Simmons Endorses Obama

Russell Simmons, HIPHOP godfather, dons the cover of UPTOWN magazine’s Winter 2007/2008 cover, as a Change Agent in the Philanthropy issue—-he’s just endorsed Obama

[What’s Going On]

 

 

THE NEW HARLEM

: Late last year, the B’nai B’rith Real Estate unit hosted A NEW HARLEM luncheon , at the Cornell Club, in midtown. Real estate kingpins Eugene Giscombe, President/CEO Giscombe Henderson, Inc. Real Estate, and Lew Futterman, an Uptown Partners, LLC principal, were keynoters.

The event was akin to a Harlem real estate digest, highly informative and thought provoking Highlights of the Giscombe and Futterman talks are listed below. Giscombe identified Harlem’s commercial real estate contours starting with its crown jewel, 125 Street, prominent essentially because of its central location, a street which he predicts will become Manhattan’s next office mecca and currently boasts 19 banks from river to river. He added. “Along the East River, companies like Home Depot and Target have signed for space and that NYC is looking for a developer on the Second Avenue, 125/126 streets corridor.

He also observed that the October, 2007 125 Street Rezoning Report commissioned by the NYC Planning Commission did not restrict building height; that plans are afoot for a ferry route from NJ to 125 Street/Hudson River and that there is still a lot of Harlem land ripe for development.

Fudderman, an Uptown Partners principal, along with Joseph Holland, which developed The Lenox Condominiums, on 129/130 Streets, is now developing 5th On the Park on 120 Street, facing Marcus Garvey Park, a 28-story condominium tower, outlined Harlem’s residential real estate landscape. He allowed that NYC still owns lots of uptown property but has let go of about 60% of its Harlem portfolio and that area churches owned lots of properties.

Fudderman also cited both local developers like Full Spectrum and many new kids on the block all of whom are engaged in a frenzy of building construction activity. He helped demystified some of the new developments protocols and price points, explaining the hows and whys of Harlem condos pricing like $1600 per square foot at Central Park North and the Grand Line Court on 116 Street where units sell for $850-$900 per square foot.

He concluded saying that Harlem will hold up well provided that there is a flexibility in selling more affordable units. His partner on the 5th On The Park Condo is the Bethel Gospel Assembly, which plans a cathedral at the Condo base.

GOODWORKS INTERNATIONAL

: Wallace Ford was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta-based consulting firm, Goodworks International.

Announcement was made by Goodworks International founder/chairman Ambassador Andy Young and co-chairman/CEO Ambassador Carlton Masters.

Founded in 1996, Goodworks International fosters long-term economic development in Africa, the Caribbean and beyond by creating successful business alliances in those markets.

Goodworks also maintains offices in Washington, DC, NY, Nigeria, Rwanda, Angola, Cote Ivoire, Tanzania and Ghana. An office recently opened in Seoul, South Korea.

Goodworks was recently named the “International Business of the Year” by the Atlanta Business Journal. Wallace Ford’s rich professional, public/private sector, pedigree seems tailor made for Goodworks International. Founder of Fordworks International, a NY based management consulting firm, and erstwhile investment banker, Ford is a NYS attorney, who was NYC Commissioner of Ports and Trade and Commissioner of Business

Services, and was President/CEO of the NYS Mortgage Agency.

He is also a Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs faculty member. Ford plans to build on the Goodworks legacy and to begin greater engagements in six critical areas; financial services, energy, telecommunications, agribusiness, healthcare services and infrastructure development.

BLOOD SPORT, THE 2008 ELECTIONS:

There is not too much new to report other than ho-hum Ralph Nadar, 73, again joins the presidential race as a third party candidate for the third time. During his 2004 presidential bid, Nader won .03% of the national vote.

According to the Dallas Star-Telegram newspaper, there was a lapse in security at the 2/22 Obama rally there. Local police said that an order was issued by the US Secret Service, meant to speed up the long lines outside, approved suspension of the use of metal detectors and handbag and laptops bags scrutiny. Hmmm! On another front, there is trouble in paradise at the NAACP, its leadership choices and initiatives.

The NAACP national board is ready to select a new President/CEO. But there is a Board divide. During a NYC annual Board Meeting two weeks ago, a group known as the “Leadership of Consciousness” which feels alienated by most Board decisions, tried unsuccessfully to unseat Board chair Julian Bond. As you know, Mr. Bond has been petitioning the Democratic leadership to acknowledge Florida and Michigan primary results, a move intended to bolster Senator Clinton at the Democratic Convention.

Whose civil rights does the NAACP represent? More on this later!

CULTURE STUFF

: Russell and Danny Simmons take cover. Russell, HIPHOP godfather, dons the cover of UPTOWN magazine’s Winter 2007/2008 cover, as a Change Agent in the Philanthropy issue. Fine artist Danny dons the cover of Brooklyn’s

African-American newspaper, AT HOME, an offshoot of Our Time Press……. Vy Higginsen’s GOSPEL AT THE BROWNSTONE on March 8, 15, 22, 29 at 149 West 126 Street, Harlem. For reservations and to raise funds for your church or nonprofit , call 212.280-1045….Kim Moran Weston’s The Third Annual Potpourri Festival, March 2, 4-7 pm, presents World Women Works, featuring vocal phenom

Lilias White

at Bill’s Place, 148 West 133 Street, Harlem. For reservations, call 718 901.0408. Rex Reed said that Ms. White can hold a note longer than Carmen McCrae.

To have events considered for listing or announcement the columnist can be reached via [email protected]

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VICTORIA’S PROPERTIES LTD.

Pre-Spring Specials

STUDIOS:

1. Edgecombe/137 Street $1100 brownstone w/sleeping alcove

2. Convent/145 Street $1050 brownstone, 4th floor

3. St. Nicholas/ 137 Street $1100 brownstone, 2nd floor

ONE BEDROOMS:

4. Lenox/7th 130 Street $1075 brownstone utilities included

5. Elton Ave/150 Street $1100 & $1300 w/private deck utilities included *

6. Bway/RSD/145 Street $1700 brownstone, floor-thru w/2 balconies, electric stove

7. Seventh/134 Street $1450 renovated brown stone floor-thru 4th floor

TWO BEDROOMS:

8. Lenox/123 Street $2700 renovated brownstone, 2 full baths

9. 8thAve/132 Street $1700 carpeting

10. 8th Ave/137-138 Sts. $2300 duplex, front/back patios, washer/dryer/dishwasher 1 ½ baths

11. St Nicholas/141 Street $1800 newly-renovated brownstone 4th floor

THREE BEDROOMS:

12. Dyckman/204 Street $1500 exposed brick wall 4th/5th floors **

13. Lenox & Fifth/125 Street $2700 6-floor walk-up, 2 full baths, dishwasher

14. Lenox & Fifth/120 Street $2700 Sunlit park views

* Bronx

** Upper Manhattan

Contact: Victoria Horsford. NYS Real Estate Broker. 212.665.3003 917.703.3699

 

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www.thegroovemag.com

 

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