B-288_309+Henry+Street

BLOCK 288

Henry Street Settlement





 FROM HHS WEBSITE:
 * BLOCK || 288 ||
 * LOT || 26 ||
 * NB || NB 70-88, BUILT 1991 ||
 * USE || HELEN'S HOUSE, HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT ||
 * ORIGINAL USE || INSTITUTIONAL, HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT ||
 * CURRENT USE || INSTITUTIONAL, HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT ||
 * NUMBER OF STORIES || 4 ||
 * FAÇADE MATERIALS || BRICK, ALUMINUM ||
 * FOUNDATION MATERIAL || CONCRETE ||
 * STYLE ||  ||
 * FIREPROOF || YES ||
 * NUMBER OF UNITS || 18: 16 EFFICIENCY APARTMENTS, COMMUNITY ROOM AND DAYCARE ||
 * ELEVATOR || YES ||
 * NUMBER OF ELEVATORS || 1 ||
 * DATE OF INSTALLATION || 1991 ||
 * PARKING GARAGE || NO ||
 * DESCRIPTION || x ||
 * DATE OF INSTALLATION || x ||
 * NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES || x ||
 * LOT SIZE || 47' x 72' ||
 * BUILDING SIZE || 15,275 SQUARE FEET ||
 * BUILDING HEIGHT || ? ||
 * RELATIONSHIP TO LOT LINE || UP TO ||
 * ARCHITECT NAME + ADDRESS || HERBERT MANDEL ASSOCIATES AND LARRY HARVEY ||
 * BUILDER NAME + ADDRESS || ? ||
 * OWNER/DEVELOPER NAME + ADDRESS || HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT ||

The building known as Helen's House is named in honor of Helen Hall, who followed Lillian Wald as Head Worker of Henry Street Settlement in 1933. She directed the Settlement for over thirty years and was an author and activist concentrating on social reform in policies concerning homelessness and municipal shelters. Today, Helen's House provides emergency housing for mothers or fathers with children up to the age of 7. Dedicated at the opening ceremony by Mayor David Dinkins, Helen's House sits on a site owned by the Settlement comprising an empty lot and an abandoned eighteenth century building. Construction was completed at 309 Henry Street in 1991. Designed by Herbert Mandel Associates and architect Larry Harvey, the team successfully incorporated the needs of the housing program with the composition of neighboring buildings. A four-story with basement and red brick structure, it has a four bay front façade that connects visually with both Pete's House next door and the Settlement's original mid-nineteenth century buildings down the block. The welcoming masonry arched entrance with cream-colored mortar joints is embellished by hunter green, aluminum clad double glazed doors. The color and material repeated in the double hung windows is enhanced by decorative red masonry corner blocks. The sign over the door is black smaltz with gold leaf letters that duplicates the style used on other Settlement properties. The Henry Street Settlement, through Helen's House's 16 efficiency apartments, community room, and daycare center space, continues Ms. Hall's vision of bringing suitable housing to those who need it most.