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55-568: The Renaissance Ballroom & Casino was an entertainment complex at 2341–2349 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. When opened in 1921, it included a casino, ballroom, 900-seat theater, six retail stores, and a basketball arena. It spanned the entire eastern frontage of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard between 137th and 138th Streets. The Renaissance Theatre Building, as it

110-620: A racial quota had been filled. After traveling the Northeastern United States, he finally found a recruiting station that had not, in his words, "filled their quota for Negro Marines"; however, World War II was over before Dinkins finished boot camp . He served in the Marine Corps from July 1945 through August 1946, attaining the rank of private first class . Dinkins was among the Montford Point Marines who received

165-491: A "patronage appointee who kept marriage licenses and municipal records") from 1975 to 1985. He was elected Manhattan borough president in 1985 on his third run for that office. On November 7, 1989 , Dinkins was elected mayor of New York City, defeating three-term incumbent mayor Ed Koch and two others in the Democratic primary and Republican nominee Rudy Giuliani in the general election. During his campaign, Dinkins sought

220-480: A domestic worker, and William Harvey Dinkins Jr., a barber and real estate agent. His parents separated when he was six years old, after which he was raised by his father. Dinkins moved to Harlem as a child before returning to Trenton. He attended Trenton Central High School , where he graduated in 1945. Upon graduating, Dinkins attempted to enlist in the United States Marine Corps but was told that

275-670: A formidable, reform-minded challenger to Koch. Additionally, the fact that Dinkins was African American helped him to avoid criticism that he was ignoring the Black vote by campaigning to whites. While a large turnout of African American voters was important to his election, Dinkins campaigned throughout the city. Dinkins' campaign manager was political consultant William Lynch Jr. , who became one of his first deputy mayors. Dinkins entered office in January 1990 pledging racial healing, and famously referred to New York City's demographic diversity as "not

330-509: A green roof, an energy-efficient boiler and water-saving plumbing Prior to commencing the construction of the new Renny in 2015, Harlem residents expressed concerns that the new structure (i) would not improve the African-American community in that area of Harlem and (ii) would destroy an important building related to the history of Harlem and to the history of the U.S. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard Seventh Avenue originates in

385-475: A melting pot, but a gorgeous mosaic". The crime rate in New York City had risen alarmingly during the 1980s, and the rate of homicide in particular reached an all-time high of 2,245 cases during 1990, the first year of the Dinkins administration. The rates of most crimes, including all categories of violent crime, then declined during the remainder of his four-year term. That ended a 30-year upward spiral and initiated

440-425: A police officer, Dinkins attempted to diffuse tensions by inviting Garcia's family to Gracie Mansion . This gesture outraged the city's PBA, who claimed Dinkins's actions showed favoritism toward Garcia and bias against the police. To condemn Dinkins' position on policing, the city PBA organized a protest on September 16, 1992 , which quickly turned violent when nearly 4,000 off-duty police officers blocked traffic on

495-459: A political comeback, Dinkins remained somewhat active in politics after his mayorship, and his endorsements of various candidates, including Mark Green in the 2001 mayoral race , were well-publicized. He supported Democrats Fernando Ferrer in the 2005 New York mayoral election, Bill Thompson in 2009, and Bill de Blasio in 2013. During the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries , Dinkins endorsed and actively campaigned for Wesley Clark . In

550-585: A rematch of the 1989 election . Dinkins earned 48.3 percent of the vote, down from 51 percent in 1989. One factor in his loss was his perceived indifference to the plight of the Jewish community during the Crown Heights riot. Another was a strong turnout for Giuliani in Staten Island ; a referendum on Staten Island's secession from New York was placed on the ballot that year by Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo and

605-653: A series of criminal convictions among the city's Democratic leadership. In March 1989, the New York City Board of Estimate (which served as the primary governing instrument of various patronage networks for decades, often superseding the mayoralty in influence) also was declared unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment 's Equal Protection Clause by the Supreme Court of the United States ; this prompted

