Samuel Gompers Houses

What if walls could talk? The Samuel Gompers Houses, these two towering sentinels of the Lower East Side, would have quite the tale to spin. Here at the corner of Pitt and Delancey, they’ve witnessed the ebb and flow of city life for over half a century. The Samuel Gompers Houses, named after the influential labor leader Samuel Gompers, stand as a testament to a different era in New York’s history. Built by the New York City Housing Authority, or NYCHA, these 20-story structures officially opened their doors in 1964. They were designed by the architectural firm Lama, Proskauer, & Prober. The firm faced a challenge. The cost of land was a steep $13 per square foot. This forced them to build upwards, resulting in these impressive high-rises rather than the more common six-story buildings typical of the time. The Samuel Gompers Houses provided much-needed housing for approximately 1,116 people across 474 apartments. The complex spans a sizable 3.7 acres, bordered by Stanton, Columbia, Delancey, and Pitt Streets. It’s interesting to note that Samuel Gompers himself once lived just three blocks from this very spot. He arrived in the US from England in 1863. He began his career as a cigar maker, but he quickly rose to prominence as a champion of workers’ rights. He was instrumental in the founding of what would eventually become the American Federation of Labor. The Samuel Gompers Houses were envisioned as a part of the “tower in the park” style of urban planning prevalent in the 1950s and 60s. However, by the 1970s, the surrounding area, like many parts of New York, faced rising crime rates. The situation became so concerning that in 1974, Mayor Abraham Beame made a highly publicized walk through the neighborhood to assure residents of their safety. The Samuel Gompers Houses remain a vital part of the Lower East Side community. They represent a key element in the ongoing story of affordable housing in New York City.