United Charities Building
Encyclopedia
The United Charities Building, also known as United Charities Building Complex, at 105 East 22nd Street or 287 Park Avenue South, in the Gramercy Park
neighborhood of Manhattan
, New York City
, near the border of the Flatiron District, was built in 1893 by John S. Kennedy, a wealthy banker, for the Charity Organization Society
.
, and the New York Mission and Tract Society, providing them with a low cost location for their operations. Other charities were allowed to rent space at below market rates. In 1891, the New York City Consumers' League, founded by Josephine Shaw Lowell
, Helen Campbell – author of the 1882 book The Problem of the Poor – and Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, established its offices in the building.
R. H. Robertson, who designed the building, assisted by the firm of Rowe & Baker, was selected by Kennedy as the architect because of his extensive experience with charitable buildings, including the YWCA
on East 15th Street. James Baker, Robertson's nephew, may have worked on some of the original exterior, but did do the later additions to the building in 1897, when the original mansard roof
was removed and three stories were added to the original seven, and in 1915, when a four-story addition at 111 East 22nd was constructed.
Although the main building still houses some charitable organizations, such as the Community Service Society, today it is used for multiple purposes. The northern part of the main building, which had been partitioned from the rest and renamed the Kennedy Building, is now apartments, while the 22nd Street extension became the headquarters for the Dockworkers' Union in 1946. The union sold the building in the 1980s and it was converted for commercial use.
The complex was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1991, and is part of a proposed extension to the Gramercy Park Historic District. However, architecturally the building is described in the AIA Guide to New York City
as "bulky and boring", with the comment that "even Robertson could occasionally produce a bland product." The building sits across 22nd Street from the headquarters of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
, which was built in 1892.
Gramercy Park
Gramercy Park is a small, fenced-in private park in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park is at the core of both the neighborhood referred to as either Gramercy or Gramercy Park and the Gramercy Park Historic District...
neighborhood 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...
, New York City
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...
, near the border of the Flatiron District, was built in 1893 by John S. Kennedy, a wealthy banker, for the Charity Organization Society
Charity Organization Society
The Charity Organization Societies also called the Associated Charities was a private charity that existed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a clearing house for information on the poor. The society was mainly concerned with distinction between the deserving poor and undeserving poor...
.
History
The Charity Organization Society was something like a "Charity Trust", in that it represented the combined resources of many Protestant charities, including more than a thousand prominent families and over 500 churches and societies. The United Charities Building also housed others of Kennedy's favorite charities, including the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, the Children's Aid SocietyChildren's Aid Society
__notoc__The Children’s Aid Society is a private charitable organization based in New York City. It serves 150,000 children per year, providing foster care, medical and mental health services, and a wide range of educational, recreational and advocacy services through dozens of community centers,...
, and the New York Mission and Tract Society, providing them with a low cost location for their operations. Other charities were allowed to rent space at below market rates. In 1891, the New York City Consumers' League, founded by Josephine Shaw Lowell
Josephine Shaw Lowell
Josephine Shaw Lowell was a Progressive Reform leader in the United States in the Nineteenth century. She is best known for creating the New York Consumers League in 1890.-Early years:...
, Helen Campbell – author of the 1882 book The Problem of the Poor – and Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, established its offices in the building.
R. H. Robertson, who designed the building, assisted by the firm of Rowe & Baker, was selected by Kennedy as the architect because of his extensive experience with charitable buildings, including the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
on East 15th Street. James Baker, Robertson's nephew, may have worked on some of the original exterior, but did do the later additions to the building in 1897, when the original mansard roof
Mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper that is punctured by dormer windows. The roof creates an additional floor of habitable space, such as a garret...
was removed and three stories were added to the original seven, and in 1915, when a four-story addition at 111 East 22nd was constructed.
Although the main building still houses some charitable organizations, such as the Community Service Society, today it is used for multiple purposes. The northern part of the main building, which had been partitioned from the rest and renamed the Kennedy Building, is now apartments, while the 22nd Street extension became the headquarters for the Dockworkers' Union in 1946. The union sold the building in the 1980s and it was converted for commercial use.
The complex was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1991, and is part of a proposed extension to the Gramercy Park Historic District. However, architecturally the building is described in the AIA Guide to New York City
AIA Guide to New York City
Authored by Norval White and Elliot Willensky, The AIA Guide to New York City is an extensive catalogue with descriptions, critique and photographs of significant and noteworthy architecture throughout the five boroughs of New York City....
as "bulky and boring", with the comment that "even Robertson could occasionally produce a bland product." The building sits across 22nd Street from the headquarters of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies is a social services institution in New York City. FPWA has, since its inception in 1922, had the goal of promoting the social and economic well-being of greater New York’s most vulnerable people by strengthening human service organizations and...
, which was built in 1892.