Once upon a time, there was an area just a few blocks north of Central Park, which was destined to become a place of splendor. The property would be named Stephen Foster Projects Houses (after the famous songwriter) and later would be renamed Martin Luther King Towers (in tribute to the slain civil rights leader).
A bit of history: After World War II, ‘urban renewal’ was seen as a way to rehouse the urban poor in New York. Progress has been made in Harlem by tearing down dilapidated structures and replacing them with modern geometrically arranged apartment buildings in addition to community facilities. One of these Manhattan Projects was Stephen Foster Houses that would have 1,379 apartments. The city first acquired the planned Harlem property in 1946.
The corner of 115th Street and Lenox Avenue back in 1948, prior to construction, can be seen below.
A bit of history: After World War II, ‘urban renewal’ was seen as a way to rehouse the urban poor in New York. Progress has been made in Harlem by tearing down dilapidated structures and replacing them with modern geometrically arranged apartment buildings in addition to community facilities. One of these Manhattan Projects was Stephen Foster Houses that would have 1,379 apartments. The city first acquired the planned Harlem property in 1946.
The corner of 115th Street and Lenox Avenue back in 1948, prior to construction, can be seen below.
March 30, 1948, 115th Street down towards 112th Street on Lenox Avenue
This is what the same corner of 115th Street & Lenox Avenue looked like during construction in 1951.
1951
In The Beginning
The Plan: The ten building complex would span from 112th Street to 115th Street and Fifth Avenue to Lenox Avenue (Malcolm X Blvd). The new houses were designed to give lots of sunlight and fresh air. They were made with fine lawns, plenty of trees and shrubbery, parking lots and many playgrounds for children. (The final building of the set was completed on October 31, 1954).
feb-28-1952-daily-news-page-about-apartment-applications
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Then came the announcement in the early part of 1952 that applications were being accepted. Families from every part of the city flocked towards this low-income opportunity.
Notice the extreme difference in pricing as compared to today.  |
And then it finally happened! The first family was allowed to move into the first completed building, which was 40 West 115th Street on Thursday, May 8, 1952.
Detailed information was given in the article about the Joseph family. According to today's standards, there was a lot more information than necessary. |
Daily News Newspaper, Fri, May 9 1952, pg. 306
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This letter, dated August 1, 1952, informed my parents and their ten-month old son, Louis Green, that they could move into their new home at 70 Lenox Avenue, Apt. 2J on Thursday August 14, 1952. When I was born in 1953, this became my first home.
End of part one. To be continued.
"Growing up in the projects was a terrifyingly wonderful experience."
Join the author on his quest to understand life, love and the demons that persistently haunt him in this coming of age fictionalized autobiography of the first twenty-three years of his life.
Join the author on his quest to understand life, love and the demons that persistently haunt him in this coming of age fictionalized autobiography of the first twenty-three years of his life.
4 COMMENTS
CORNELL SCOTT
3/29/2020 09:04:44 amThanks for the beautiful reflections. I was born in Flower Hospital in July 1955. We resides at 21W 112st apt 8H until August 1966 when my mother relocated us to Syracuse (upstate). My last 3-4 yrs until we moved was spent in Central Park, the big park, playing tag one, tag all in the circle...
You’ve touched me deeply today, for that I am grateful 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
PATRICIA MANNS
2/19/2021 09:00:06 amMy family lived at 21 W 112 st. Apt 7C. We moved there in 1954. I remember Gloria, who sat outside in her wheelchair daily, watching us play skullys and roller skating in the ring. The was kid we called Crip. It was rumored that he fell jumping across roofs on the tenement buildings across the street.
PS 117 was right across the street. I went to Commander Shea Catholic school in el barrio and St. Thomas the Apostle on St Nicholas.
REPLY
SHELBY ALVAREZ
4/29/2020 10:09:55 pmWow! I grew up here so this was very interesting to read. I had no idea why we called it Foster Projects but now I do.
REPLY
STACY CANTELL
6/17/2020 11:37:26 pmYou all have a tenant named Shane Moultrie whose son is on Instagram, beating a women with a skateboard and killed her in YOUR projects! nick name ( skeeter) WE NEED JUSTICE OR WE WILL BURN THIS PLACE DOWN!!
CORNELL SCOTT
3/29/2020 09:04:44 amThanks for the beautiful reflections. I was born in Flower Hospital in July 1955. We resides at 21W 112st apt 8H until August 1966 when my mother relocated us to Syracuse (upstate). My last 3-4 yrs until we moved was spent in Central Park, the big park, playing tag one, tag all in the circle...
You’ve touched me deeply today, for that I am grateful 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
PATRICIA MANNS
2/19/2021 09:00:06 amMy family lived at 21 W 112 st. Apt 7C. We moved there in 1954. I remember Gloria, who sat outside in her wheelchair daily, watching us play skullys and roller skating in the ring. The was kid we called Crip. It was rumored that he fell jumping across roofs on the tenement buildings across the street.
PS 117 was right across the street. I went to Commander Shea Catholic school in el barrio and St. Thomas the Apostle on St Nicholas.
REPLY
SHELBY ALVAREZ
4/29/2020 10:09:55 pmWow! I grew up here so this was very interesting to read. I had no idea why we called it Foster Projects but now I do.
REPLY
STACY CANTELL
6/17/2020 11:37:26 pmYou all have a tenant named Shane Moultrie whose son is on Instagram, beating a women with a skateboard and killed her in YOUR projects! nick name ( skeeter) WE NEED JUSTICE OR WE WILL BURN THIS PLACE DOWN!!