Arlene Harrison, "the mayor of Gramercy Park," founded the Gramercy Park Block Association in 1994, after her then-teenage son was beaten by a roving gang in front of her building. "Block associations usually start around a catalyst issue," Harrison says, "and this community joined together and set up a block association to deal with the crime that was rampant in those days around the city."

Since then, the association has grown to 2,000 members and was granted nonprofit status; it has tackled issues ranging from traffic congestion to panhandling to historic preservation, and also hosts a number of charity drives each year.

As crime has declined, Harrison says she now sees her main role as a steward of the area's historic legacy.