Amalgamated is the oldest limited equity housing cooperative in the United States. Sponsored by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union under the leadership of Sidney Hillman. It is the first co-op created by Founding President and Manager Abraham E. Kazan, known as “The father of cooperative housing in the United States.”
The first 303 “Pioneer Cooperators” began moving in on November 1, 1927. Amalgamated is now home to 1482 families in eleven buildings. The oldest building, Building 6, is one of the original buildings. The “newest” buildings are two Towers which were completed in 1968 and 1970, and replaced the original First Building.
Amalgamated has always provided community as well as housing. There has been an Education Department almost from inception. It is responsible for co-op education and community activities. Community News has been published regularly since 1929. There are activities for cooperators of all ages, from Playgroup and Nursery for toddlers through a NORC Program for seniors (NORC- Naturally Occurring Retirement Community.)
Amalgamated has been the example and inspiration for the moderate income cooperative housing which has followed. The United Housing Foundation, which built tens of thousands of homes for families of moderate income, was created by leaders from the Amalgamated. The cooperative communities created by UHF drew on the experience of the Amalgamated houses.
