St. Nicholas Houses

The site formerly consisted of city blocks with small attached homes in poor condition, and existing residents were removed via a slum clearance program.{{Cite web|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/12/28/84870550.html?action=click&contentCollection=Archives&module=LedeAsset®ion=ArchiveBody&pgtype=article&pageNumber=23|title=CORNERSTONE LAID AT HARLEM HOUSING|website=The New York Times|access-date=July 31, 2019}} In 1952, the first tenants began moving in{{Cite web|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/04/03/84247663.html?action=click&contentCollection=Archives&module=LedeAsset®ion=ArchiveBody&pgtype=article&pageNumber=32|title=Housing Project Is Opened|date=April 3, 1952|website=The New York Times|access-date=July 31, 2019}} and the development was completed on September 30, 1954{{Cite web|url=https://my.nycha.info/DevPortal/Home/Index/?redirectUrl=/DevPortal/Portal/DevelopmentData?|title=MyNYCHA Developments Portal|website=my.nycha.info|access-date=July 31, 2019}} under the Taft-Ellender-Wagner Housing Act of 1949. When the houses initially began seeking applicants, World War II veterans received priority.

From 1947 to 1953, the playground at the St. Nicholas Houses on 128th Street and Seventh Avenue was the site of the Ruckers tournament until it was moved to a larger playground on 130th Street in 1954.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/asphaltgods00vinc|url-access=registration|title=Asphalt Gods: An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament|last=Mallozzi|first=Vincent M.|date=June 17, 2003|publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group|isbn=9780385506762|language=en}} While at the playground, Holcombe Rucker developed the tournament into five divisions: girls, junior high school, high school, college and pro.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/04/archives/on-a-harlem-playground-its-basketball-with-soul.html|title=On a Harlem Playground: It's Basketball With Soul|last=Harvin|first=Al|date=July 4, 1971|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 31, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}

By the mid-1970s, violence had risen in the development and security had decreased along with repairs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/22/archives/at-harlem-project-tenants-switch-leaders-in-fight-against-crime-and.html|title=At Harlem Project, Tenants Switch Leaders in Fight Against Crime and Faulty Maintenance of Housing|date=February 22, 1977|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 31, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}

In 2011, NYCHA approved the sale of 3.1 acres for the demolition of a playground on the site for the construction of a charter school called Promise Academy Charter School. Residents planned to sue the city and federal governments over the green space demolition, challenging that NYCHA failed to properly assess the school's impact on the development.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/nyregion/public-housing-tenants-sue-to-block-charter-school-in-harlem.html|title=Public-Housing Tenants Sue to Block Charter School in Harlem|last=Santos|first=Fernanda|date=July 20, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 31, 2019|issn=0362-4331}} Residents also felt that they were not informed of the plan until after the deal was completed.{{Cite web|url=https://citylimits.org/2010/05/07/some-harlem-residents-balk-at-charter-school-plan/|title=Some Harlem Residents Balk At Charter School Plan|last=Zelon|first=Helen|date=May 7, 2010|website=City Limits|access-date=July 31, 2019}} The school was designed by John Ciardullo Associates and completed in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/harlem-childrens-zone-promise-academy-charter-school-promise-academy-i|title=Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy Charter School (Promise Academy I)|website=architectmagazine.com|access-date=July 31, 2019}}

The St. Nicholas Houses is one of the main settings in the book The Stars Beneath Our Feet.{{Cite book|url=http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-the-stars-beneath-our-feet/|title=The Stars Beneath Our Feet Summary|language=en}}

Teddy Riley (born 1967), singer, songwriter, record producer credited with the creation of the new jack swing genre

• New York City Housing Authority
• List of New York City Housing Authority properties

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[http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nycha/downloads/pdf/Saint%20Nicholas.pdf]

{{Harlem}}

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Category:Buildings and structures in Harlem

Category:Public housing in Manhattan

Category:Residential buildings in Manhattan

Category:Residential buildings completed in 1954

Category:1954 establishments in New York City

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