Do tan brick facades tell tales of innovation? They certainly do here at Williamsburg Houses. The Williamsburg Houses stand as a testament to early public housing design. These 20 buildings offer a glimpse into a pivotal era. This complex shaped the lives of countless New Yorkers.
The Williamsburg Houses were originally called the Ten Eyck Houses. Can you pronounce that? It is TEN-IKE. This public housing complex is operated by the New York City Housing Authority NYCHA. The Williamsburg Houses sit in Brooklyn’s vibrant Williamsburg neighborhood. The complex is bordered by Scholes Maujer and Leonard Streets plus Bushwick Avenue.
Built between 1936 and 1938 the Williamsburg Houses emerged from the Public Works Administration PWA. This was during the Great Depression. Richmond Shreve served as the chief architect. William Lescaze led a design team of nine other architects. The construction contract was awarded to Starrett Brothers & Eken.
The Williamsburg Houses’ design incorporated modern art through the Federal Arts Project. Imagine abstract murals adorning the basement meeting rooms. These murals created by Ilya Bolotowsky Balcomb Greene Paul Kelpe and Albert Swinden. They were installed in the late 1930s. Painted over and forgotten the murals were rediscovered in the late 1980s. After restoration the Williamsburg murals found a new home at the Brooklyn Museum in 1990. NYCHA has them on long-term loan there.
Not all art made it to the walls of Williamsburg Houses. Stuart Davis painted Swing Landscape. But this work was sold by the Federal Art Gallery. It now resides at the Indiana University Art Museum. Francis Criss completed Sixth Avenue El in 1938. This mural was never installed. It is now part of the Whitney Museum of American Art collection. Time magazine reported it did not match the color scheme for the project.
The Williamsburg Houses site covers about 25 acres. It sits between Maujer Scholes Leonard Streets and Bushwick Avenue. The buildings are positioned to create courtyards playgrounds and ball courts. Pedestrian pathways cut through the grounds. The four-story residential buildings have unique shapes. From above they look like H h and T shapes. The T-shaped buildings sit in the middle. H-shaped buildings surround them. The houses face the sun at a 15-degree angle. Blue tiles and stainless steel canopies mark each building entrance.
In 1935, the site was cleared for construction. Over 500 buildings were demolished. Approximately 5400 residents were relocated. The population was diverse. It included those born in the United States Italy and elsewhere. Most residents were semi-skilled manufacturing workers.
The Williamsburg Houses opened on April 10 1938. This marked a new chapter for public housing in New York City. The Williamsburg Houses were one of the first and most expensive New York City housing projects. It cost $12.5 million. Mayor Fiorello La Guardia supported the project. He even poured the first shovel of concrete.
In 2003 the Williamsburg Houses were designated a New York City Landmark. Then in 2021 they were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Since December 28 2021 NYCHA converted the housing development into Section 8 RAD PACT management. This is a public-private partnership.
As we conclude our visit to the Williamsburg Houses reflect on the past and present. This complex is not just a collection of buildings. It represents a vision for affordable housing modern design and community.