7. Title One Housing in Brooklyn Heights

As the chairman of the City’s Slum Clearing Commission, Robert Moses wanted to create strictly planned communities, and sought to bulldoze the northeast corner of Brooklyn Heights through the Cadman Plaza Project. In order to make room for the Title One Housing, comprised of “efficiency apartments, small apartments, small, very expensive apartments,” areas like Willow Town had to be demolished. Meredith Langstaff, who led the Willow Town Association, argued that the area was not a slum. She was joined in protest by many of the area’s residents who were enraged at the proposals, effectively preventing Moses from going forward with his plan.

Next check out 8 Things You’ll Learn About Robert Moses at BLDZR the Musical. Also see 5 Things in NYC We Can Blame on Robert Moses and some Unbuilt Robert Moses Highway Maps.