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Manhattan Plaza

Coordinates: 40°45′33″N 73°59′34″W / 40.759299°N 73.992685°W / 40.759299; -73.992685
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For the building formerly known as One Chase Manhattan Plaza, see 28 Liberty Street. For the Ricky Ford recording, see Manhattan Plaza (album).

Manhattan Plaza
Manhattan Plaza in 2016
Map
General information
Address400 West 43rd Street
484 West 43rd Street
Town or cityNew York City
CountryUnited States
Coordinates40°45′33″N 73°59′34″W / 40.759299°N 73.992685°W / 40.759299; -73.992685
Construction started1974
Completed1977
Height428 ft (130 m)
Technical details
Floor count46
Design and construction
Architect(s)David Todd
DeveloperHRH Construction

Manhattan Plaza is a large federally subsidized residential complex of 46 floors and 428 feet (130 m)[1] at 400 and 484 West 43rd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City. Opened in 1977,[2] it has 1,689 units[3] and about 3,500 tenants. Under its Section 8 federal funding, it is mandated to maintain 70% of the tenants from the performing arts fields, while it chooses to dedicate 15% of turnover to neighborhood residents and 15% to the elderly. It occupies the city block bounded north by 43rd Street, east by Ninth Avenue, south by 42nd Street, and west by Tenth Avenue. Developed by HRH Construction, it has been owned since January 2004 by The Related Companies.[4] Manhattan Plaza is the subject of a documentary titled Miracle on 42nd Street, released in 2017.

History

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Construction on this "superblock" development west of Manhattan's Theater District was begun in 1974 by HRH Construction, a real estate construction and development firm led at the time by Richard Ravitch. The project consisted of two 45-story residential towers at opposite ends of the block designed for middle- and upper-middle class rental tenants, with townhouses, shops, a health club and parking facility in the mid-block, financed with a $95 million mortgage by the City of New York under the New York State Mitchell-Lama Housing Program for middle-income housing. However, during construction, New York City went into a steep recession, and faced with mounting financial difficulties, the city was able to fund only $65 million of its commitment. The financial crisis also affected the city’s housing market, and it became apparent that there would be little to no market for the apartments as had originally been planned.

This was in part due to the location of the development in the heart of New York's then rough-and-tumble Clinton neighborhood—historically known as "Hell's Kitchen"—and the rapidly declining environment of the Times Square area, at that point the epicenter of New York's 'adult' and pornographic activities.[5] Manhattan Plaza cleared out the adult businesses on the north side of 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. At the same time the 42nd Street Development Corporation under the leadership of Fred Papert and with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on its board was working on converting the adult stores on the south of 42nd Street between 9th and 10th into Off Broadway theaters now known as Theatre Row.[6]

With no other options available, New York City applied for federal funds under the Section 8 program to re-purpose the project as deeply subsidized housing for poor and moderate-income families. Under Section 8, tenants would pay no more than 30% of their income for rent.[7][8][9][10] The plan aroused widespread, intractable opposition from the surrounding working class community, concerned about a potential influx of thousands of dysfunctional, poor neighbors. At that point, an innovative solution was conceived by Daniel Rose, the real estate developer whose company had been retained to manage the project.[5] Rose had been searching for a tenant population that would meet the income requirements for deeply subsidized public housing, assuage the community's fears about dysfunctional neighbors, and contribute to the revitalization of the Times Square neighborhood. Quoting Mike Todd, who once said that while growing up, his "family had been often broke, but never poor",[11] Rose proposed limiting occupancy in the new project solely to residents who were, or had been, engaged in the performing arts. By seeding the 1,600 apartments with families of actors, musicians, directors, stagehands and others in the entertainment industry, the idea was to fill the project, stabilize the neighborhood, and support the regrowth of legitimate theater in Times Square.

Met at first with skepticism to derision[12] (as no other subsidized housing project had previously been limited by occupation), the idea soon garnered enthusiastic support from the performing arts unions and the City. Peter Joseph, a deputy commissioner of the NYC Housing and Development Administration, said the agency strongly supported the performing arts idea: “It takes what had been an uncomfortable situation and makes it something vibrant and exciting. We think it's innovative and frankly, we're ecstatic about it. We're committed to pulling it off.”[5] There continued to be concern from neighborhood residents, but they were allayed to a large extent when a study was published by the Settlement Housing Fund estimating that 100,000 households in New York had members engaged in the performing arts, and about two-thirds of them would be eligible to move into the project under Federal income guidelines:

New York is the nation's incubator city for the theater, since it is where young performing artists from all over the country come to start their careers. By using Federal funds to subsidize housing for the performing arts we are helping the entire country, and we are also solving the economic problems of the Manhattan Plaza project, of the New York theater and of the Clinton neighborhood. We think it can relate closely to the Clinton area's efforts to upgrade itself. We see the idea as part of the neighborhood preservation effort as well as part of the effort to upgrade Times Square and the theater district.[5]

