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History of Clason Point Gardens
Clason Point Gardens was the first federal public housing project in the Bronx and among the earliest in the nation, as well as the first New York City Housing Authority development in the Bronx.
Construction and Design
The development was constructed in 1941, though one source also mentions it as being 1 built in 1941. The architect was Aymar Embury II, who was paid out of federal New Deal funds, and NYCHA was funded at least in part by the New Deal USHA (United States Housing Authority). 1 The 15-acre complex of two-story garden apartments reflected the New Deal’s belief in open space, sunlight, and community planning. The development consists of 2 6 forty-five buildings, all 2 stories tall, currently housing 4 377 units.
Significance
Clason Point Gardens represented an important milestone in public housing design and urban planning. The low-rise garden apartment style was a departure from later high-rise public housing projects, emphasizing access to green space and light.
Recent Status
4 The property is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical significance. 4 NYCHA included this campus on the list of Developments Under Consideration by HUD for Future Section 8 Conversions in its Draft FY22 Annual Plan, indicating potential future restructuring of the development’s management.
Early Development and Construction
Clason Point Gardens was the first New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development constructed in the Bronx, completed in 1941. 3 It was also the first federal public housing project in the Bronx and among the earliest in the nation. 1 The development was designed by architect Aymar Embury II and was funded through federal New Deal funds, making it a New Deal project with support from the United States Housing Authority (USHA). 1 It was built at a cost of roughly $2.2 million.
Initial Residents and Design
1 The first tenants, mainly low-income families headed by military veterans, moved into their homes in September 1941. 1 The development consisted of NYCHA’s first low-rise, garden-style apartment homes, which was a departure from the typical high-rise public housing that would later become more common.
Physical Characteristics
2 6 The development comprises forty-five buildings, all 2 stories tall. 3 Its 15-acre complex of two-story garden apartments reflected the New Deal’s belief in open space, sunlight, and community planning. 1 The complex consisted of row houses and two-story apartment buildings with ample green space.
Historical Significance
4 The property is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. 1 It qualifies under Criterion A in Social History, as a physical representation of government efforts to better the lives of the urban poor, and under Criterion C in Architecture and Community Planning and Development.
Impact on the Community
The construction of Clason Point Gardens marked the beginning of significant public housing development in the Bronx. 6It was followed by many other NYCHA developments across the neighborhood from the 1950s until the 1970s, which boosted the population significantly.
Resilience Through Difficult Times
3 Unlike many large-scale projects, Clason Point Gardens retained its low-rise character and strong sense of place, weathering the city’s worst years through collective care and determination. The development has remained an important part of the Clason Point neighborhood, which itself has one of the highest concentrations of NYCHA projects in the Bronx.
Recent Developments
In recent years, the development has been considered for various improvement programs. 4NYCHA included this campus on the list of Developments Under Consideration by HUD for Future Section 8 Conversions in its Draft FY22 Annual Plan, indicating ongoing efforts to maintain and potentially renovate this historic public housing development.
Clason Point Gardens stands as an important piece of New York City’s public housing history, representing early federal efforts to provide affordable housing and serving as a model for garden-style public housing that prioritized open space and community design principles.