Manhattan Plaza facts for kids
Manhattan Plaza is a large apartment complex in New York City. It has two tall buildings and is located in midtown Manhattan, near the famous Theater District. Opened in 1977, it has 1,689 apartments and is home to about 3,500 people. A special thing about Manhattan Plaza is that most of its residents (70%) work in the performing arts, like actors, musicians, and dancers. The rest are neighborhood residents and older people. It's known for being a successful example of affordable housing.
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History of Manhattan Plaza
Building the Towers
Construction on Manhattan Plaza began in 1974. The idea was to build two tall apartment towers for middle-class families. The City of New York helped fund the project with a large loan. This was part of a program to create affordable housing for people with average incomes.
However, during construction, New York City faced a big financial crisis. The city couldn't provide all the money it had promised. Also, there weren't many people looking for apartments in that area. This was because the neighborhood, historically known as "Hell's Kitchen", was considered a bit rough at the time.
A New Plan for Housing
With the project facing problems, a new idea came up. The city decided to use Federal funds to make the apartments deeply affordable. This meant that tenants would pay rent based on their income, usually no more than 30% of what they earned.
This new plan worried many people living in the surrounding community. They were concerned about thousands of new, low-income neighbors moving in.
The Performing Arts Solution
To solve this problem, a real estate developer named Daniel Rose came up with a creative idea. He suggested that the apartments should be mainly for people who work in the performing arts. This included actors, musicians, directors, stagehands, and others in the entertainment industry.
The idea was that these artists would meet the income rules for affordable housing. Also, they would help improve the neighborhood and support the growing theater scene in Times Square.
Community Support and Opening
At first, some people were unsure about this idea. No other affordable housing project had ever been limited by occupation before. But soon, performing arts unions and the city strongly supported the plan. They believed it would make the area lively and exciting.
A study showed that many performing artists in New York City would qualify for the housing. This helped calm the fears of neighborhood residents. Daniel Rose's plan for "Manhattan Plaza for the Performing Arts" was approved.
Manhattan Plaza officially opened in 1977. 70% of the apartments were set aside for performing arts workers. 15% were for elderly and disabled residents from the local neighborhood. The remaining 15% were for other neighborhood residents living in poor housing conditions. The apartments quickly filled up, with a long waiting list.
Helping the Community
An important person in the early success of Manhattan Plaza was The Rev. Rodney Kirk. He became the first Director of the complex. Kirk helped create a welcoming atmosphere and organized support for hundreds of older residents.
Later, when a health crisis affected many residents, Kirk set up social service programs. These programs provided care and support with the help of staff and volunteers. After Kirk retired in 1997, his work was continued. Today, the Rodney Kirk Theatre, named in his honor, is part of Theatre Row nearby.
About Manhattan Plaza
Design and Features
Manhattan Plaza was designed by architect David Todd. It was one of the tallest buildings in the Hell's Kitchen area when it was finished. You can still see it clearly from many directions.
Between the two main buildings, there are many useful features. These include a parking garage, a fitness center with a swimming pool, a basketball court, and tennis courts. There's also a playground, a wall-climbing center, and various shops, restaurants, and a bank.
Community and Activities
Inside the Tenth Avenue building, you'll find the 43rd St Kids Preschool. This school was started in 1981 and is run by parents.
The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located at the base of the Ninth Avenue building. Many plays have been performed there, including over 40 by writer Lewis Black.
In 2009, the playground on the third-floor rooftop was replaced. A new, unique playground was built with electronic and interactive games. It officially opened in June 2009.
Manhattan Plaza also hosts a Summer Day Camp and Youth Program every year. It's for kids aged 7 to 13 and runs from July to August. Campers can enjoy swimming, baseball, basketball, tennis, wall climbing, and performing arts. They also go on trips and watch movies once a week.
See also
In Spanish: Manhattan Plaza para niños