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660-400: A trend of falling rates that continued and accelerated beyond his term. However, the high absolute levels, the peak early in his administration, and the only modest decline subsequently ( homicide down 12% from 1990 to 1993) resulted in Dinkins' suffering politically from the perception that crime remained out of control on his watch. Dinkins in fact initiated a hiring program that expanded

715-591: A world fashion capital. The first, temporary signs designating the section of Seventh Avenue as "Fashion Avenue" were dual-posted in 1972, with permanent signs added over the ensuing years. Seventh Avenue intersects with Broadway and with 42nd Street at Times Square , with multiple buildings at the intersections. Notable buildings located on Seventh Avenue include: Notable buildings on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard , from Central Park north through Harlem , include: Notes David Dinkins David Norman Dinkins (July 10, 1927 – November 23, 2020)

770-560: Is a major thoroughfare in the West Village . The now dismantled St. Vincent's Hospital was a main downtown hospital on Seventh Avenue and 11th Street. Running through the Garment District (which stretches from 12th Avenue to 5th Avenue and 34th Street to 39th Street), it is referred to as Fashion Avenue due to its role as a center of the garment and fashion industry and the famed fashion designers who established New York as

825-493: Is called Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. Addresses continue as if the street was continuous through Central Park, with the first block north of the park being the 1800 block. The United States Postal Service delivers mail using either street name. As is the case with " Sixth Avenue " and " Avenue of the Americas ", long-time New Yorkers continue to use the older name. The street has two northern termini; an upper level terminates at

880-481: The B , ​ D ​, and E trains. North of the park, Powell Boulevard is served by the Harlem–148th Street on the 3 train, and the 155th Street station on the B and ​ D trains. It is also served by numerous local MTA New York City Bus routes downtown, with uptown buses on 8th Avenue unless specified below: South of 14th Street Seventh Avenue

935-656: The Brooklyn Bridge and knocked over police barricades in an attempt to rush City Hall . The nearly 300 uniformed on-duty officers did little to control the riot. Despite the riot and objections from the PBA, the CCRB was reorganized and made independent from the police department in July 1993. Dinkins was rebuffed in his attempt to end the licensing of locksmiths . During his final days in office, Dinkins made last-minute negotiations with

990-642: The Congressional Gold Medal from the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Dinkins graduated cum laude from Howard University with a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1950. He received his LL.B. from Brooklyn Law School in 1956. While maintaining a private law practice from 1956 to 1975, Dinkins rose through the Democratic Party organization in Harlem, beginning at

1045-834: The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund . Dinkins was also on the advisory board of Independent News & Media and the Black Leadership Forum, was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations , and served as chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. Dinkins' radio program Dialogue with Dinkins aired on WLIB radio in New York City from 1994 to 2014. His memoirs, A Mayor's Life: Governing New York's Gorgeous Mosaic , written with Peter Knobler , were published in 2013. Although he never attempted

1100-528: The New York State Assembly in 1966, eventually advancing to Manhattan borough president . He won the 1989 New York City mayoral election , becoming the first African American to hold the office. After losing re-election in 1993 , Dinkins joined the faculty of Columbia University while remaining active in municipal politics. Dinkins was born in Trenton, New Jersey , to Sarah "Sally" Lucy Dinkins,

1155-800: The New York State Legislature . From 1994 until his death, Dinkins was a professor of professional practice at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs . Dinkins was a member of the board of directors of the United States Tennis Association . He served on the boards of the New York City Global Partners, the Children's Health Fund , the Association to Benefit Children, and

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1210-616: The Posse Foundation National Board of Directors until his death in 2020. The David N. Dinkins Municipal Building in Manhattan was named after the former mayor in 2015 by mayor Bill de Blasio . Dinkins married Joyce Burrows , the daughter of Harlem political eminence Daniel L. Burrows , in August 1953. They had two children, David Jr. and Donna. When Dinkins became mayor of New York City, Joyce retired from her position at

1265-467: The South Bronx , and Brooklyn; overall more housing was rehabilitated in Dinkins' only term than Giuliani's two terms. With the support of Governor Mario Cuomo , the city invested in supportive housing for mentally ill homeless people and achieved a decrease in the size of the city's homeless shelter population to its lowest point in two decades. In 1993, Dinkins lost to Republican Rudy Giuliani in

