Queensbridge Houses Queens

Queensbridge, the largest of 26 public housing developments in Queens, is located between Vernon Boulevard along the East River and 21st Street. It lies immediately south of the Ravenswood power plant and just north of the Queensboro Bridge, from which it takes its name. The largest housing project in North America, the complex is divided into two sections: the North Houses on 40th Avenue and the South Houses on 41st Avenue. The Queensbridge station of the New York City Subway’s IND 63rd Street Line (F and <F> trains) is situated on the eastern side of the complex on 21st Street.

Buildings

The 96 six-story buildings of Queensbridge are distinctive due to their two Y-shaped designs connecting at the base. This shape was chosen by the architects—W.F.R. Ballard, Henry S. Churchill, Frederick G. Frost, and Burnett Turner—who hoped to provide residents with more privacy and sunlight compared to the traditional cross-shape. The design was considered cost-efficient, further economized by using elevators that only stopped at the 1st, 3rd, and 5th floors, driven by political pressure to keep costs low.

The buildings of Queensbridge share many characteristics with other government-built housing projects of the era. They are a worn grayish-brown, suffering noticeable deterioration and weathering. Each building is painted red up to about four feet from the ground, creating a unified feel across the complex with a consistent red “layer.” At each corner of Queensbridge, the New York City Housing Authority has posted signs indicating the project’s name and management: “Queensbridge North (or South) NYCHA.” These signs vary in style depending on their age, with the oldest signs from the early nineties being simply orange and blue, and newer signs featuring graphics similar to those in other projects.

Amenities

The original plans for Queensbridge included basic amenities such as a central shopping center, a nursery, and six inner courtyards for play. By the 1950s, the development also featured three playschool rooms, a library, and a community center with an auditorium for shows. There was a gymnasium with a wooden floor that doubled as a roller skating rink, activity rooms downstairs, and a cafeteria upstairs where playschool children ate their lunches. Downstairs activities included tap dancing, ballet, art, playing the recorder and singing, pool, knock hockey, and table tennis, as well as Girl Scout and Boy Scout meetings. Residents enjoyed concerts during the hot summer months in the central shopping area, and the Fresh Air Fund organized trips for children to the Peekskill mountains.