Saving Hip Hop's First House; U.S Senator Chuck Shumer and DJ Kool Herc announce www.save 1520.org

The Bronx the birthplace of hip hop is launching www.save1520.org and reaching out to the hip hop community and leaders, to help the tenants of 1520 Sedwick Ave., in Morris Heights to preserve the piece of history and their homes. Chuck Shumer, hip hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc and Coke Larock announced at a press conference.

Sporting "Sedwick and Cedar" wears, Clive Campbell aka DJ Kool Herc said, "This is where it all started," "But it all turned into a sad story. People are about to get put out of their houses."

Shumer said, "No one is saying the landlord should not profit। All we're saying is that he does not have to maximize on profit and throw people out."


U.S Senator Chuck Shumer and Keisha C. Morrisey


The building owners announced plans last February to remove the complex from the affordable housing program and to sell the property. The tenants successfully rallied to get the building designated eligble for listing on the State and National Register of Historical Places, but it was not enough to stop the sale. The real estate developer has offered to let the residents buy the building for $14 million, the tenants with private lenders, funding and city subsidies, have managed to raise an estimated $11 million, but it still falls short, said a spokesperson for a non profit group working with the tenants.

The West Bronx housing complex 1520 Sedwick Ave., made history in August 1973 after DJ Kool Herc aka Clive Campbell, and his sister threw a house party that gave rise to the now popular music genre and culture.