Board Members

Michael T. Johnson

Michael Johnson was born in Miami Florida, and completed his high school education in that city. He went on to the University of Florida at Gainsville. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Immediately upon his graduation, he flew to New York City; he has been a resident of the City ever since.

On his arrival in the city he worked briefly in the theater joining Joseph Papp’s organization and subsequently as a Registered Representative for First Investors. However, he quickly found his way to Harlem and worked first with Mr. Charles Frost, who was then probably the most noted Real Estate appraiser in the area. When Mr. Frost retired, he moved on to work with Ms. Emily Ricks, a founding member of the Greater Harlem Real Estate Board.

In parallel with working for Mr. Frost, he co-founded Uptown Gambit, Inc. a New York State Corporation in the business of owning and operating residential real estate in the community. On obtaining his license as a real estate broker, he expanded the business of this corporation to include real estate sales and left Ms. Ricks office.

About twenty ago his Corporation. acquired 3-5 West 122nd Street, an elevator building in the Mount Morris Park Historic District. In 1991 he formally converted that building to a condominium, the first such condominium conversion ever in central Harlem.

From the time that he joined Mr. Frost’s firm, he was active in the Greater Harlem Real Estate Board. In 1990 he was elected President of that Board and served in that capacity for six years; he decided not to seek reelection for a fourth term. His Presidency saw a resurgence of the Board’s position in the community. Of all the accomplishments two stand out.

First, the Treasury and which was empty on his election, had a comfortable balance, the membership fees provide a good positive cash flow. Most important, the Board’s financial status as a tax-exempt organization was established with the IRS.

Secondly, the Board’s status with the City was firmly established. The Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Program initiative from the Mayor’s office, was embraced wholeheartedly by the Board and ex Commissioner Wright has said that but for his active involvement the program would probably not have succeeded. In the event, all the Round One entrepreneurs in Harlem were members of the Board and the program is deemed to have been a success. In consequence, in the later rounds of the program the participation of the Board was actively sought.

He intends to remain active in the real estate business. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Greater Harlem Real Estate Board and that Board in turn elected him to its Chair. He went on to use that position to examine the Constitution of the Board and discuss with the Board and the community the long-range strategy for how the two could work together.

He continues to work to further his vision of a new Harlem Renaissance based on middle class home ownership rather than Harlem as a de facto slum for the poor in heavily subsidized housing. Naturally this brought him to Harlem Commonwealth Council. He joined the Board in 2001 and was elected Chairman of that Board in 2005. He is proud of his involvement in the recently completed “Fast Track” Program and the just announced Scholarship Program.