E. Harlem Church With Activist Ties Could Be Landmarked

EAST HARLEM, NY — The city Landmarks Preservation Commission is considering landmark status for an East Harlem church closely tied to the Puerto Rican activist group the Young Lords ahead of a city rezoning of the neighborhood.

The 1st Spanish United Methodist Church, also referred to as The People's Church, was calendared for landmarks designation Tuesday by the LPC, according to a press release. The LPC action is the first step toward the church, located on the corner of East 111th Street and Lexington Avenue, gaining individual landmarks status.

The LPC action is notable, considering the church is more notable for its ties to East Harlem's culture than historic architecture. The church is closely tied to the "activities, platform and ideology" of the Young Lords, a group active in the '50s and '60s. The group formed in Chicago as a gang before transitioning into a social justice movement with an ideology closely mirroring the Black Panthers.

In 1969 the Young Lords occupied the 1st Spanish United Methodist Church for 11 days in order to provide services to New York's Puerto Rican community. The Young Lords were arrested after leaving the church peacefully and again stated an occupation of the church from October to December in 1970.

"While the Young Lords undertook many activities in East Harlem and the Bronx, their actions at 1st Spanish United Methodist allowed their ideas and platform to reach decision makers not only within their direct community, but throughout the city and state," an LPC proposal reads.

The church building was built in 1880 for the Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, but was redesigned in 1964 when a fire damaged the original structure. Everything but fragments of the first floor were destroyed in the fire, according to the LPC.

Photo courtesy Landmarks Preservation Commission