Carver Houses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carver Houses
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NYCHA property
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| City | New York City |
| Borough | Manhattan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.022 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 2,646 |
| • Density | 120,300/sq mi (46,400/km2) |
| ZIP codes |
10029
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| Area code(s) | 212, 332, 646, and 917 |
Carver Houses, also known as George Washington Carver Houses, is a large group of apartment buildings in Manhattan, New York City. It is a public housing development managed by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). These homes are located in a neighborhood called Spanish Harlem.
The Carver Houses complex has 13 buildings spread across an area of about 14.63 acres. Nine of these buildings are 15 stories tall. The other four buildings are six stories tall. In total, there are 1,246 apartments here, providing homes for around 2,723 people. The development is located between East 99th Street and East 106th Street, and between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue.
Contents
What is Carver Houses?
Carver Houses is a community designed to provide affordable homes for many families. It is a significant part of the New York City landscape.
How it was Built
Before Carver Houses was built, this area had older brownstone and tenement buildings. These buildings were taken down to make way for the new development. During construction, workers discovered they were building over an old stream called Montague's Creek. The first buildings were finished in 1955, and the whole complex was completed on January 31, 1958.
The buildings were designed by a company called Kahn & Jacobs. The playground area was designed by landscape architect M. Paul Friedberg. He created a special sculpture that kids could climb on.
Who is George Washington Carver?
The Carver Houses are named after George Washington Carver (1864-1943). He was an amazing African American scientist, botanist, and educator. George Washington Carver was born into slavery, but he became very famous for his work. He found many new uses for plants like soybeans, peanuts, and sweet potatoes. He helped farmers grow better crops and improve their lives.
Community Life and Features
In 1970, the people living at Carver Houses worked together to ask for changes. Led by a group called the Young Lords, tenants organized a "rent strike." This meant they stopped paying rent for a short time to get the attention of NYCHA. They wanted more police officers to help keep their community safe.
In 2007, a group called GrowNYC helped create a community garden at Carver Houses. This garden gives residents a place to grow plants and connect with nature.
As of 2010, a person named Alberta Slappy was the President of the Resident Association for Carver Houses. This association helps residents have a voice in their community. The New York City Police Department's twenty-third precinct helps keep the area safe.
