The site formerly consisted of city blocks with small attached homes in poor condition, and existing residents were removed via a
slum clearance program. In 1952, the first tenants began moving in and the development was completed on September 30, 1954 under the
Taft-Ellender-Wagner Housing Act of 1949. When the houses initially began seeking applicants,
World War II veterans received priority. While at the playground,
Holcombe Rucker developed the tournament into five divisions: girls, junior high school, high school, college and pro. By the mid-1970s, violence had risen in the development and security had decreased along with repairs. In 2011, NYCHA approved the sale of 3.1 acres for the demolition of a playground on the site for the construction of a charter school called Promise Academy Charter School. Residents planned to sue the city and federal governments over the green space demolition, challenging that NYCHA failed to properly assess the school's impact on the development. Residents also felt that they were not informed of the plan until after the deal was completed. The school was designed by John Ciardullo Associates and completed in 2013. == In books ==