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Q&A
Plans for existing and future commercial businesses
0:31:12
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86 sec
Council Member Riley inquires about the plans for existing commercial businesses in the development area. Bruce Teitelbaum discusses the approach to local businesses and plans for future retail spaces.
- Teitelbaum mentions that existing businesses have been invited to return after the development is complete.
- He highlights a commitment in the community benefits agreement to prioritize local business ownership.
- The developer emphasizes plans to create opportunities for young Harlem entrepreneurs to own businesses and build wealth within the community.
- Teitelbaum mentions plans for an upgraded retail environment, including fresh food options and avoiding big box stores.
Kevin Riley
0:31:12
Thank you.
0:31:12
And just one more question.
0:31:14
The commercial properties excuse me, commercial businesses that are already there, are all of them coming back or just a percentage of them?
Bruce Teitelbaum
0:31:22
So right now there were just a couple I think of existing businesses.
0:31:26
We've spoken to several.
0:31:27
We've invited them back.
0:31:29
We've told them that once we're finished, if they'd like to come back, please do.
0:31:32
But I think it's important you mentioned that point.
0:31:34
This is embedded in the community benefits agreement.
0:31:37
It's something that the local elected officials were very concerned about.
0:31:40
Councilman Salam and I spoke about this.
0:31:42
Currently, or at least when we got involved with this project, there wasn't a single business, not one, where a where the owner of that business was a resident of Harlem.
0:31:52
Every business there, I think there were 14 or 15 of them, were people who lived outside of Harlem.
0:31:57
Our commitment under our benefits agreement is to change that, is to work with local business leaders, civic religious leaders, and and elected officials to ensure that young entrepreneurs in Harlem have an opportunity to actually not just work at a store, which is great, but to actually own a store, build wealth, create wealth and keep it in the community.
0:32:17
So we have spoken to some of the establishments that are there.
0:32:20
Some might want to come back.
0:32:21
We're looking to create an upgraded and better retail environment in the community, fresh food, no big box stores, things of that sort.
Kevin Riley
0:32:31
Okay.
0:32:32
Thank you.
0:32:34
I have no more questions.
0:32:35
I'm gonna pass the mic to council member Salaam.