The year was 1952 and the nation was recovering from World War ll, when a young man by the name of Perry Redding moved into a Central Park North Apartment, located at 207 W 110th Street. Born and raised in a segregated town in Louisiana, Redding would face a transition from the South to the North, culturally shocked by the vivid memories of what use to be. Jim Crow signs of second-class citizenship transformed into open doors of opportunity in a big city atmosphere full of dreams and reduced hate. Redding can remember a beautiful building at time in history when Harlem was flourishing with Afro-American heritage. Paintings of motionless African art decorated a building completely occupied by Afro-American tenants, thriving on a foundation called Harlem.

Today, Redding is eighty-two years of age and is living through yet another drastic change, taking place not only in Harlem but in Afro-American communities throughout the nation. The buying and renovation of homes in deteriorating Harlem neighborhoods, by middle and high-income professional, is indeed improving property values but appears to be displacing low income families. Although landlords cannot be the blame for economic growth, Afro-Americans are becoming concerned with their displacement, thus altering the culture and ethnic development that has been established in Harlem. A premier example of the renovation by middle-class professionals focuses on 207 Central Park North. This building becomes a target, due to the fact that Afro-American tenants do not meet the financial standards needed to compete for the rising property value. Therefore, Redding and the sixteen remaining Afro-American tenants are involved in what is feared to be an exclusion of Afro-American tenants from the 207 W 110th Street Apartment Buildings.

However, Afro-American tenants have a combined reason to believe that everscince the arrival of landlord Maurice Mann and in 1997; the plan of gentrification has been enforced in a prejudice manor. Although Mann has repaired the oil burner, painted the doors, installed new mailboxes and replaced damaged marble, Mann feels that the tenants do not appreciate his efforts. Afro-American tenants have come to the conclusion that the building is finally being made livable just so they could be forced out. In addition, Afro-American tenants feel that their exclusion from the building goes far beyond financial statis when the landlord fails to provide complete and proper repairs for their homes. According to interviewed tenants, Afro-American residents were convinced of prejudice tactics when property manager Jeraldo Rivera was overheard releasing the statement, "all nigga's will be removed from this building."

Afro-American tenant Michael Brown moved in ten years ago and has been in and out of court since his arrival in 1990. Brown paid $20,000 for repairs when he first arrived to 207 W 110th Street and according to Brown, he never received proper services for the renovation of his apartment. Mann explained that Brown decided to take him to court where Brown was defeated and ordered by a Judge to pay an additional $21,000 to supplement his refusal to pay rent for a ten year period. "There is a possibility that the judges and lawyers have share in the building, because I had no chance in court," said Brown. Brown had to pay the $21,000 ordered by the court within a five-day period or was to be evicted. According to Mann, a $30,000 renovation plan was built into Brown's apartment and when Brown failed to pay rent again; Mann took Brown back to court for a second time.

Tenant Greg Baker who is disabled and restricted to a wheelchair, is dealing with a similar dilemma. Baker moved into the 207 W 110th Street Apartments in the early 1980's and has been struggling to keep an apartment on the fifth floor of the building, which has eight damaged rooms. Landlord Maurice Mann has tried countless times to convince Baker that a one bedroom on the first floor would be a lot more convenient, complete with handicapped-accessible kitchen and bathroom, but Baker refuses to be removed from his home. Baker then explained that after his refusal to be moved to the first floor, a lady named Thelma Nelson broke into his apartment. "I had just arrived from work, when I approached my front door only to find Nelson in the process of removing furniture from my apartment," said Baker. According to Baker, Mann paid Nelson off as she was later arrested and convicted of assault, robbery, burglary, and illegal eviction. In addition, Baker appears to be having difficulty with receiving proper and complete repairs to his apartment. Repairmen, hired by Mann's reality, came to renovate Bakers apartment but apparently did not complete the job.Pieces of wood cover what used to be holes in the floor of the kitchen and bedrooms. In addition, partially painted walls cover the inside of an apartment that Baker is ashamed of inviting friends and family to. Upset with the incomplete repairs of his home, Baker took his landlords to court but was not able to attend the hearing. According to Baker, repairmen came to his home the morning of court and jammed the lock on Baker's front door. "It took me almost an hour to get the door open with a screw driver and by then it was too late to make it to court," said Baker.

Serah Ferholt and Stefano Biaggioni are both White-American tenants who have moved into the 207 Central Park North building within the past two years and appear to be satisfied with their new homes. Neither tenant has recorded any complaints as marble covers the bathroom in Biaggioni's apartment. "I really enjoy staying here so far and I'm impressed with the living conditions,' said Biaggioni. Bone white hallways compliment a beautifully polished hardwood floor that illuminates the interior of Biaggioni's apartment, who happens to live right next door to Baker.

However, Mann feels that these tenants are taking out their frustrations from the poor treatment they received from the 7a administrators. The fairly new landlord explained that with the exception of a few tenants, differences with the residents have been resolved. "The building has come a long way, we have addressed 1,000 violations left behind by the 7a administrator," said Mann. Mann also owns three other buildings on the same block and according to Mann, all buildings have a diverse population.

Considering that these tenants commence to struggle in keeping up with the financial pace of increasing rent, funding for prolonged court cases only drives the nail of transition deeper into the hearts of African-American tenants. Slowly but surely, the number of African-American tenants in 207 Central Park North are dropping fast, arguably due to discrimination. The History of Harlem is rich in Afro-American culture but how will Harlem preserve it's culture if Afro-American's are being displaced. What will Harlem be like ten years from now if gentrification reigns supreme, moving all low-income families to designated areas of the city? The Afro-American tenants of 207 W 110 Street are optimistic and really love their building, truly believing that in the end righteousness will prevail.