Nickerson Gardens, Watts, Los Angeles California
Nickerson Gardens is a public housing apartment complex that was built in the 50s. This housing project came to mind as I was thinking about Section 8 housing--(and Section 8 housing came to mind while listening to Section .80 mixtape by Compton rap artist, Kendrick Lamar). Nickerson Gardens was built with the intent of providing "low cost, safe, transitional housing" but various reasons led Nickerson Gardens to represent all that's wrong with public housing.
A website entitled, Paul Revere Williams: American Architect, covers the life's work of Paul Revere Williams--who is most well known for designing Hollywood stars homes, like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball, to name a couple. Williams was an African-American, and thus a pioneer, as a man of color in a profession that assumed "black inferiority". Look through the website to hear more of his biography and accolades.
What's most interesting (and ironic) is the fact that Williams is the architect of Nickerson Gardens as well as Imperial Courts housing projects, one of the largest housing projects on the West Coast. This housing project as well has a tumultuous history.
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