History of Manhattan Plaza
Manhattan Plaza is often called the ‘Miracle on 42nd Street’, and if I did nothing else in my life but be associated with that, my life would be complete. It is the type of place to live that has to be duplicated throughout the major cities of this country.
Irving Fischer, Manhattan Plaza Builder
Construction of the Manhattan Plaza buildings began in the early 1970’s as part of a revitalization plan for the Westside of Manhattan. They were originally planned as affordable housing for middle and upper income people who, it was hoped, would move in and revitalize the blighted area. As a result of New York City’s financial crisis, and the fact that middle class people did not want to move to Hell’s Kitchen, construction work stopped and the buildings sat vacant, the apartments un-rented. Out of what many saw as a failure, others saw as unique opportunity. When developers, elected officials, community leaders, representatives of the theatrical industry and the federal government joined forces, no one could have predicted the outcome. They came up with a unique plan to convert the buildings to affordable housing for a targeted group, performers, and for the neighborhood’s poor. This energetic and creative population pioneered the crime-ridden neighborhood and, little by little, families and hard working artists replaced the prostitutes and drug dealers, restaurants and small businesses replaced the porn parlors and gang-controlled dive bars. Slowly, jobs were created, tourism increased, property values rose – all providing increased tax revenue to the City. Manhattan Plaza and the West Side of New York were on their way.