A significant shift is underway for residents in East Harlem as the MTA advances the Second Avenue Subway project. Dozens of tenants across 33 apartments face the possibility of eviction to make way for new metro stations along 116th and 125th Streets.
The Metropolitan Transportation Agency has initiated legal proceedings aimed at clearing the area designated for these new installations. Aaliyah Vasquez, who’s helping her grandmother cope with the eviction notice for their home at 2058 Second Ave, shared her family’s distress. “She’s really saddened by this,” Vasquez relayed. “My grandmother has lived here for years, relying on the pharmacy at the corner and the deli across the street for her everyday needs.”
While Vasquez acknowledges the necessity for more public transit, she contends that uprooting people’s lives feels unjust. “I understand we need more trains. Really, I do. But at what cost?” she pondered. The legality of such actions is uncertain, she noted.
According to court records, the MTA insists it has the constitutional right to claim private property for public purposes, provided owners receive adequate compensation—a practice known as eminent domain.
During the first phase of the subway’s expansion, which cost $4.45 billion and connected the Q Line to 96th Street in 2017, about $10 million was allocated for relocating residents displaced by construction. The agency has mentioned it has resources available for affected tenants and real estate agents to assist in finding new accommodations.
As for the second phase, expected to cost around $7.7 billion, the financial impact of relocations remains uncalculated since the acquisition process is still in progress. An online list of targeted properties, primarily along Second and 125th Avenues, has been published by the MTA, though officials admit that not every property listed may still be up for seizure.
Authorities confirmed the impending evictions for those living in 33 apartments, and court documents reveal at least 13 properties already undergoing eminent domain procedures—some of which are currently vacant.
A family from Harlem expressed their predicament, stating they’re “definitely in limbo.” Jocelyn Diego shared their struggle with navigating this uncertainty, stressing that the MTA should help them secure new housing. “It’s too much to handle, and we want them to find us a place,” she stated.
Employees at nearby stores, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their worries about the looming changes. “People are understandably anxious. They’ve been part of this community for so long,” one noted. The rising cost of rent adds further complications, leaving many unsure of where to turn next.
The MTA board recently authorized a $1.9 billion contract to commence tunneling and construction at two new metro stations, a significant step in the project’s advancement.
Jamie Torres Springer, the MTA’s construction and development president, remarked, “We’re ahead of the game compared to Phase 1,” while acknowledging that not all property acquisitions are complete yet. “But we’re making strides,” he added.
