HELP RESTORE NEW AMSTERDAM MUSICAL ASSOC. FACADE

Please join us in making a difference! We're raising money to help benefit the NEW AMSTERDAM MUSICAL ASSOCIATION (NAMA) for the urgently needed restoration of its Historic front exterior FACADE. NAMA has successfully maintained over 100 years of Black ownership of its Central Harlem Historically Landmarked Live Music venue. Any additional support for this Facade restoration project will help preserve the beginnings of Harlem Jazz history, and NAMA’s Legacy of showcasing Live Music at its finest in this venue. There are countless stories told of Count Basie, Miles Davis, Frank Staton, and numerous other music Legends who visit NAMA, rehearsed and/or honed their skills in this very same artists' space or Eubie Blake and Jelly Roll Morton who even lodged at 107 W. 130th Street temporarily, when not permitted to stay elsewhere!

GREAT NEWS! Of the $100,000 GOAL needed for this critical project, we are extremely grateful to announce that with your donations and approved matching grants received thus far, as of March 31, 2023, NAMA has successfully raised $64,700.00 to date; Therefore, ONLY $35,300 of these funds still needs to be raised right now in April 2023, so that NAMA can commence with this vital work as well as comply with Landmark Preservation Grant requirements, and all work permit deadlines, etc! Any donation(s) made will make an impact in moving NAMA closer to its goal of $100,000.00 needed for this vital project. Thanks in advance for your kind contribution(s) to this cause which means so much in preserving NAMA as a remaining Historical Musical hub, and vital cultural resource to the Harlem Community, its residents and the world,

LEARN MORE about New Amsterdam Musical Association(NAMA) and please help SUPPORT & MAINTAIN the safety of this needed Historically Landmarked Institution as a long-standing Harlem Community Musical venue. The NAMA organization was founded in 1904 and incorporated in January 1905 as the first and oldest Union for professional Black musicians of the diaspora, as an answer to segregation when people of color were not permitted into the white-only Local 310 (now Local 802). NAMA’s membership included many musicians that contributed to the Harlem Renaissance. James Reese Europe, Eubie Blake, Larry Lucy, Jelly Roll Morton, James Weldon Johnson and Fletcher Henderson were some NAMA members of note. NAMA is still standing a century later and has not only been instrumental in supporting musicians and artists for decades but also even through the perils of COVID-19 and is still serving the Harlem community in a myriad of ways to date!

FACADE PROJECT INCEPTION: All NAMA activities nearly came to a halt last year on Saturday, May 28, 2022, when an IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY DECLARATION ORDER was issued that holiday weekend. A sidewalk shed was then erected at NAMA’s HISTORICAL Front Facade exterior, while simultaneously a Building VIOLATION and an Office of Administrative Hearing Date were initiated by the NYC Dept of Buildings (DOB). DOB deemed NAMA facade exterior conditions unsafe with dangerous dilapidation and possible crumbling bricks; thereby, requiring immediate action by the DOB and NYC Housing Preservation Dept. (HPD) to protect the public and attendees from any probability of falling debris. We’ve thoroughly investigated all requirements for preservation through the NYC Landmarks Commission and NAMA hired a preservation Architect from SAVE HARLEM NOW. We’ve compared quotes for professional repair and skillful restoration of the NAMA facade inclusive of the sidewalk shed and scaffolding, etc. It has since been estimated at its very lowest cost, inclusive of contingency expenses, as approximately $100.000.00 for total project expenditures. A contingency is included because even when this Facade work itself is completed, NAMA is still subject to DOB Violation fines that may range from $1,500 to $6,000 or even higher if not immediately cured, pending the time remedy has begun, or if completed before the next OATH Court hearing, etc.

PROGRESS REPORT: Since the Summer of 2022 thus far, THANKS to donors like you, and the various approved matching grant award pledges and contributions of professional services, etc, NAMA has been fortunate to amass over 65% and counting of significant funding and services needed towards this critical project.

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SUMMARY

WE ARE SO CLOSE NOW to meeting the GOAL of $100,000.00 needed! With your help, the SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION of NAMA’s HISTORICAL FACADE REPAIR and RESTORATION CAN BE A REALITY THIS SUMMER 2023 BEFORE EITHER THE LPC WORK PERMIT or PRESERVATION GRANT TERMS EXPIRE and/or any ACCRUAL of BUILDING VIOLATION FINES.

TOTAL FRONT FACADE PROJECT COSTS BREAKDOWN:

$ 6,000 Sidewalk Shed

$ 7,500 Scaffolding

$ 82,500 Contracted Facade Restoration & Preservation work.

$ 5,000 Contingency Funds, DOB Fines, etc

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$100,000 TOTAL COSTS

- $64,700 Funds raised to date for Project

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$35,300 NEEDS to be RAISED NOW!

We deeply thank you again for your kind consideration and support in this endeavor.

Your CONTRIBUTION to N.A.M.A is TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Donations to the New Amsterdam Musical Association (NAMA) Non-profit 501c3 Organization, will help ensure NAMA's legacy of being a cultural and musical treasure for Harlem artists and community members for many years and generations to come.

Thanks for your ongoing contributions and support!

Money Orders and Checks are also accepted by mail payable to:

NEW AMSTERDAM MUSICAL ASSOC.

107 West 130th Street

NY, NY 10027

Website: Http://NamaHarlem.org

Restoring NAMA Facade to replicate its original greatness

Tax Photo 1915 Right: Daniel Covin Gift 2018