1320-569: The Theater District . The design was Moorish with glazed tile and palladian windows . The complex had a ballroom, a billiard parlor, stores, and a restaurant called China House. There was a basketball team known as Harlem Rens . The theater had 900-seats and featured movies by Oscar Micheaux , the first African American to produce feature-length films. It was used by the NAACP for an Anti-lynching movement meeting in 1923. The Renaissance Ballroom

1375-704: The USTA National Tennis Center . By negotiating a fee for New York City based on the event's gross income, the Dinkins administration made a deal with the US Open that brings more economic benefit to the City of New York each year than the New York Yankees , New York Mets , New York Knicks , and New York Rangers combined. The city's revenue-producing events Fashion Week , Restaurant Week , and Broadway on Broadway were all created under Dinkins. Dinkins's term

1430-508: The West Village at Clarkson Street, where Varick Street becomes Seventh Avenue South (which becomes Seventh Avenue proper after the road crosses Greenwich Avenue and West 11th Street ). It is interrupted by Central Park from 59th to 110th Street . Artisans' Gate is the 59th Street exit from Central Park to Seventh Avenue. North of Warriors' Gate at the north end of the Park, the avenue carries traffic in both directions through Harlem , where it

1485-515: The 20th century. It was extended southward, as Seventh Avenue South, to link up with Varick Street in 1914, and Varick was widened at the same time. Extension of the avenue allowed better vehicular connections between midtown Manhattan and the commercial district in what is now TriBeCa . It also permitted construction of the New York City Subway IRT Broadway ;– Seventh Avenue Line which opened in 1918. Extension of

1540-533: The 78th District of the New York State Assembly in 1966 . From 1972 to 1973, he was president of the New York City Board of Elections . In late 1973, he was poised to take office as New York City's first Black deputy mayor in the administration of Mayor-elect Abraham D. Beame ; however, the appointment was not effectuated amid "difficulties that stemmed from [Dinkins'] failure to pay federal, state or city personal income taxes for four years." Instead, he served as city clerk (characterized by Robert D. McFadden as

1595-536: The Carver Democratic Club under the aegis of J. Raymond Jones . He became part of an influential group of African American politicians that included Denny Farrell , Percy Sutton , Basil Paterson , and Charles Rangel ; the latter three together with Dinkins were known as the " Gang of Four ". As an investor, Dinkins was one of fifty African American investors who helped Sutton found Inner City Broadcasting Corporation in 1971. Dinkins briefly represented

1650-468: The Mayor's press secretary said "security would be tight and gas masks would be provided for the contingent", Mayor Dinkins visited Israel as a sign of support. The Dinkins administration was adversely affected by a declining economy, which led to lower tax revenue and budget shortfalls. Nevertheless, Dinkins' mayoralty was marked by a number of significant achievements. New York City's crime rate, including

1705-714: The Renaissance to become a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. It was agreed on but it did not happen. In May 2014 from Abyssinian Development Corporation sold the Renaissance Complex for $ 15 million. In 2015, New York-based developer BRP secured a construction loan from Santander Bank for $ 53.2 million for the development of a mixed-income residential rental complex. The new building, called "The Renny", has an LEED -Silver certification with ecological structure features such as solar panels,

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1760-602: The Renny. In the 1990s, the location was used in Spike Lee 's film Jungle Fever as a backdrop for a crack den . The Renaissance Complex closed in 1979. In 1989, The Renny was purchased by the Abyssinian Development Corporation, an organization established in 1989 as a nonprofit corporation. Abyssinian Development Corporation had planned to restore the "Renny," which it did not do. In 1991 attempts were made for

1815-841: The State Department of Taxation and Finance. The couple were members of the Church of the Intercession in New York City. Joyce died on October 11, 2020, at the age of 89. Dinkins was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi ("the Boule"), the oldest collegiate and first professional Greek-letter fraternities , respectively, established for African Americans. He was raised as a Master Mason in King David Lodge No. 15, F. & A. M., PHA, located in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1952. In 1994, Dinkins

