Marcy Houses
Encyclopedia
Marcy Houses, or Marcy Projects, is a public housing complex
built and operated by the New York City Housing Authority
and located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant
neighborhood of Brooklyn
in New York City
, at 40.697°N 73.951°W. The complex was named after William L. Marcy
(1786-1857), a lawyer, soldier, and statesman. Consisting of 27 six-story buildings on 28.49 acre (0.1152950414 km²; 0.0445156643595557 sq mi), it contains 1,705 apartments housing about 4,286 residents (average of 2.5 people to an apartment). Marcy was completed on January 19, 1949, and is bordered by Flushing
, Marcy, Nostrand
and Myrtle Avenues.
Homes and businesses (including two banks) were cleared for the construction of Marcy Houses, as well as sections of Hopkins, Ellery, Floyd (now Martin Luther King Jr. Place), and Stockton streets that went through where the complex now sets. Marcy has taken steps to become more environmentally friendly
; in 2006, it replaced all conventional water heaters with energy-saving, instantaneous hot water heaters. On January 19, 2009, Marcy Houses turned 60 years old; Mayor
Michael Bloomberg
proclaimed this day as Marcy Houses Day.
The land Marcy Houses is on was bought in 1945 by the City of New York; it had been the site of an old Dutch windmill. 3.2 acre (0.012949952 km²; 0.00500000442086972 sq mi) of the 28.49 acre (0.1152950414 km²; 0.0445156643595557 sq mi) were set aside for a playground in 1946 by the NYCHA
; this playground was reconstructed in 1989. In October 2008, Marcy's neighborhood garden earned third place at the 43rd Annual Garden and Greening Awards Ceremony, and its evergreen
garden earned second place.
It is famous as the childhood home of rapper Jay-Z
, as well as Memphis Bleek
whom the former signed to his label Roc-a-fella Records
. Jay-Z often described the housing project as a dangerous place to live, with high crime rates and prevalence of crack cocaine
. On Chappelle's Show
, the fictional character Ashy Larry is from Marcy Projects.
Gang native of Marcy Houses is East Side Trap House Killaz, 2009 Living In Color Literary Award Winner Author, Al Bermudez Pereira. His book titled 'Ruins of a Society and the Honorable' describes his upbringing in Marcy Houses during the 1960s and 1970s.
Public housing in the United States
Public housing in the United States has been administered by federal, state and local agencies to provide subsidized assistance for low-income and people living in poverty. Now increasingly provided in a variety of settings and formats, originally public housing in the U.S...
built and operated by the New York City Housing Authority
New York City Housing Authority
The New York City Housing Authority provides public housing for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs of New York City. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments...
and located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Bedford-Stuyvesant is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Formed in 1930, the neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 3, Brooklyn Community Board 8 and Brooklyn Community Board 16. The neighborhood is patrolled by the NYPD's 79th and 81st...
neighborhood of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, at 40.697°N 73.951°W. The complex was named after William L. Marcy
William L. Marcy
William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:...
(1786-1857), a lawyer, soldier, and statesman. Consisting of 27 six-story buildings on 28.49 acre (0.1152950414 km²; 0.0445156643595557 sq mi), it contains 1,705 apartments housing about 4,286 residents (average of 2.5 people to an apartment). Marcy was completed on January 19, 1949, and is bordered by Flushing
Flushing Avenue
Flushing Avenue is an approximately five mile street running through northern Brooklyn and west central Queens beginning at the termination of Nassau Street, on the northern fringe of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and ending where it merges with Grand Avenue, in Maspeth. It divides the neighborhood of...
, Marcy, Nostrand
Nostrand Avenue
Nostrand Avenue is a major street in Brooklyn, New York, that runs north from Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay to Flushing Avenue in Williamsburg, where it continues as Lee Avenue. From Flushing Avenue to Farragut Road, Nostrand Avenue is a two-lane street...
and Myrtle Avenues.
Homes and businesses (including two banks) were cleared for the construction of Marcy Houses, as well as sections of Hopkins, Ellery, Floyd (now Martin Luther King Jr. Place), and Stockton streets that went through where the complex now sets. Marcy has taken steps to become more environmentally friendly
Environmentally friendly
Environmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....
; in 2006, it replaced all conventional water heaters with energy-saving, instantaneous hot water heaters. On January 19, 2009, Marcy Houses turned 60 years old; Mayor
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
proclaimed this day as Marcy Houses Day.
The land Marcy Houses is on was bought in 1945 by the City of New York; it had been the site of an old Dutch windmill. 3.2 acre (0.012949952 km²; 0.00500000442086972 sq mi) of the 28.49 acre (0.1152950414 km²; 0.0445156643595557 sq mi) were set aside for a playground in 1946 by the NYCHA
New York City Housing Authority
The New York City Housing Authority provides public housing for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs of New York City. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments...
; this playground was reconstructed in 1989. In October 2008, Marcy's neighborhood garden earned third place at the 43rd Annual Garden and Greening Awards Ceremony, and its evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
garden earned second place.
It is famous as the childhood home of rapper Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, as well as Memphis Bleek
Memphis Bleek
Malik Thuston Patrick Cox , better known by his rap persona of Memphis Bleek or "Bleek", is a New York rapper mainly known for his tenure with Roc-a-Fella Records and CEO of his own label Get Low Records...
whom the former signed to his label Roc-a-fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records is a record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Island Def Jam Motown Music Group.-Formation and Early Years:...
. Jay-Z often described the housing project as a dangerous place to live, with high crime rates and prevalence of crack cocaine
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
. On Chappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedian Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various skits. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22,...
, the fictional character Ashy Larry is from Marcy Projects.
Gang native of Marcy Houses is East Side Trap House Killaz, 2009 Living In Color Literary Award Winner Author, Al Bermudez Pereira. His book titled 'Ruins of a Society and the Honorable' describes his upbringing in Marcy Houses during the 1960s and 1970s.