The Maysles / Cafe Melo Expansion Project

Title

The Maysles / Cafe Melo Expansion Project

Creator

Fox, Samantha

Date

2024-12-09

Description

Final Assignment for ARCH 73100 (Fall 2024)

Language

English

Subject

Maysles Documentary Center

Lenox Avenue

Cafe Melo

Preservation

Community Engagement

Third Space

Leisure

Black Culture

Abstract

This proposal envisions an expansion of Maysles Documentary Center and Cafe Melo, two vital third spaces along Malcolm X Boulevard, into their adjacent buildings. By preserving their cultural significance and enhancing their infrastructure, the project tackles the intertwined challenges of cultural erasure and environmental inequities. The unsustainable practice of allowing buildings to deteriorate, sit vacant, and then be replaced with resource-intensive new construction exacerbates climate challenges and displaces community spaces. Through preservation and environmental updates, this project benefits Harlem’s community needs while addressing the infrastructure’s climate impact, ensuring these third spaces remain pillars of Black life and leisure.