United Workers Cooperatives
historic place
In the Bronx, New York, stands the United Workers Cooperatives, also known as 'The Coops.' This historic apartment complex was established in 1927 by the United Workers' Association. The Association, comprised largely of Yiddish-speaking garment workers with communist leanings, aimed to provide affordable housing and improve living conditions for its members. Many had previously lived in crowded tenements on the Lower East Side. Construction occurred in two campaigns between 1926 and 1929. The Tudor Revival style buildings feature half-timbered gables and sloping slate roofs. Beyond housing, the Coops fostered a community with common kitchens, social halls, classrooms, and a library. The United Workers Cooperatives faced financial challenges during the Great Depression. In 1943, it transitioned to regular rental housing. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991, and a New York City Landmark in 1992. It remains a significant example of early cooperative housing for working-class people in New York City.