1870-453: The avenue was under consideration for several years, and was approved by the New York City Board of Estimate in September 1911, when the first $ 3 million appropriation was made for the initial planning of the work. The extension had been urged by civic groups to meet the commercial needs of Greenwich Village. A significant number of old buildings were marked for demolition in the extension, and

1925-483: The blessing and endorsement of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson , the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Dinkins was elected in the wake of a corruption scandal that stemmed from the decline of longtime Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman and preeminent New York City political leader Meade Esposito 's American Mafia -influenced patronage network, ultimately precipitating the suicide of Queens Borough President Donald Manes and

1980-541: The campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, Dinkins served as an elected delegate from New York for Hillary Clinton . During the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, Dinkins endorsed former Mayor Michael Bloomberg for president on February 25, 2020, just before a Democratic debate. Dinkins sat on the board of directors and in 2013 was on the Honorary Founders Board of The Jazz Foundation of America . He worked with that organization to save

2035-675: The city's Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA) . In 1992, Dinkins proposed a bill to change the leadership of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), the oversight body that examined complaints of police misconduct, from half-cop–half-civilian to all civilian and make it independent of the New York Police Department. Following the Washington Heights Riot , fueled by the beating of Jose "Kiko" Garcia, an undocumented Dominican Republic immigrant, by

2090-615: The demolished buildings included the Bedford Street Methodist Church, constructed in 1840. Most of Seventh Avenue has carried traffic one-way southbound since June 6, 1954. The portion north of Times Square carried two-way traffic until March 10, 1957. Seventh Avenue is served by the 1 , ​ 2 , and ​ 3 trains for most of its length, with N , ​ Q , ​ R , and ​ W service between 42nd Street and Central Park South . The Seventh Avenue station also serves

2145-811: The empanelment of the New York City Charter Revision Commission , which abolished the Board of Estimate and assigned most of its responsibilities to an enlarged New York City Council via a successful referendum in November. Koch, the presumptive Democratic nominee, was politically damaged by his administration's ties to the Esposito network and his handling of racial issues, exemplified by his fealty to affluent interests in predominantly white areas of Manhattan. This enabled Dinkins to attenuate public perceptions of his previous patronage appointments and emerge as

2200-432: The homes and lives of America's elderly jazz and blues musicians, including musicians who survived Hurricane Katrina . He served on the boards of the Children's Health Fund (CHF) , the Association to Benefit Children, and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF) . Dinkins was also chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. He was a champion of college access, serving on

2255-506: The murder rate, declined in Dinkins' final years in office; Dinkins persuaded the state legislature to dedicate certain tax revenue for crime control (including an increase in the size of the New York Police Department along with after-school programs for teenagers), and he hired Raymond W. Kelly as police commissioner. Times Square was cleaned up during Dinkins' term, and he persuaded The Walt Disney Company to rehabilitate

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2310-486: The old New Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street . The city negotiated a 99-year lease of city park space to the United States Tennis Association to create the USTA National Tennis Center (which Mayor Michael Bloomberg later called "the only good athletic sports stadium deal, not just in New York, but in the country"). Dinkins continued an initiative begun by Ed Koch to rehabilitate dilapidated housing in northern Harlem,

2365-569: The police department nearly 25%. The New York Times reported, "He obtained the State Legislature's permission to dedicate a tax to hire thousands of police officers, and he fought to preserve a portion of that anticrime money to keep schools open into the evening, an award-winning initiative that kept tens of thousands of teenagers off the street." Dinkins' term was marked by a greater push toward accountability and oversight regarding police misconduct, which led to friction between Dinkins and

2420-483: The public, initially, in February 1920, at 10¢ a share. Sarco's executive directors were William H. Roach, president and general manager; Cleo Charity (1889–1964), vice-president and treasurer; Cornelius Charity, second vice-president; and Joseph Henry Sweeney (1889–1932), secretary. The other directors were John Blake, Edmund Osborne, Shervington Lee, and Edward B. Lynch. Sarco Realty and the R. Holding Company, of which Roach

