New Push to Landmark Paved-Over Queens African Burial Ground

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is reviewing a proposal to protect the site of a 19th century African American burial ground that was paved over by an anonymous developer. The site, located at 47-11 90th St., is believed to date to 1818, nine years before slavery was abolished in New York. The burial ground was purchased in 1828 by a group of freed slaves who formed the United African Society, which later became St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church. The church sold the property in the 1930s but still maintains some stewardship over the site.

Last week, the Elmhurst History and Cemeteries Preservation Society and the pastor of St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Kimberly Detherage, submitted a request for evaluation to the commission, seeking landmark designation for the site. The group argues that the cemetery should be protected and respected, emphasizing its historical significance as a resting place for up to 300 enslaved and formerly enslaved residents of a 19th century Black community known as Newtown.

Rev. Detherage and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. have also urged the city to purchase the property and transform it into a memorial. The city has acknowledged the site’s historical importance, with a spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani stating that the Landmarks Preservation Commission is an independent entity and that the city would refer inquiries to the commission for further action.

The site’s history took a dramatic turn in 2011 when workers excavating the property uncovered an iron coffin containing the remains of a free-born Black woman who likely died of smallpox. Subsequent archaeological work revealed the remains of 10 additional individuals, who were disinterred and are currently stored offsite. The most recent owner, 90 Queens LLC, abandoned the luxury condo project and paved over the site in 2023, using it as a parking lot.

The ongoing efforts to preserve the site reflect a broader movement within historically Black denominations to honor and protect the legacy of African American history. The case underscores the importance of recognizing and safeguarding the physical and cultural heritage of Black communities, ensuring that their stories are not lost to development and neglect.

Source: Read the original report