The National Urban League has opened its new headquarters at the Urban League Empowerment Center in Harlem, marking a return to the neighborhood where it was founded in 1910. The $242 million redevelopment project is a collaboration between Empire State Development (ESD), the City of New York, and other partners. It brings together affordable housing, retail stores, nonprofit office space, and cultural facilities on 125th Street.
The center includes 170 affordable and supportive housing units, which received support from New York State Homes and Community Renewal through federal tax credits and funding programs. Retail tenants include Trader Joe’s and Target. The site will also be home to the future Urban Civil Rights Museum in Harlem.
Empire State Development contributed over $20 million in state funding toward construction, redevelopment, and the museum’s future establishment.
Governor Kathy Hochul attended the opening event along with ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight, community leaders, and development partners. Governor Hochul said: “Harlem has always stood at the heart of our nation’s civil rights story, and the new Urban League Empowerment Center works to ensure that legacy will continue for generations to come. This project embodies what happens when we invest in people and places, creating affordable housing, bringing jobs and essential retail to 125th Street, and reaffirming New York’s commitment to equity and opportunity. I’m proud to celebrate this milestone with the National Urban League and all the partners who helped bring this vision to life.”
Hope Knight added: “The Urban League Empowerment Center represents a true model of inclusive economic development — a project that not only honors Harlem’s history but also strengthens its future. ESD was proud to play a leading role in making this transformative investment possible, combining State resources and community input to deliver housing, retail, cultural space, and the National Urban League’s permanent home. This is economic empowerment in action, and a powerful example of how collaboration can drive both progress and justice.”