Rose's plan for "Manhattan Plaza for the Performing Arts" was eventually approved[13] with support from the City, the performing arts unions, and the surrounding community, and opened with a Mayoral ribbon-cutting in 1977. 70% of the 1,689 units were reserved for performing arts workers, 15% for elderly and handicapped residents of the surrounding neighborhood, and 15% for existing residents of the neighborhood living in substandard housing. The project quickly filled up, with the waiting list for apartments topping 3,000 names within the first year.[12]

An important factor in the early success of Manhattan Plaza was Rose's recruitment of The Rev. Rodney Kirk as the first Director of the Development.[14] Kirk had been on the staff of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine until 1976, when he was given leave to help with the city's bicentennial celebrations. Tapped to supervise the opening of Manhattan Plaza, Kirk helped set the tone for the development, and organized community support that permitted hundreds of aging neighborhood residents to keep their apartments with their dignity intact. Shortly after Manhattan Plaza opened, the City was hit by the AIDS crisis, and many residents in the performing arts contracted AIDS. To respond to their needs, Kirk established social service programs with paid staff and volunteers, and the help of the Actors' Fund, to care for them and for non-residents.[14] According to health officials, a greater proportion of people have died of AIDS in that apartment complex compared to any other residence building in the country.[2][15] The Manhattan Plaza AIDS Project Foundation's benefit concert in May 1997 at the Westside Theatre on 43rd Street featured Joseph Bologna and Renée Taylor, Jenny Burton, Vivian Reed;[16] artists in other years included Jeanne MacDonald, Audra McDonald, and Robert Cuccioli.[17]

As HIV/AIDS came under control, the focus of the social services program shifted to the elderly, who are aging in place, and are sometimes unable to care for themselves.[14] Kirk retired in 1997 and died in 2001.[14] His work was continued by General Manager Richard Hunnings, his companion of 42 years.[3][14] The Rodney Kirk Theatre is now one of the theaters across 42nd Street in the Theatre Row Building.

Description

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Manhattan Plaza was designed by architect David Todd.[18]

Aside from the McGraw-Hill Building, the complex was the tallest in the Hell's Kitchen area at the time it was completed, and is still highly visible from the north, south, and west sides. Between the two buildings are a multi-story garage, a fitness center (including a swimming pool), a basketball court, a playground, tennis courts, a wall-climbing center, and a number of shops (including Arnold Wilkerson's Little Pie Company), a Food Emporium branch, restaurants, and a bank.

Located within the Tenth Avenue building is the 43rd St Kids Preschool, which was founded in 1981. It is a private, non-profit, parent cooperative school.[19] More than 1,500 one-act plays including more than 40 by Lewis Black have been staged at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in the West Bank Cafe (where Bruce Willis was a bartender) at the base of the 9th Avenue building.[20]

In the middle of March 2009, the original playground located on the 3rd floor rooftop was taken down in order to build a new playground built by Kompan and sponsored by former football player Tiki Barber. The company was known as Tiki Recreation. It is one of three rare and unique playgrounds. It has an electronic setting and virtual interactive games programmed within the equipment. The park officially opened June 8, 2009.

