The Isaacs Houses sit in one of New York City’s most prosperous neighborhoods, Manhattan’s Upper East Side stretching between First Avenue, the FDR Drive, and East 93rd to 95th Streets. Built in 1965, the development consists of three residential buildings and is home to more than 1,200 residents.
They were originally called the Gerard Swope Houses, but were renamed in 1963 the Isaacs Houses after Stanley M. Isaacs, who served as Manhattan Borough President under Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1946.
Currently, over 45 percent of the apartments in Isaacs are set aside for tenants over the age of 62.
In the heart of one of Manhattan’s wealthiest enclaves, the Isaacs Houses tower over tower apartments in bare contrast as a monument to the city’s enormous economic divide.
Co-located with Holmes Towers, the development has long grappled with the challenges common to NYCHA housing: chronic underfunding, deteriorating infrastructure, and delayed repairs, in stark contrast to the neighborhood surrounding it, despite its relative proximity to more affluent residents.
Despite these hardships, the community has remained resilient. The Isaacs Center, a long-standing neighborhood institution, has played a pivotal role in supporting residents through youth programs, senior services, and workforce training.
Generations of families have grown up within the Isaacs Houses, advocating for better conditions while preserving a deep sense of pride in their home.
Through their diverse cultural fabric and legacy of perseverance, the Isaacs Houses embody the enduring spirit of New York public housing—where grit, unity, and community refuse to fade in the face of adversity.
