Walt Whitman Houses, Public housing complex in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, United States.
The Walt Whitman Houses are a public housing complex in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, made up of fifteen buildings of different heights. The complex sits between St. Edwards Street, Park Avenue, Carlton Avenue, and Myrtle Avenue, with towers ranging from 6 to 13 stories tall.
The complex was completed in February 1944 as part of a broad New York City effort to build new housing during World War II. It was intended to house workers and families who needed affordable shelter during a period of rapid urban change.
The complex is named after Walt Whitman, the poet who worked as a newspaper editor in Brooklyn in the 19th century. His connection to the borough gives the name a local meaning that goes beyond a simple tribute.
The complex is easy to reach on foot from several surrounding streets and is close to public transit stops. Because people live here, visitors should stick to the public walkways and keep noise to a minimum.
Basketball player Bernard King and rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard both grew up in these buildings. That mix of sports and music history makes this housing complex a surprising footnote in American popular culture.
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