The Inwood community met Friday night at Holy Trinity Church Inwood to discuss rebuilding the block of businesses, 4945 Broadway, detroyed by fire Tuesday night.
by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S., M.A. in Health Education
At tonight’s community meeting – regarding Tuesday’s three-alarm fire on 207th Street and Broadway – I found home. After nine years of living in New York City within seven apartments from Queens to Hells Kitchen, I met true neighbors who crowded Holy Trinity Church Inwood and offered everything from construction services to meeting space.
The blaze destroyed the second story of a block of unique businesses, 4945 Broadway, that included a dentist office and my beloved Bread and Yoga, where I was once an employee and enthusiastic student. Representatives from Faceboook’s Inwood Community Group guessed that 200 to 400 attended, some listening from the garden outside or as toddlers in strollers.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” said Fr. Sam Smith, Interim Priest at Holy Trinity Church, which housed the event in its Pied Piper Children’s Theatre Auditorium. “What I keep thinking is, ‘What’s the passion? What does that say about what people are looking for?’ I’m stunned.”
Had the fire damaged large chain stores like Walgreens, I believe turnout might have been less impressive. One speaker mentioned Walgreens and earned applause when she said, “It’s a shame that the mom and pop shops are being pushed out; we’re not going to look like the Upper West Side. Nooooo!”
Fr. Smith echoed that thought, adding that much of the crowd seemed young, brought together through social media and a drive to serve.
Neighbor Richard Van Le, an organizer of tonight’s event, started the Inwood Community Facebook group after following Twitter for information about the fire. He said he wanted to create a community board and hoped to get 50 fans. At press time, the group has attracted 428 “former strangers,” Van Le said, myself included.
At first, organizers wanted the event to be at the Indian Road Café, but as interest picked up on Facebook, Van Le and others opted for Holy Trinity and its larger space. Michael Cudney, church treasurer and an Inwood resident since 1982, had said, “If you need a place, Friday is the one night where nothing is going on.”
To provide space for yoga, Cudney said he is willing to move pews in the sanctuary.
“The fire was ugly, but this is beautiful,” said Chris Travis from Everyday Church, who pledged $2,000 for rebuilding efforts.
Other speakers included the manager of the Piper’s Kilt, which faced the fire, real estate agents, and Fr. Robert Abbatiello from Good Shepherd Church on Isham and Broadway.
“We’re certainly with you in prayer and continue to offer our support,” said Fr. Robert who offered the church’s balcony and stage. “We’re your neighbors.”
Carol McKenny, manager of the Piper’s Kilt, said that his beer distributers were willing to donate drinks for a neighborhood talent show/fundraiser that would attract Inwood’s sizeable theater and arts community. “You name it in the business, and we’re here. Jump on the stage and chew bubble gum!”
One speaker offered to create bilingual print materials, so that Spanish-speaking neighbors, without computers, can learn how to help. Others suggested fundraising fleamarkets, a finance committee, and a watch dog group.
Eva El-Fayed Hernandez, Youth Program Director at Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Center, asked that rebuilding efforts involve teenagers in Inwood and Washington Heights. “For them, they need to understand the business ramifications of when something like this happens, with landlords and such,” she said. “They want to get involved. They don’t want to sit on Facebook all day long.”
Nancy Preston, a neighbor and fellow Bread and Yoga teacher, spoke earlier in the evening. When she looked into the audience, she said she couldn’t believe the turnout. “It was truly amazing,” she said. “Such a feeling of support and love and people felt like want to get their hands dirty and help.”
I’ll be talking to Preston more this year. Turns out, like so many others I met tonight, we’re neighbors.
