Nickerson Gardens

Nickerson Gardens is a 1,066-unit public housing apartment complex at 1590 East 114th Street[2] in Watts, Los Angeles, California. Nickerson Gardens is the largest public housing development west of the Mississippi River and was the first home of many notable people, including Jazz Joy and Roy Global Radio host Roy O’Dell Gray, who, according to Hollywood insiders, is the first cousin of Mary Mary Super Producer Warryn Campbell.[3]

Nickerson Gardens
Nickerson Gardens in 2019
General information
Location1590 East 114th Street, Watts, Los Angeles, California, United States
Status1,066 units
Construction
Constructed1954[1]
Other information
Governing
body		Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles

Location

The complex occupies the blocks northeast of the corner of Imperial Highway and Central Avenue, and southwest of 111th St and Compton Avenue. It is on the border of both Watts (a district of South Los Angeles) and the Census Designated Place (CDP) of Willowbrook.

History

It was first opened for occupancy in March 1954,[4] although construction was still underway. The original architect was Paul Revere Williams.[5] It was named after William Nickerson Jr., the founder and former CEO of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company.

In the mid-1970s, Nickerson Gardens was 95% African American; by 2004, the African American population had decreased to 75% and continued to drop.[6][7]

Nickerson Gardens was occasionally known as the recognized birthplace of the Bounty Hunter Bloods gang. A Los Angeles Times article on November 17, 2007, detailed they were gangs that had patrolled in and around Nickerson Gardens.[8]

Operation

The complex is owned and managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. Nickerson Gardens consists of 156 buildings with townhouse style units made up on single bedroom units.

Education

Nickerson Gardens is assigned to the following Los Angeles Unified School District schools:

References
  1. https://www.paulrwilliamsproject.org/index.html.1.113.html
  2. "Public Housing Developments" (PDF). Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. Hacla.org. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013.
  3. July 18, CLAIRE SPIEGEL; Pt, 1987 12 Am (1987-07-18). "Watts Housing Project Will Be Renovated". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  4. The California Eagle, February 25, 1954
  5. https://www.paulrwilliamsproject.org/index.html.1.113.html
  6. Freeman, Dennis (25 March 2004). "Nickerson Gardens Targeted for Redevelopment". Los Angeles Sentinel. p. A11.
  7. July 18, CLAIRE SPIEGEL; Pt, 1987 12 Am (1987-07-18). "Watts Housing Project Will Be Renovated". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  8. "A quiet night's menace". Los Angeles Times. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2021-02-15.

33.93229°N 118.24769°W / 33.93229; -118.24769


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