Frederick Douglass Houses
Encyclopedia
The Frederick Douglass Houses are a public housing project located in the New York City
borough
of Manhattan
, in the Manhattan Valley
neighborhood of Upper West Side
, named for civil rights pioneer Frederick Douglass
. The actual buildings are located between 100th Street and 104th Street, to the east of Amsterdam Avenue
and the west of Manhattan Avenue. The complex is owned and operated by the New York City Housing Authority
.
The original portion of the complex consists of 17 buildings — 5, 9, 12, 17, 18, and 20-stories tall — completed on May 31, 1958 on a 21.76 acres (8.8 ha) site. The development includes 2,056 apartments housing some 4,588 residents. The Frederick Douglass Addition, completed on June 30, 1965, is a 16-story building with 306 residents on 0.55 acre (0.2225773 ha) on Amsterdam Avenue between West 102nd and West 103rd Streets.
The Frederick Douglass Playground covers 1.945 acres (7,871.1 m²), on Amsterdam Avenue between 100th and 102nd Streets. Land for the playground was acquired by the city in 1954, and the playground was opened on September 10, 1958. The New York City Board of Estimate
transferred the property from the New York City Housing Authority to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
in August 1962, which still is responsible for management of the park.
Two residents were killed in a November 1995 fire, when a couch left in a stairway vestibule caught fire and flames swept up the stairwell to the roof of the building. The NYCHA was criticized by the New York City Council
for fires related to its use of paint in stairwells deemed unsafe by the New York City Fire Department
, focusing on the incident at the Douglass Houses.
Despite signs of improvement in the early 1990s in the surrounding area, the Frederick Douglass Houses were a stubborn and persistent site of drug dealing as the crack epidemic
was continuing during that period.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, in the Manhattan Valley
Manhattan Valley
Manhattan Valley is a neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, bounded by West 110th Street to the north, Central Park West to the east, West 96th Street to the south, and Broadway to the west...
neighborhood of Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
, named for civil rights pioneer Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
. The actual buildings are located between 100th Street and 104th Street, to the east of Amsterdam Avenue
Tenth Avenue (Manhattan)
Tenth Avenue, known as Amsterdam Avenue north of 59th Street, is a north-south thoroughfare on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City. It carries uptown traffic as far as West 110th Street, also known as Cathedral Parkway for the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine...
and the west of Manhattan Avenue. The complex is owned and operated by the New York City Housing Authority
New York City Housing Authority
The New York City Housing Authority provides public housing for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs of New York City. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments...
.
The original portion of the complex consists of 17 buildings — 5, 9, 12, 17, 18, and 20-stories tall — completed on May 31, 1958 on a 21.76 acres (8.8 ha) site. The development includes 2,056 apartments housing some 4,588 residents. The Frederick Douglass Addition, completed on June 30, 1965, is a 16-story building with 306 residents on 0.55 acre (0.2225773 ha) on Amsterdam Avenue between West 102nd and West 103rd Streets.
Development
The development was approved by the New York City Planning Commission on February 7, 1952, as a low-rent housing project to be erected on a 22.5 acres (91,054.4 m²) site bounded by Manhattan Avenue, Amsterdam Avenue and West 100th and 104th Streets.The Frederick Douglass Playground covers 1.945 acres (7,871.1 m²), on Amsterdam Avenue between 100th and 102nd Streets. Land for the playground was acquired by the city in 1954, and the playground was opened on September 10, 1958. The New York City Board of Estimate
New York City Board of Estimate
The New York City Board of Estimate was a governmental body in New York City, responsible for budget and land-use decisions. Under the charter of the newly amalgamated City of Greater New York the Board of Estimate and Apportionment was composed of eight ex officio members: the Mayor of New York...
transferred the property from the New York City Housing Authority to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
The City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation is the department of government of the City of New York responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecological diversity of the city's natural areas, and furnishing recreational opportunities for city's...
in August 1962, which still is responsible for management of the park.
History
As a result of previous incidents, many local restaurants and fast food chains refuse to deliver take-out orders to the doors of residents, requiring that customers meet the delivery person at the ground floor.Two residents were killed in a November 1995 fire, when a couch left in a stairway vestibule caught fire and flames swept up the stairwell to the roof of the building. The NYCHA was criticized by the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
for fires related to its use of paint in stairwells deemed unsafe by the New York City Fire Department
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
, focusing on the incident at the Douglass Houses.
Despite signs of improvement in the early 1990s in the surrounding area, the Frederick Douglass Houses were a stubborn and persistent site of drug dealing as the crack epidemic
Crack Epidemic
The United States crack epidemic refers to the surge of crack houses and crack cocaine use in major cities in the United States between 1984 and 1990...
was continuing during that period.
Notable residents
- Stephan DweckStephan DweckStephan Dweck is an African-American humorist, radio show host and the author or co-author of several books.He co-hosted the Sports Funk show on WFAN-AM radio in New York City with Monteria Ivey...
, humorist. - Monteria Ivey (1960-2001), host of PBS game show Think Twice.
- Lawrence Hilton-JacobsLawrence Hilton-JacobsLawrence Hilton-Jacobs is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in a number of films and television programs, including Claudine , Cooley High , Roots , Welcome Back, Kotter , Bangers and Mash , and The Jacksons: An American Dream .Lawrence's name, at least as shown in the credits of Welcome...
, actor - Mekhi PhiferMekhi PhiferMekhi Thira Phifer is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his multi-year role as Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama ER and his co-starring role opposite Eminem in the feature film 8 Mile...
,actor - Reggie Carter NBA Player NY Knicks