Found this quite interesting...

HARLEM (WABC) -- The City Council on Wednesday approved a controversial plan to rezone dozens of blocks in Harlem's main business district to allow for denser development.

For months, residents put up fierce opposition to the proposal to rezone Harlem's 125th Street district. The new plan allows for condominiums, more performing arts space and a 21-story office tower near Harlem's Metro North station that will possibly include Major League Baseball and its new television network as a tenant.

Council members representing the district agreed to the rezoning after working out a compromise to increase the amount of affordable housing. The vote passed 47-2 during a heated meeting.

But some residents remained opposed, saying it would destroy the neighborhood's cultural history and price out longtime, lower-income residents and obstruct pedestrians' views of the sky

Before the vote, the balcony at City Hall was cleared because Harlem residents opposed to the rezoning booed supporters as they spoke.

"But they didn't clear (the balcony) when they were cheering" for the plan, said Councilman Charles Barron, who voted against the rezoning plan. The approval, he said, "continues the gentrification of Harlem."

"The development should be from the bottom up, from the people up, not from the top down, from rich white developers and the city planning commission," Barron said after the vote. "Ten to 12 years from now, they will see that the housing will not be affordable. This will be the wholesale sellout of Harlem from river to river."

The city Planning Commission approved the plan in March.

Queens Councilman Tony Avella, who cast the other opposition vote, has said the rezoning would "push out" longtime small businesses and that the real estate industry lobbied for the rezoning changes.

Councilwoman Inez E. Dickens, whose district includes the rezoned area and who was born and raised in the neighborhood, insisted Wednesday that Harlem's historic and cultural character would be protected.

"My priority was to make sure that those who had laid down roots in Harlem both in business and as long time Harlem residents and who had stayed in Harlem in good times and bad would not be displaced," Dickens said in a statement. "I am most pleased that we were able to create an unprecedented amount of affordable and income-targeted housing opportunities."

The city has promised to provide help to local businesses, improvements to Marcus Garvey Park, address health problems among residents, and make sure that 46 percent of all new housing units in the rezoned and surrounding areas on city-owned property is income-targeted.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the council's approval will "strengthen" the area's business district and "bolster" arts, entertainment and retail there. The rezoning also will create more than 7,000 jobs, he said.

"Not only does the plan lay the foundation for economic growth on Harlem's Main Street, but also it preserves its noted brownstones and reinforces its arts and culture heritage," Bloomberg said in a statement.

Harlem includes such landmarks as the Apollo Theater and Hotel Theresa, where Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne and Fidel Castro stayed and where Malcolm X held meetings of the Organization of Afro-American Unity after breaking from the Nation of Islam.

The Apollo Theater Foundation has expressed support for the rezoning.

I'm trying to pick the positive out of this, but the bottom line is that this will strip Harlem of a lot of deep rooted businesses and residents.  I'm all for reconstruction and economic growth if it will benefit the people who will be effected by it.  There will be no affordable housing like they are promising (not by normal lower/middle class standards), ppl will be forced out of their neighborhoods, local businesses will be forced to close and make way for offices and condos and other bullshit that we can do without.  It's like the Harlem residents voices are not even being heard and they are being stepped on by the big spenders on top.
Every time I go to Harlem (certain parts lol) I can't help but feel a certain pride for my people.  Everywhere you turn something is going on, ppl are hustling, making moves, you see black owned businesses, it's great.  I wish I was around when Harlem was Harlem like back in the 40's 50's 60's...Sucks but I don't think Harlem will ever be the same, that can be a good thing or a bad thing, I'll let you know which one when I figure it out.