The Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market on West 116 St has been a landmark and tourist attraction in Harlem since opening in 1994. It’s home to dozens of vendors selling African clothing and products.

As a Harlem resident since 2008, I always enjoy the sight of tourists, many of them French-speaking, patronizing the market and attending the Sunday services at the neighboring churches. There’s so much history uptown and I’d love to see more visitors to New York spend their time (and money) here.

Last week, the market temporarily relocated across the street to make way for the construction of a new affordable housing project that will include 108 rental units. The project is expected to be completed in 2029.

Once it’s done, the vendors will move into a new market space in the ground floor. I haven’t seen the renderings, but I imagine the new space will be a huge upgrade from the existing stalls, all of which appear to be unchanged since the early 1990s.

Harlem (and NYC) desperately need more affordable housing and more opportunities for small businesses to thrive. I’m very much looking forward to the completion of this project.