First Houses

First Houses is a residential complex featuring 122 apartments across eight buildings located between First Avenue and Avenue A in Manhattan. The three- and four-room units include modern amenities such as steam heating and windows facing interior courtyards that bring natural light into the spaces.

Established in 1936 by the New York City Housing Authority, this was the first public housing development launched during the Great Depression. It demonstrated that government programs could rapidly provide modern housing for lower-income families in the city.

The residential complex demonstrates how city dwellers of that era lived in modern apartments with shared community spaces. The courtyards and playgrounds served as gathering points where neighbors met and families spent their leisure time.

The complex features rear entrances and interior courtyards that allow visitors to walk through and view the buildings from multiple angles. Public transportation on First Avenue and nearby streets provides straightforward access to this part of Manhattan.

The construction reused bricks from demolished Victorian tenement buildings, creating a physical link to the neighborhood's older housing stock. This material choice connected the area's past directly to its new development.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1930s

Architects: Frederick L. Ackerman

Address: 112-138 East 3rd Street

GPS coordinates: 40.72361,-73.98583

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:41