Stanley Isaacs Houses

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Completed in 1965, the Stanley M. Isaacs Houses rise proudly before you. They stand as a testament to a man dedicated to social justice and a unique experiment in community building. The Stanley M. Isaacs Houses, originally called the Gerard Swope Houses, were renamed in 1963 to honor Stanley M. Isaacs. Isaacs served as Manhattan Borough President and later dedicated 20 years to the New York City Council. He was a champion of civil rights and fought tirelessly for decent housing for all. The Stanley M. Isaacs Houses were part of a novel approach to public housing. Many of the first residents were chosen from the local Catholic parish. This fostered a strong sense of community and kept crime remarkably low for decades. The three 24-story buildings of the Stanley M. Isaacs Houses hold 635 apartments, housing over a thousand residents. They are located in the Yorkville neighborhood, bordering East Harlem. While geographically on the Upper East Side, the demographics and needs of the Stanley M. Isaacs Houses residents are closer to those of East Harlem. Despite the affluent surroundings, the average income of residents falls below poverty thresholds. Sadly, despite its initial success, the Stanley M. Isaacs Houses, along with Holmes Towers and Robbins Plaza, received the worst ranking in the nation after federal inspections in 2018. This stands in stark contrast to the vision of Stanley M. Isaacs, the man whose name they bear. The Stanley M. Isaacs Houses remain a complex symbol of the ongoing struggle for equitable housing in New York City.

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