New York Amsterdam News Building
Why it's listed
Standing at 2293 Seventh Avenue in Harlem, this four-story brownstone row house is the center unit of five Greek Revival style houses flanked by brick tenements. The upper floors are residential and the lower floors hold storefronts. The building is about 15 feet wide, with stone masonry bearing walls, a galvanized-iron cornice and decorated brownstone lintels. Its significance comes from the New York Amsterdam News, which moved here in 1916 as circulation grew and remained until 1938, when it relocated to Eighth Avenue. James H. Anderson founded the paper in 1909. During the years at this address it expanded from a Harlem paper to one with national coverage and reputation among black readers. It campaigned against lynching, reported on discrimination and injustice, and in 1927 became the first black-owned weekly to print an issue in rotogravure. It was also the first black newspaper unionized in all departments, in 1936. The building is structurally sound but needs repair, including spalling brownstone.
Significance in brief: The building is tied to the New York Amsterdam News, founded in 1909 by James H. Anderson, which became the nation's most prominent black newspaper. The paper grew most in circulation and national appeal between 1916 and 1938 while based here. It campaigned against lynching and for racial equality, and led black thought and action in print.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76001247, listed May 11, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2293 7th Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | May 11, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001247 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1916 - 1938 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Black, Communications |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 11, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally sound but in need of repair, with spalling brownstone; the row houses are completely occupied except one that is partially vacant. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.81489, -73.94356 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76001247.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7013013
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.