Rev. Al Sharpton announced that the National Action Network will purchase the Faison Firehouse Theater on Hancock Place, converting it into a headquarters dubbed the House of Justice Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Workshop. The 10,400‑square‑foot building, once a firehouse and later a community theater, will replace the group’s two‑decade lease on West 145th Street. Sharpton frames the move as a safeguard against Harlem’s accelerating gentrification.

Negotiations were led by Jennifer Jones Austin, the organization’s vice chair, who said the purchase price and renovations will total between $5 million and $7 million. The sale came after former owner choreographer George Faison sought a buyer who would preserve the space rather than develop it. Harlem’s Black population has fallen to roughly 50 % in 2023, intensifying concerns that cultural landmarks are being lost.

By anchoring its operations in a landmark building, the National Action Network aims to create a hub for arts and activism that mirrors the Harlem Renaissance salons. The acquisition also signals a rare instance of a civil‑rights nonprofit securing real estate amid a market dominated by commercial developers. The organization now controls a asset that can generate revenue and community space for years to come.