NEW YORK - In another sign of an ongoing revitalization, a pair of car dealerships has opened in Harlem, the first in the neighborhood in more than 40 years.

Friday's grand opening of the Chevrolet-Saturn of Harlem dealership and the Potamkin Cadillac-HUMMER dealership was attended by city and state officials, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, as well as Rick

Wagoner, chairman and chief executive of General Motors Corp.

The two dealerships are housed in a 300,000-square-foot complex at 127th Street between Second and Third avenues,

and have created 150 new jobs, with possibly 50 more on the way.

According to a news release, the two dealerships comprise one of New York City's largest auto sales and service centers, and are the only ones north of 57th street in Manhattan.

They were built in part with $17 million in tax-exempt “Empowerment Zone” bonds through the city's Industrial Development Agency.

“Harlem is undergoing an incredible renaissance, and the fact that General Motors decided to open one of the city's largest auto dealerships here speaks volumes,” Bloomberg said in the release. “The investments by GM and these two dealers, and the new jobs they created, are a tremendous boost for the local economy.”

Wagoner said the GM dealerships represent the company's commitment to diverse markets and “Harlem in particular, which we believe is a market with tremendous sales potential.”

Other recent projects in the neighborhood include West Harlem Piers, a $19 million plan to develop recreational, fishing and excursion piers. The city broke ground on the piers in October.

The first phase of the $65 million restoration of the Apollo Theater also was completed last year.