Lessons from Arch @60: Building Housing, Building Community

The Arch @60 Symposium was a groundbreaking event celebrating Harlem’s architectural legacy and its path forward in addressing housing challenges. This year’s discussions revolved around the intersection of racial equity, gentrification, and the financialization of housing, featuring voices from community leaders, architects, and developers.

Highlights: Housing Harlem

• Holistic Development for Vibrant Communities: Yvonne Stennett’s leadership on the Inwood Library project set a new standard for integrating housing, education, and cultural programming. “How do you max out the value of life for the people who live there?” she asked—a question that guides every community-first design initiative.
• Social Housing and Tenant Empowerment: Dominique Bernucca-Hood underscored the importance of tenant-driven models like the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which helps residents maintain control of their neighborhoods amidst gentrification pressures.
• A Unified Approach to Affordable Housing: Kirk Goodrich stressed collaboration between private developers, nonprofits, and government entities to address the urgent need for over 500,000 new housing units in NYC by 2030.

Mecca LLC’s Perspective
At Mecca LLC, we believe housing is more than a commodity—it’s a foundation for thriving communities. Our projects aim to combine innovative design, cultural preservation, and sustainability to serve residents' needs and create long-term impact.

We’re inspired to bring the lessons from Arch @60 into action by:
1️⃣ Advocating for tenant-led housing solutions.
2️⃣ Partnering with nonprofits to deliver holistic developments.
3️⃣ Leveraging sustainable, community-driven models that align with the needs of Harlem and beyond.

Join Us in the Conversation
What steps can we take today to address housing inequity and create vibrant, sustainable communities? Let’s discuss!