Manhattanville Houses

Development

The site formerly consisted of city blocks of tenements which were demolished via slum clearance, beginning in 1957.

Manhattanville Houses were completed June 30, 1961 at a cost of $24 million. The project was designed by modernist architect William Lescaze in the "tower in the park" concept in vogue during the mid-20th century which emphasized view corridors that bring air and light to housing residents.

Safety quickly began to decline in the development and tenants began to organize and patrol the lobbies. In 1962, NYCHA added six new guards to patrol the development.

On June 4, 2014, the NYPD made the largest gang bust in New York history, arresting 103 individuals of gangs at the Manhattanville and Grant Houses with extensive help from the Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr. 95 of the 103 people arrested charged took plea deals. Since the raid, shootings have declined 34 percent but neighborhood residents and gang policing experts feel that the sweep didn't reduce gang crime or gang affiliation and anticipate more violence, citing historic tensions between the developments and institutionalized racism as motivations behind the bust.

Notable residents

• Tamika Mallory (1980–), Activist and co-president of the 2019 Women's March
• Joe V. Nash (1919 – 2005), Dancer and choreographer

References

References

1. (August 2025). "Manhattanville Houses Area".
2. (August 2025). ["Manhattanville Houses Population"](https://my.nycha.info/DevPortal/Portal/DevelopmentData}}{{Dead link).
3. "MyNYCHA Developments Portal".
4. "WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 6/17/2024 THROUGH 6/21/2024". National Park Service.
5. (May 23, 1957). "PLANS ARE FILED FOR HOUSING UNIT; Manhattanville Low-Income Houses Nearer Realization With Filing of Plans COST TO BE $24,000,000 Six 20-Story Buildings Will Have 1,272 Units Renting at $14-a-Room Average".
6. Johnson, Carolyn D.. (2010). "Harlem Travel Guide". Welcome to Harlem.
7. Leadon, Fran. (April 17, 2018). "Broadway: A History of New York City in Thirteen Miles". W. W. Norton & Company.
8. "200 GUARDS HIRED FOR CITY HOUSING; 100 Private Detectives Will Join Regular Forces at 28 Projects Tonight OTHERS ARE DUE LATER Authority Hopes to Replace New Men in Eight Weeks With Regular Recruits Assigned to Bad Areas Duty at Manhattanville 200 GUARDS HIRED FOR CITY HOUSING".
9. McKinley, James C. Jr. (June 4, 2014). "In Unusual Collaboration, Police and Prosecutors Team Up to Reduce Crime". The New York Times.
10. Robbins, Christopher. (June 5, 2014). "Largest Gang Bust In NYC History Result Of "Extreme Collaboration" Between NYPD & DA".
11. Hattem, Ben. (October 24, 2016). "How Massive Gang Sweeps Make Growing Up In The Projects A Crime".
12. Kramer, Abigail. (March 2, 2015). "Busts, but not a solution, from NYPD tracking of housing feuds".
13. Wakin, Daniel J.. (May 28, 2005). "Dance Archivist's Survivors Are Found". The New York Times.