Urban Civil Rights Museum to arrive at NUL HQ for 250th commemoration

Manhattan, NY This summer, New York City’s first Urban Civil Rights Museum is arriving during the U.S. 250^th anniversary commemoration at the Urban League Empowerment Center, which itself recently celebrated its grand opening last autumn with a number of high-profile attendees, including mayor Mamdani, governor Hochul, and civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton. The event and upcoming milestone underscore what’s becoming a singular commercial and residential success story on 125^th St. 

The Empowerment Center features 170 units of affordable housing, reserved for families earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income, including young adults supported by The New York Foundling’s program for foster youth who have aged out of the system. Beyond housing, the center also offers retail and office space for minority-owned businesses and nonprofits, which is expected to generate over $300 million in economic activity, as well houses the National Urban League (NUL) headquarters, Whitney M. Young Center for Leadership, Studio Museum in Harlem, Virginia Union University, and the UNCF. 

Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, the 17-story project offers 90,000 s/f of big-box and community retail space, 75,000 s/f of class-A office space, 170 affordable residential units as well as the new headquarters for the National Urban League – one of the most transformative mixed-use ecosystems NYC has ever seen encompassing retail, residential and cultural enrichment all New Yorkers can experience. 

The Urban Civil Rights Museum will be New York City’s first museum dedicated to the American civil rights movement, with a focus on struggles in Northern urban environments. Its mission: to interpret and share stories of justice and civil rights, offering immersive educational experiences that empower visitors to become agents of change. 

The museum will feature: 

• A permanent interactive installation 

• Rotating exhibitions 

• Retail and café spaces 

This Urban League Empowerment Center was developed by Taconic Partners, L+M Development Partners, The Prusik Group, and BRP Companies, in collaboration with NUL and Empire State Development.