March 9, 2026
On Monday, March 9, members of Community Board 12-Manhattan (CB12M) joined the celebration at Morris-Jumel Mansion marking the launch of its $10 million restoration project — a milestone that follows CB12M’s formal expression of support for the effort in 2022.
Nestled in Washington Heights, Morris-Jumel Mansion holds the distinction of being the oldest standing house in Manhattan. It served as George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War and has since become a museum dedicated to preserving that legacy.
Wayne Benjamin, Chair of CB12M’s Land Use Committee, spoke to the building’s singular significance. “I can think of no building in Washington Heights and Inwood, a community rich in history, with greater historic significance than the Morris-Jumel Mansion,” he said. “The 261-year-old Mansion, a New York City and national landmark, is a hidden gem in a vibrant urban neighborhood.”
Benjamin also underscored the restoration’s timeliness, describing the project as “the first since 1990″ and “a long-awaited undertaking that will help to ensure that the Mansion will continue to play a role in the life of the community for generations to come.”
CB12M was represented at the event by Benjamin (who also serves on the Mansion’s board of trustees as Vice President), Luana Ferreira (Chair of the CB12M Parks & Cultural Affairs Committee), and Alexis Marnel (CB12M Secretary). Ferreira delivered remarks on the Board’s behalf, reaffirming the Board’s support for the project and conveying the community’s enthusiasm for seeing it realized.
Benjamin closed with a broader call to action: “As this important project advances we look forward to greater attention to, and designation and protection of, historic buildings and places in Washington Heights and Inwood.”
About Community Board 12-Manhattan
CB12M is a local agency of the New York City government, serving the neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood. CB12M consists of up to 50 volunteer members with connections in the district. Made up of committees carrying out its work, CB12M addresses issues including affordable housing, education, small business needs, and public safety, to name a few. CB12M is one of 59 community boards that advocate on behalf of the people of New York City.