Mills House No. 1, Historical residential building in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, United States
Mills House No. 1 is an eleven-story residential building located at 160 Bleecker Street, spanning the block between Sullivan and Thompson streets with two air shafts integrated into its design. Today it houses 194 apartments and furnished suites operated as a cooperative housing community.
The building was commissioned in 1897 by banker Darius Ogden Mills and designed by architect Ernest Flagg as an affordable housing solution for working men. Its original configuration included 1,554 rooms available at a low nightly rate, reflecting early efforts to address urban housing needs.
The location served as a gathering place for jazz enthusiasts and musicians throughout the mid-20th century, particularly drawing performers from across the country. This musical legacy remains an important part of how the neighborhood remembers itself and the cultural movements that shaped the area.
The location is easily accessible by foot from nearby subway stations and is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and cultural venues in the heart of the neighborhood. Visitors walking past can see the building's exterior and appreciate its position along this historic street corner, which remains a central point in the Village.
The original rooms were remarkably small and sparsely furnished, containing only a bed, chair, and clothing rack to maximize the number of occupants the building could serve. This efficient use of space was innovative for its era and addressed the housing shortage facing working people in the city.
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