Artist Manny Toonkel moved into the building in 1981.
Photographer Susan Rosenberg Jones had always lived in an apartment building in Tribeca, New York since 1984.
Although she is currently living in a different apartment in the same building, Jones was curious about the state of her neighbors—mostly a working class mix of artists and writers—who lived in the building under the now-defunct Mitchell-Lama program which helped middle-income residents find affordable homes.
In her photo series ‘Building 1’, Jones set out to document the original tenants in the building by photographing them in the spaces that they called home since the 1970s.
Jones said that she often ended up reminiscing about the old days with the tenants while working with them.
“We’re losing a flavor in Manhattan… It just doesn’t feel like New York anymore, like the New York we love,” said Jones.
Check out Jones’ photos below.
Retired bookkeeper Vinette Leo moved into the building in 1976.
Retired vocational art teacher Ella Biondi moved into the building in 1976.
Artist Malcah Zeldis moved into the building in 1975.
Retired actress and dancer Estelle Woldin moved into the building in 1976.
Retired VP of union contracts Genie Miller moved into the building in 1976.
Retired director of the New York City Department of Buildings Anita King moved into the complex in 1978.
College student Joseph Albanese and his parents moved into the building in 1985.
[via Slate]