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ Manhattan Plaza I[dead link] and II, technical data, Emporis
  2. ^ a b Federici-LaFargue, Marietta (1997). "AIDS – A Community Answers the Call". In Davidson Chukwuma Umeh (ed.). Confronting the AIDS Epidemic: Cross-cultural Perspectives on HIV/AIDS Education. Africa World Press. p. 154. ISBN 9780865435261.
  3. ^ a b Manhattan Plaza Project Archived February 21, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, New York Public Library, September 12, 2012
  4. ^ "The Related Companies Under Contract to Acquire Manhattan Plaza" Archived March 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, press release, The Related Companies, January 20, 2004
  5. ^ a b c d "Performers May Get W. 42nd St. Housing" Archived June 17, 2024, at the Wayback Machine by Paul Goldberger, The New York Times, August 2, 1976. Retrieved September 29, 2016
  6. ^ "Our History – 42nd Street development Corporation". 42sdc.org. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  7. ^ "How the Rent Numbers Add Up at Manhattan Plaza" Archived October 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, by Nahma Sandrow, The New York Times, June 9, 2002
  8. ^ "Manhattan Plaza Near Rental Deal?" by Roger Armbrust, BackStage, July 2, 2004
  9. ^ "Manhattan Plaza 20-Year Pact 'Helps Actors'" Archived December 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine by Roger Armbrust, BackStage, September 24, 2004
  10. ^ "Rent Subsidies Are Preserved for Manhattan Plaza Tenants" Archived June 17, 2024, at the Wayback Machine by David W. Chen, The New York Times, September 14, 2004
  11. ^ Lakeland Ledger: "'Often Broke' 'Never Poor' Credo of Todd's Career" March 24, 1958 Archived April 21, 2021, at the Wayback Machine retrieved September 29, 2016
  12. ^ a b Murray Schumach (February 2, 1978). "Manhattan Plaza: Small-Town Neighbors in a Blase City". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Manhattan Plaza Wins Approval As Housing for Performing Artists" Archived February 19, 2018, at the Wayback Machine by Joseph P. Fried, The New York Times, February 4, 1977. Retrieved September 29, 2016
  14. ^ a b c d e Saxon, Wolfgang (July 17, 2001). "Rodney Kirk, 67, Director of Manhattan Plaza, Is Dead". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 1, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  15. ^ Horwitz, Simi (July 29, 1991). "The Kindness of Strangers: Helping Theater People With AIDS at the Manhattan Plaza". TheaterWeek.
  16. ^ "Manhattan Plaza AIDS Project Benefit Earns $39G" Archived February 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machine by Harry Haun, Playbill, May 19, 1997
  17. ^ Company by Jeanne MacDonald Archived January 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, CD Baby
  18. ^ Dunlap, David W. (April 2, 2008). "David Todd, Architect and Official, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2008.
  19. ^ "43rd St Kids Preschool". Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  20. ^ The West Bank Cafe Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, newyorkrestaurantinsider.com, July 2007]
  21. ^ Vijay Iyer; Muhal Richard Abrams (2021). "The Law of Returns". In Hiroshi Garret, Charles; Oja, Carol J. (eds.). Sounding Together. University of Michigan Press. pp. 174–204 (176). ISBN 978-0472054336. JSTOR 10.3998/mpub.11374592.11.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Angela Lansbury, Samuel L. Jackson, Alicia Keys, More Featured in Miracle on 42nd Street Documentary". Playbill. March 20, 2020. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  23. ^ "Oral history interview with Marin Alsop, 1986" Archived June 17, 2024, at the Wayback Machine by Zaron Shane, Manhattan Plaza oral history collection. Columbia Center for Oral History
  24. ^ "Miracle on 42nd Street" Archived August 19, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Welcome Change Productions
  25. ^ "Broadway Actress Dies in Apartment Fire After Good Wife Star's Attempted Rescue" Archived August 9, 2017, at the Wayback Machine by Maane Khatchatourian, Variety, September 4, 2015
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Manhattan Plaza: At Home" by Mitchell Seidel, JazzTimes, September 1, 2006
  27. ^ a b c Suzanna Bowling (March 30, 2020). "Meet The Former and Present Residents of Manhattan Plaza: Jim Brochu and Steve Schalchlin". Times Square Chronicles. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  28. ^ "Manhattan Street Corner Renamed 'Stan Brooks Way' In Honor Of Late 1010 WINS Reporter" Archived June 17, 2024, at the Wayback Machine, CBS New York, September 12, 2014
  29. ^ "Nell Carter a performer to follow". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. January 27, 2003. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  30. ^ "How Melbourne apartment planning could learn a life lesson from Manhattan's high-rise kids" Archived August 19, 2023, at the Wayback Machine by Aisha Dow, The Sydney Morning Herald, February 1, 2015
  31. ^ Brianna Holt (March 6, 2002). "'I planted seeds': Timothée Chalamet's mother on her children's success". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g Suzanna Bowling (March 28, 2020). "Meet the Former and Present Residents of Manhattan Plaza". Times Square Chronicles. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  33. ^ Suzanna Bowling (April 20, 2020). "Meet The Former and Present Residents of Manhattan Plaza: Chuck Cooper". Times Square Chronicles. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  34. ^ a b c "Marlon Craft's Halal-Cart Listening Party" Archived August 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine by Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, July 29, 2019
  35. ^ a b c d e f Michael Riedel (November 9, 2017). "How a Hell's Kitchen Artists' Haven Transformed the Neighborhood". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Inside Manhattan Plaza, Where Alicia Keys Was Born and Samuel L. Jackson Worked Security" Archived July 24, 2021, at the Wayback Machine by Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, February 9, 2018
  37. ^ a b c d e f "Inside Manhattan Plaza: Miracle on 42nd Street documentary rides the elevator of the Hell's Kitchen artist haven" Archived June 17, 2024, at the Wayback Machine by Kate Feldman, New York Daily News, April 3, 2020
  38. ^ Laura van Straaten (September 24, 2023). "A Kinetic Cloud of Humanity for Moynihan Train Hall". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  39. ^ "Grantee Projects: A Marvelous Order". The Graham Foundation. 2016. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  40. ^ Michael Powell (January 4, 2003). "Someday Their Prints Will Come". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  41. ^ "Classic Hollywood: Remembering Gloria Grahame before Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool" by Susan King, Los Angeles Times, December 23, 2017
  42. ^ Playbill. Vol. 7. American Theatre Press. 1988. p. 334
  43. ^ "History of Manhattan Plaza" Archived February 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, "Manhattan Plaza Building History"
  44. ^ a b "Miracle on 42nd Street — A Plaza to Call Home" Archived May 8, 2021, at the Wayback Machine by Ruth Walker, W42st, no. 7, June 1, 2015
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