Imagine a city within a city. That’s Penn South. Officially known as Mutual Redevelopment Houses it stands as an affordable cooperative housing community. It resides in the heart of Chelsea Manhattan.
Penn South has a rich history. The International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union sponsored it. They based it on a cooperative model. The United Housing Foundation promoted this model. Penn South rose from a slum clearance project in Chelsea. The New York City government endorsed the Penn Station South project in June 1956.
But the path wasn’t smooth. Local residents initially opposed the development. They feared displacement. The Committee modified the plan. They preserved four churches. The Church of the Holy Apostles became a New York City Landmark. It is also a National Register of Historic Places landmark.
The ILGWU acquired the land in June 1959. They began relocating residents. Some residents protested. Tensions ran high. Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. instituted new rules for Title I relocations. By October 1960 all families had been relocated.
Construction faced delays. A concrete-mixing workers’ strike halted progress in July 1961. But finally the dedication ceremony arrived. President John F. Kennedy addressed the workers. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt attended. New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller was there too. Kennedy praised the collaboration of laborers public and private developers.
Penn South spurred new development. Many former residents returned to the complex. By 1983 it was widely regarded as one of the best-run cooperatives in the state. A community garden and seniors’ program opened in 1986. An exercise room and playground followed in 2000. Building 7 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Civil rights activist Bayard Rustin lived there.
Penn South comprises ten 22-story buildings. Herman Jessor designed them. Each unit has between 2 and 6 rooms. Demand has increased over the years. In 2012 there were 6000 names on the waiting list.
During the 1975 New York City fiscal crisis residents prepaid their rents. This helped the nearly bankrupt city government. Penn South drew power from gas early on. This saved money. The co-op provided much of its own power heating and air-cooling by 1986.
Penn South received tax abatements from New York City. These abatements helped keep it affordable. In 2011 shareholders voted to extend their contract with the city. In return the city awarded funds to rehabilitate the complex’s HVAC system. In February 2017 the New York City Council extended Penn South’s tax abatement to 2052.
Penn South stands as a testament to affordable cooperative housing. It overcame challenges. Penn South provides a haven in the heart of Manhattan.