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Harlem River Houses to receive restored sculptures, new murals and interpretive signage after LPC approval
Summary
The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a package of restored sculptures, new resident‑commissioned murals and interpretive signage for Harlem River Houses, a 1936–37 federally built landmarked housing complex in Manhattan.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission on March 11 approved a resident‑driven program of restored and new artwork and interpretive signage at the Harlem River Houses, an individual New York City landmark built by the federal government (PWA) in 1936–37.
Consultants for Settlement Housing Fund and the project team said rehabilitation of the entire complex has largely been completed — including restoration of all façades, new multi‑light casement windows and landscape work — and that Mellon Foundation funding supports public art as the final phase. Jablonski Building Conservation has restored 1 fragile cast‑concrete sculpture off‑site; two other WPA‑era sculptures on brick plinths will be rehabilitated on site.
As part of a participatory process led by ArtBridge, three Harlem‑based artists were selected by residents to create community murals on breezeway outer walls and new small‑scale sculptures to sit around the central fountain area. The proposed statues are 24‑inch bronze figures set on 24‑inch Belgian‑block‑clad plinths; the team said that placing sculptures away from the fountain’s edge was a resident safety preference to avoid encouraging climbing or play on sculptures near water.
The project also includes 15 interpretive signs (a mix of wall‑mounted, post‑mounted and planter‑mounted units) with porcelain‑enameled panels, black aluminum frames and concise historical text about the site and the new artwork. Settlement Housing Fund said ArtBridge will maintain the murals on an ongoing schedule and that residents reviewed the sign text.
Speakers included resident advocates and two residents who testified in support of restoring artwork and introducing murals to activate shared spaces. Preservation commenters, including the Historic Districts Council and the Victorian Society of New York, praised the restoration of original windows and the sensitivity of the proposed art and signage.
Commissioners praised the project’s community process and recommended approval. The motion to approve passed 6–0.
Why it matters: Harlem River Houses is a landmarked, federally built public‑housing complex with social and architectural significance. The approved artwork and signage aim to restore cultural assets and activate public spaces based on resident input and public‑history interpretation.
Vote: Approval — 6 in favor, 0 opposed.
