Al Sharpton is urging New York City officials to intervene and halt a proposed development project that could threaten the historic Merchant's House Museum in Manhattan.
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The call comes after a recent discovery revealed that the site may have been connected to the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom.
Speaking at a press conference alongside city leaders and museum officials, Sharpton emphasized the historical significance of the site and warned against any actions that could damage it.
"In 1776, Declaration of Independence, we were slaves, and some of those slaves came through this building seeking liberation and freedom," Sharpton said at a press conference on Monday alongside museum staff and members of the City Council. "And to tear it down is to tear [down] the history of freedom fighters all over this city and all over this nation."
The controversy centers on a proposal submitted by Kalodop II Park Corporation to demolish an adjacent structure and construct an eight-story building next to the museum.
While the project had previously received conditional approval from the city’s New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2023, construction never began. The earlier approval included strict safeguards designed to protect the historic structure, including requirements that the new building be structurally independent and that existing remnants remain undisturbed.
The revised proposal is now under review, with a decision pending further evaluation.
Museum officials warn that the planned construction could cause significant structural damage, particularly due to vibrations from excavation and the weight of the new building.
"Our engineers and engineering studies have shown that the museum is definitely going to face pretty severe damage from the construction next door, both from the vibrations associated with construction of excavation and building. And then also from the heavy weight of that big, big building right next door, which will drag down our rubble foundation." said Emily Hill-Wright, the Merchant's House Museum's director of operations. "It's such an important part of our history as New Yorkers and as Americans."
Earlier this year, researchers confirmed the presence of a hidden passage within the museum—originally built in 1832 by Joseph Brewster—that may have been used to aid enslaved individuals seeking freedom.
The narrow concealed space, located behind a chest of drawers, drops approximately 15 feet and is believed to have served as either a hiding place or an escape route. Preservationists now fear that ongoing construction could destroy this fragile and historically significant feature before it can be fully studied.
"The passage … is really mere bricks away from this proposed development next door. There really is no way that this passage survives this construction." Hill-Wright said. "For the last 14 years, the museum has been fighting the proposed development of a commercial building next door."
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The dispute reflects a broader tension in urban centers like New York City, where development pressures often intersect with historic preservation. As land becomes increasingly scarce, proposals for new construction frequently arise near culturally significant sites, raising questions about how to balance growth with heritage conservation.
The Merchant’s House Museum is one of the few remaining 19th-century family homes preserved intact in Manhattan, making it a rare architectural and cultural resource. The newly identified connection to the Underground Railroad further elevates its importance, linking the site to a critical chapter in American history.
Advocates argue that once such historical features are lost, they cannot be replaced, underscoring the need for cautious planning and thorough study before development proceeds.
City officials are expected to weigh preservation concerns against development rights in the coming weeks, as stakeholders on both sides continue to push for their priorities.
Originally reported by Noelle Lilley in CBS News.
