Adams reverses course on plans to use luxury Harlem complex as migrant shelter after community outrage

Mayor Eric Adams stunningly reversed course on plans to turn an abandoned luxury Harlem condominium complex into a migrant shelter when he was met with community outrage Thursday night.

Adams’ change of heart came during a surprise appearance at a St. Nicholas House Resident Association meeting packed with dozens of residents furious over the city’s plan for a building development on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd once marketed as upscale housing.

The 35-story building was quietly slated to become a homeless shelter that could potentially house migrants — a plan that was only revealed to the community this week when some neighborhood residents saw workers bringing bed frames and mattresses inside.

But in the face of pressure, Adams on Thursday night backpedaled.

Mayor Eric Adams promised the complex would be used for New York City families, not migrants. CBS News

“I told the team, ‘Find out what’s going on here. We’re not moving folks into a brand new building when you have long-term needs in a community. That’s not gonna happen,’” Adams said at the meeting, according to CBS New York.

“You will not have migrants and asylum seekers in that property,” Adams declared.

The site will instead be used to house long-term New York families experiencing homelessness, a spokesperson for the city Department of Social Services told the outlet in a statement.

The building, originally billed as a lux living space where residents would pay market rates to enjoy an indoor swimming pool and apartments with marble bathrooms, has sat vacant for a decade since developers were forced into foreclosure.

It was then leased to a non-profit that had been working with the city Department of Social Services/Homeless Services to use it as a shelter for either migrants or the Big Apple’s native homeless population.

Dozen’s of furious residents attended the St. Nicholas House Resident Association meeting on Thursday in Harlem. CBS News

Those in attendance at Thursday’s community meeting let Adams know how they felt about the plans to possibly house migrants.

“You are the mayor. We do not want to hear excuses,” one Harlem resident shouted at Adams, CBS New York reported.

Others expressed hope the complex could be turned into affordable housing for neighbors who are struggling to afford their rent.

“We have a dearth of affordable housing we’re being priced out of the community … The lack of respect is absolutely appalling,” Harlem resident Regina Smith said.

Residents demanded transparency from Adams after neighbors spotted bunk beds being delivered to the luxury building. CBS News

The condominium has sat vacant for a decade after developers were forced to foreclose. Supplied

“These apartments could be used for us to go into,” Leslie Johnson said.

The city Department of Social Services confirmed to CBS New York the building would be transformed into transitional housing for long-term New York families.

“Despite the developer’s initial plans for market rate condominiums, development had been stalled and this building left indefinitely empty– it would not have advanced as luxury housing. Instead of sitting vacant, this site will serve as high-quality transitional housing for long-term New York City families with children experiencing homelessness,” a spokesperson said.

Adams flashes a smile while attending Thursday night’s meeting in Harlem. CBS News

“We will be working with an experienced not-for-profit provider to help these families stabilize their lives and ultimately move into permanent housing. As we have always done, we will continue to maintain open lines of communication and work closely with the community every step of the way to ensure that we are collaboratively working to provide critical services for our neighbors in need.”

A timeline for the housing has not yet been established.