well as other uses. The Mart 125 Consultant Team is currently participating in a process of research, programming, analysis and design in collaboration with NYCEDC and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone.

West Harlem Piers 
Location: 125th Street and the Hudson River.

Description: The vision for West Harlem Piers is to build waterfront improvements that will enhance Harlem's waterfront, contribute to and encourage economic development in Manhattanville, connect to the Manhattan waterfront greenway, encourage water-borne transit and meet community objectives for waterfront revitalization. Construction began in early 2006 and the marine and roadway portions of the project are nearing completion. Upland site work, including all decorative pavements, railings, lighting, plantings and furnishings will begin in early 2007 and the open space is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2007.

East 125th Street Development
Location: Three parcels on six acres in East Harlem. Southeast corner of 125th Street and Third Avenue, and 125th to 127th streets between Second and Third avenues.

Description: 1.7 million square foot development which includes residential, specialty retail, community retail, cinemas, media and creative office space, not-for-profit cultural space and, potentially, a hotel. NYCEDC plans to designate a developer in June 2007 and complete the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process in summer 2008.

NYCEDC Parking Garage near Adam Clayton Powell Plaza
Location: North side of 125th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Lenox Avenue.

Description: City-owned parking garage with ground floor retail operated by the City.

Apollo Theatre Facade
Location: 253 West 125th Street between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell boulevards.

Description: The Apollo Theater Foundation is currently conducting an extensive renovation of the Apollo, including facade and interior improvements. Total renovation costs are estimated at $65 million. The renovations are scheduled for completion in mid-2009.

West 125th Street Streetscape Improvements
Location: Both sides of 125th Street between Old Broadway and the Hudson River.

Description: The West 125th Street Streetscape improvements are likely to include street trees, widened sidewalks, traffic safety improvements, lighting improvements for the IRT and 12th Avenue viaducts along West 125th Street, and an inter-modal station development at 12th Avenue and West 125th Street. These improvements are intended to create connections between  the various forms of transportation, while encouraging a vibrant street life on West 125th Street. Conceptual designs are underway.