Vacant East Harlem firehouse to become cultural center

A nonprofit developer has been selected for the site

120 East 125th Street in East Harlem
120 East 125th Street in East Harlem

An abandoned 19th-century firehouse in East Harlem is getting a new lease on life as a cultural center.

The firehouse is one of five that were decommissioned in 2003 after severe budget cuts, according to Curbed. However, back in 2008, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito prevented the building from being auctioned off by assuring that it would become a cultural center.

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Now the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute has been selected as the building’s developer, according to Untapped Cities.

The nonprofit will break ground on the site, located at at 120 East 125th Street, on September 16. It hopes to move in by September 2015. [Curbed | Untapped Cities]Christopher Cameron