Metro North Plaza

Metro North Plaza stands as a rare example of community-driven public housing. Unlike many developments planned exclusively by city officials, these three residential towers were the result of a direct partnership between the New York City Housing Authority and the local Metro North Citizens Committee. This neighborhood group, led by Reverend Norman Eddy, began holding planning meetings in nineteen sixty-three to ensure that the site would meet the specific needs of East Harlem residents. Completed in nineteen seventy-one, the complex was designed by the renowned modernist architect William Lescaze, who famously focused his career on creating ethical and humane urban living environments. Today, the site holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places, specifically recognized for this unique history of local advocacy and collaborative planning.