The non-profit Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation (UMEZ), dedicated to funding community development in Upper Manhattan, is relocating its headquarters to 119 West 125th Street in Harlem, Commercial Observer has learned. UMEZ has signed a lease for 9,000 square feet in the 17-storey mixed-use complex located between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards, according to Taconic Partners, one of the project's developers.
UMEZ was itself a lender in the construction of the 414,000-square-foot complex, known as the Urban League Empowerment Center, which officially opened its doors at the end of 2025. Details regarding the lease term and the asking rent for UMEZ's new sixth-floor office space were not disclosed. However, the Class-A office space is expected to command a premium price for the Harlem market, where office rents typically range between $30 and $55 per square foot, according to estimates by Metro Manhattan Office Space.
Significant Relocation in an Established Centre
The owners were represented in this transaction by Chris Mongeluzo, Brian Cohen, Eric Zemachson and Chris Ventura of Newmark. Ruth Colp-Haber, CEO and President of Wharton Property Advisors, represented the tenant. Colp-Haber emphasised in a statement to CO that UMEZ is a long-established and respected institution in Harlem, and that there could be no more fitting building for them to occupy.
The Urban League Empowerment Center was developed as part of a public-private partnership, led by Empire State Development, together with Taconic Partners, L+M Development Partners, Prusik Group and BRP Companies. The full-block complex offers 90,000 square feet of office space and 84,000 square feet of retail space, as well as 171 affordable housing units in a 17-storey tower on West 126th Street. George Tsapelas of Taconic Partners commented that this lease further solidifies the groundbreaking building's role as a leader in impactful, mission-driven development and an economic driver for the community. He added that it is fitting for UMEZ to become a tenant in the building after years of supporting its larger development.
Location Advantages and Neighbourhood
UMEZ's new headquarters allows for a convenient relocation from its previous offices at 55 West 125th Street, which are located just south, beyond Malcolm X Boulevard. The non-profit organisation has been active in this neighbourhood since 1995, fostering economic development through job creation, business partnerships, strategic investments and small business support.
Blair Duncan, CEO of UMEZ, stated that the move marks an exciting new chapter for the non-profit organisation. Other office tenants in the overall complex include the civil rights organisation National Urban League, the Studio Museum in Harlem, scholarship provider United Negro College Fund, and Virginia Union University. The Urban League Empowerment Center will also house the city's upcoming Urban Civil Rights Museum.
