First Houses facts for kids

First Houses
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
First Houses in 2011
Location in Manhattan Show map of Manhattan Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	29-41 Ave. A & 112-138 E. 3rd St. Manhattan, New York City
Area	1.2 acres (0.49 ha)
Built	1935-36
Architect	Frederick L. Ackerman
NRHP reference No.	79001602
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	December 18, 1979

The First Houses are a very special group of apartment buildings in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. They are famous because they were one of the very first public housing projects ever built in the United States. Public housing means homes built and managed by the government to provide affordable places for people to live.

These important buildings were recognized as a New York City Landmark and a National Historic Landmark in 1974. This means they are protected because of their historical importance. The New York City Housing Authority, a city agency, is in charge of managing the First Houses.

What Are the First Houses?

The First Houses project includes 122 apartments. These apartments have either three or four rooms. They are located in eight buildings, which are four or five stories tall.

Where Are They Located?

You can find the First Houses on the south side of East 3rd Street. They are between First Avenue and Avenue A. The buildings also stretch along the west side of Avenue A, between East 2nd Street and East 3rd Street. This area is part of Alphabet City and the East Village in Manhattan.

A Look Back: How First Houses Began

The First Houses got their name because they were among the first public housing units built in the United States. They opened their doors to the first families on December 3, 1935. Imagine, more than 4,000 families wanted to live in just 122 apartments! This shows how much people needed good, affordable homes at that time.

Before the First Houses were built, the land had old, crowded apartment buildings called tenements. These tenements were from the Victorian era. The city decided to replace these old buildings with new, safer homes. This project was the very first one for the city's new Housing Authority, which finished building the First Houses in 1936.

From Old Buildings to New Homes

Initially, the plan was to fix up the old tenements. The idea was to tear down some parts to let in more light and fresh air. However, the architect, Frederick L. Ackerman, and his team soon found out that the 19th-century tenements were too old and weak to be rebuilt safely.

So, they decided to tear down all the old buildings. The First Houses were then built completely new, from the ground up. They even reused bricks from the old buildings. This project also gave jobs to many people who needed work during a difficult economic time, with the federal government helping to pay their wages.

Architect Ackerman designed the new apartment buildings with special features. They had rear entrances and courtyards. These designs allowed much more natural light and fresh air into the homes than the old tenements. The open areas behind the buildings were paved with cobblestones and included playgrounds, trees, benches, and even sculptures for the people living there to enjoy.

A closer look at one of the buildings (2011)

Why First Houses Were Important

Even though building the First Houses cost more money than expected, Langdon Post, who was in charge of the Housing Authority, believed it was worth it. He explained several reasons why:

• First, it proved that public housing was possible and not just an idea. It showed that the government could build good homes for its citizens.
• Second, it helped the Housing Authority get special loans, called bonds, to improve old, run-down areas. Important people like Vincent Astor and Bernard M. Baruch were the first to accept these bonds.
• Third, the project helped the Housing Authority win an important legal case. This case confirmed the government's right to buy private land for public projects, even if the owner didn't want to sell, as long as they received fair payment. This power is called eminent domain.
• Fourth, Mayor La Guardia called it a very important project, showing its significance to the city.

The legal case about eminent domain was very important. The owner of two old tenements on East 3rd Street argued that taking his property, even with payment, was against the laws of the United States and New York State. However, the New York State Court of Appeals, which is the highest court in New York State, decided that the Housing Authority could buy private property for public use. The court said that if a situation threatens the health, safety, or general well-being of the public, the government has a duty to act and use its power to fix it. This ruling helped clear the way for many future public projects.

See also

In Spanish: First Houses para niños