MHHC History
Morningside Gardens was born out of the vision to create a new, middle-income housing complex and community just north of West 122nd Street. Two men played a key role in its creation. The first was David Rockefeller. In 1947, he partnered with 14 local institutions, including Columbia University and Barnard College, to form Morningside Heights Inc.
The second was Robert Moses. In 1951, his committee funded the Rockefeller group’s plan, dubbed Morningside Gardens, and construction began on the 9-acre site in 1954.
On June 24, 1957, residents began moving into 80 La Salle Street, the first building to be completed. By 1958, all six buildings were fully occupied, and Morningside Gardens became home to 980 families, a population of approximately 2,000 people of diverse ethnicity and backgrounds.
For most of its existence, the bylaws set a maximum resale price. In 2015, Morningside Gardens shareholders voted to change the bylaws to allow sales on the open market.
Today Morningside Gardens is a fully independently run co-op managed by an elected eleven-member board of directors.
In 2023, we completed a full renovation of our grounds and walkways. The result is the beautifully landscaped gardens that you see today. More than 75 years after the corporation’s founding, Morningside Gardens remains one of the most distinctive apartment complexes in New York City.