Harlem tennis nonprofit set on $50M expansion

A Harlem-based youth tennis nonprofit is launching a major expansion effort.

The Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program hopes to more than double its footprint with a second location in the neighborhood, a $50 million project that will ideally span a full city block. The organization currently serves more than 800 youths with a wait list of 500 more. The new location, which is still being sought, would triple its capacity, allowing it to serve about 2,500 children per year. "If we can get that one city block, that will be great," said Katrina Adams, executive director of the nonprofit, "but we'll do what we have to based on the space that we get to create the facility that we need."

The program is based at the Harlem Armory Center on West 143rd Street, between Fifth Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard. It has four tennis courts at the Armory and looks to have 16 at its new facility, eight outdoors and eight indoors. The building, as planned, would also include classrooms, locker rooms, a cafeteria, community space and administrative offices.

The new facility would add to the organization's space at the Armory, not replace it. It would also be the first public indoor tennis facility in Manhattan, according to Savills, the brokerage advising the tennis program on its expansion efforts.

The organization is open to whatever type of real estate deal will bring this expansion to fruition, whether that ultimately means buying space, leasing space or partnering with another group, said Savills Vice Chairman Arthur Mirante. It is also preparing a comprehensive request for proposals that it will send to Harlem's real estate and business communities after the board approves it and plan to sell the facility's naming rights as part of the capital campaign, he said.

The tennis program dates back to 1972 and emphasizes education along with athletics. Its students maintain an average grade point average of 3.1, and 25% earn collegiate tennis scholarships, according to the organization.

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