Proposal: Rename Samuel Dickstein Plaza

This is a topic I wanted to write about for a long time... Some neighbors recently referred me to an exhibition about Herman Jessor, the architect who designed our co-op, and attending that exhibit shifted my thoughts on this issue significantly!

As a co-op, it is fitting that we spend most of our time thinking about our buildings, grounds, and community. But as a community of more than 3000 people, we have influence over our greater neighborhood as well.

One issue in our greater neighborhood is the name of the street running through our property between Building #1 and the Apple Bank — Samuel Dickstein Plaza (SDP). Samuel Dickstein was popular in his time (1885-1954) for various reasons — he served twenty-two years as a congressional representative from New York, and ten years on the New York State Supreme Court. As a result, in 1963 — nine years after his death (and three years after SPC's construction) — the extension of Pitt Street between Grand Street and East Broadway was named after him.

But other aspects of Dickstein's career were not as savory — in his congressional career, he played a key role in establishing what would become the House Committee on Un-American Activities. And just as problematic: 45 years after his death, it was discovered that he was a Russian spy! (Click here to read more about Samuel Dickstein.)

Back in 2013, an employee of Henry Street Settlement named Susan LaRosa was astonished to learn that the street adjoining her workplace was named after a Sovet spy. It would make perfect sense to rename it — and she proposed renaming it after Lillian Wald, to honor Ward's significant work not only as the founder of Henry Street Settlement, but as a pioneering nurse, humanitarian, and social reformer in the neighborhood. (Click here to read more about Lillian Wald.) (Click here to read Larosa's 2013 pitch to rename the street.)

LaRosa circulated petitions, collected signatures, and enaged with Community Board 3, but ultimately her efforts stalled.

I don't know the degree to which LaRosa engaged with SPC. As a co-op with more than 3000 residents, approximately 10% of whom, to some degree, overlook SDP, I wonder to what degree she engaged SPC residents, or, more significantly, the SPC Board. Specifically, I wonder if the SPC Board, speaking on behalf of 3000 people in the community might have had a level of influence that LaRosa might not have been able to muster on her own.

I agree with LaRosa — it is not appropriate for a street to retain the name of such a despicable character as Dickstein. What's more, though I haven't thought through the implications, it seems that renaming this street might be relatively straight-forward — although there is infrastructure associated with any city street, there are no street addresses on SDP — all lot addresses are on East Broadway, Grand Street, Henry Street, or Montgomery Street.

For what it's worth, I haven't yet been able to reach LaRosa — I would love to get her insight before adapting her significant efforts! That said, as I see it, there are four naming options, as presented below.

Pitt Street?

William Pitt, the first Earl of Chatham (1708-1778), was a prominent British statesman (and later Prime Minister) during the years leading up to the American Revolution, who strongly defended colonial rights. This made him extremely popular with the American colonists, who named Pitt Street (and also nearby Chatham Square) in his honor. (Click to read more about William Pitt.)

Rationale for choosing this name: The street is already named Pitt Street north of us — it is an easy solution that would make navigating our neighborhood easier! (Click here to read neighbor Micah Arbisser's view on the matter as published on The Low Down in 2017.)

Drawback of choosing this name: While I think this would be worthwhile, as a corporation, SPC has no affiliation with William Pitt, the First Earl of Chatham! For this reason, there is no pressing reason for our co-op to get involved.

Lillian Wald Way?

Lillian Wald (1867-1940) was a nurse who founded the Henry Street Settlement. Throughout her career, she was an outspoken pioneer, extolling her humanitarian principles, and advocating for social justice. . (Click here to read more about Lillian Wald.)

Rationale for choosing this name: Although prior renaming efforts didn't succeed, presumably the groundwork has been laid. Lillian Wald was an important neighborhood figure, and, as mentioned, SPC could add its voice to that effort.

Drawbacks of choosing this name: Wald is already well-celebrated in our neighborhood, with Lillian Wald House (263-265 Henry Street), the massive Lillian Wald Houses (16 buildings that run from Houston and FDR Drive up to 6th Street and Avenue D), and Lillian Wald Playground (E Houston Street). Furthermore, as a corporation, SPC has no direct affiliation with Lillian Wald — there is no pressing reason for our co-op to get involved.

Abraham E. Kazan Place?

Abraham Kazan (1889-1971) is widely celebrated as the "father of cooperative housing" in the United States, spending his life breaking the grip of predatory landlords by building non-commodity, limited-equity shelter for working-class families. He was the visionary and organizing force behind the Co-op Village co-ops (Amalgamated, East River, Hillman, Seward Park). Throughout his career, he embodied his deeply-held value that people needed and deserved the dignity of high-quality and affordable homes. (Click to read more about Abraham E. Kazan.)

Rationale for choosing this name: There are three benefits of this idea: The Lower East Side co-op communities have changed dramatically since they were first established as "limited-equity housing cooperatives". Naming a street after Kazan would affix his name and philosophy to the place. Furthermore, aside from the weight of SPC's voice, we can probably enroll the voices of the Amalgamated, East River, and Hillman co-ops as well!

Drawback of choosing this name: A number of things have already been named after Kazan — most notably, Abraham E. Kazan Street, a section of Columbia Street that runs from Grand Street to Delancey Street, but also a Kazan Plaza in the Bronx, and The Abraham E. Kazan Housing Award.

Herman Jessor Place!

Herman Jessor (1894-1990) was a pioneer, and the most prolific architect of moderate-income cooperative housing in New York City's history, responsible for designing over 40,000 units throughout his 60-year career, including all four Co-op Village co-ops (Amalgamated, East River, Hillman, Seward Park). Throughout his career, he embodied his belief and value that people needed and deserved the dignity of high-quality and affordable homes. (Click here to read more information about Herman Jessor.)

Rationale for choosing this name: The benefits of renaming SDP in honor of Jessor match the benefits of renaming it in honor of Kazan... but there are two additional benefits. First, when Jessor started his own business, he situated it in what is now our Apple Bank building — it would be uniquely fitting to have this particular street named after him! And second, despite his remarkable productivity, very little is known or remains of Jessor — he has largely faded into obscurity. It would be worth celebrating his name in order to illuminate the principles and values that he invested in the development of our homes.