2475-410: The sanitation workers, presumably to preserve the public status of garbage removal. Giuliani, who had defeated Dinkins in the 1993 mayoral race, blamed Dinkins for a "cheap political trick" when Dinkins planned the resignation of Victor Gotbaum , Dinkins' appointee on the board of education, thus guaranteeing Gotbaum's replacement six months in office. Dinkins also signed a last-minute 99-year lease with

2530-487: The time was known as the New Negro Movement . William H. Roach from Antigua , Cleophus Charity and Joseph H. Sweeney from Montserrat were the founding builders of the Renaissance Complex. They were members of Marcus Garvey ’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The African-American owned and operated firm, The Sarco Realty & Holding Company, Inc., raised the funds for the project by selling shares to

2585-516: The time, the Charleston , Lindy Hop , and Black Bottom , to live music performed by well known jazz musicians. Jazz artists including Louis Armstrong , Fletcher Henderson , Duke Ellington , Count Basie , Cab Calloway , Lionel Hampton , Cootie Williams , Bessie Smith , Lena Horne , Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald performed at the "Renny". In the 1920s, the Renaissance Ballroom

2640-692: The western end of the Macombs Dam Bridge , traveling over the Harlem River , where Jerome Avenue commences in the Bronx . A lower level continues a bit further north and curves into the lower level of West 155th Street . Seventh Avenue was originally laid out in the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 . The southern terminus of Seventh Avenue was Eleventh Street in Greenwich Village through the early part of

2695-583: Was also President, purchased the land. Sarco contracted Isaac A. Hopper's Sons to erect the Renaissance Theatre building, at a cost of $ 175,000. Sarco Realty owned and managed the building until 1931; Sarco Realty also owned and operated the Renaissance Casino and Theatre until 1931. The Renaissance was designed by Harry Creighton Ingalls, who also designed the Henry Miller and Little Theatres in

2750-467: Was an American politician, lawyer, and author who served as the 106th mayor of New York City from 1990 to 1993. Dinkins was among the more than 20,000 Montford Point Marines , the first African-American U.S. Marines , from 1945 to 1946. He graduated cum laude from Howard University and received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1956. A longtime member of Harlem 's Carver Democratic Club, Dinkins began his electoral career by serving in

2805-498: Was known as a "Black Mecca". It hosted Joe Louis fights. The ballroom was on the second floor of the entertainment complex. The "Renny" was a significant entertainment center during the Harlem Renaissance , and the New Negro Movement in Harlem. When African-American culture and art flourished. historically important structure helped usher in the decade-long period of African-American cultural and artistic flourishing, which at

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2860-741: Was marked by polarizing events such as the Family Red Apple boycott , a boycott of a Korean-owned grocery in Flatbush , Brooklyn, and the 1991 Crown Heights riot . When Lemrick Nelson was acquitted of murdering Yankel Rosenbaum during the Crown Heights riots , Dinkins said, "I have no doubt that in this case the criminal-justice system has operated fairly and openly." Later he wrote in his memoirs, "I continue to fail to understand that verdict." In 1991, when "Iraqi Scud missiles were falling" in Israel and

2915-526: Was one of several legendary Harlem jazz venues in the 1920s. Others included the Uptown Cotton Club , Connie's Inn , and the Savoy Ballroom . The "Rennie" was open to African Americans, while some of the other well clubs in Harlem did not cater to African Americans. In 1953, David Dinkins — who served as the first African-American mayor of New York from 1990 to 1993 — had his wedding reception at

2970-410: Was originally named, opened January 1921. It was built and owned, until 1931, by African Americans . It was known as the "Rennie" (also spelled "Renny") and was an upscale reception hall. The "Renny" held prize fights, dance marathons, film screenings, concerts, and stage acts. It was also a meeting place for social clubs and political organizations in Harlem. They gathered to dance the popular dances at

3025-459: Was part of an Episcopal Church delegation to Haiti . Dinkins was hospitalized in New York on October 31, 2013, for treatment of pneumonia . He was hospitalized again for pneumonia on February 19, 2016. Dinkins starred as himself on April 13, 2018, in "Risk Management" , the 19th episode of the 8th season of the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods . On November 23, 2020, Dinkins died from unspecified natural causes at his home on

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