Rutgers Houses, also known as Henry Rutgers Houses, is a public housing development built and maintained by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at .[1] The development is named after Henry Rutgers (1745–1830), a captain in the American Revolutionary War and a major landowner and philanthropist who was the last descendant of Dutch immigrants.[1] Henry Rutgers' farm, the "Bouwery", made up most of the Lower East Side around Chinatown, and later gave large sections of his farm to churches.[1] Rutgers Houses sits where part of his farm was.[1]
Rutgers Houses is composed of five 20 story buildings on 5.22 acres (21,100 m2), with 721 apartments housing approximately 1,675 people.[1] The complex is bordered by Madison Street to the north, Rutgers Street to the east, Cherry Street to the south, and Pike Street to the west.[1] Hart, Jerman & Associates were the architects who designed the complex.[2]
Rutgers Houses was completed March 31, 1965.[1] Pelham Street, which ran between Pike Street and Rutgers Street, was taken off maps of the area about 1960 for the construction of the development.[3]
Michael Steele is serving as the Resident Association President for Rutgers Houses and as the Treasurer of the Manhattan South District Citywide Council of Presidents.[4]
In the winter of 2007, Rutgers House V served as a "warming center", a warm place where people without heat can stay for short periods of time.[5][6][7]