Harlem River Houses

Organization Name: Curtis + Ginsberg Architects

Project Title: Harlem River Houses

Project Location: New York, NY

Project Description:
This renewal creates a sustainable future for the landmarked Harlem River Houses, New York City’s first purpose-built public housing development, completed in 1937 as part of the New Deal to provide quality homes for working-class African Americans. The historic design groups seven four- and five-story meandering red-brick buildings around large courtyards with wide Belgian-block walkways and sunken playgrounds. These spacious grounds, including the signature central fountain and outdoor amphitheater, have been restored and enhanced. Character-defining features have been carefully preserved or recreated: from the historic statuary and murals, brick and concrete masonry of the façades to the energy efficient site lighting, storefronts, and windows replicating the historic designs. Interior modernizations bring new finishes, fixtures, appliances, lighting, and high-efficiency domestic hot water and HVAC systems to all 577 residential units, along with new social services, resident and management spaces promoting personal health and social wellbeing in the community.

Community Impact:
The restoration of Harlem River Houses has a significant positive economic, social, and cultural impact on the community it serves. These renovated units play a key role in maintaining affordability for families who have lived in Harlem for generations, and for residents to come. The restoration of shared community spaces and public art, such as the signature central fountain, provides an invaluable thread of cultural identity to a place that cannot be replicated.
The standard of living for residents is elevated through interior and exterior upgrades, renewed public outdoor spaces and landscaping, and renewed retail storefronts. The project team met with residents for input on building issues and concerns to ensure their needs were met. The development hosts a public library and several commercial and community spaces, including supportive services. Inhouse social workers conduct case management for residents with mental health or referral needs.
Harlem River Houses’ history of fostering stability, security and empowerment for low-income residents is vitally important to Harlem and the city at large. This restoration gives Harlem River Houses new life as the heart of its community.

Organization Description:
Settlement Housing Fund has worked since 1969 to create, preserve, and sustain high-quality affordable housing that revitalizes NYC with 8900 apartments across 69 affordable development projects. West Harlem Group Assistance increases the availability of safe and decent affordable housing and encourages, facilitates, and strengthens the economic viability and stability of Harlem. Curtis + Ginsberg Architects is an award-winning architecture and planning firm with a mission to improve the built environment in a sustainable and socially conscious manner.

Team Members:

Owner: NYCHA
Developers: Settlement Housing Fund
West Harlem Group Assistance
L+M Dev Partners
Architect: Curtis+Ginsberg
Landscape/Civil: NV5
MEP/Structural: Inglese
HP: Higgins Quasebarth