Strengthening Community.
Supporting Families.
Expanded Learning & Leadership.

The term “neighborhood commons” was first widely used by landscape architect, educator, and psychologist Karl Linn, who guided the creation of many such spaces during the 1960s through 1980s. Linn envisioned a neighborhood commons in every residential block as a framework for the development of a new kind of extended-family living based on mutual aid among neighbors.

Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council (1959, founder Harry Browne)  and The DOME Project (1973, founder John Simon) have long served as “neighborhood commons” models for the community.

It was in 1984 the DOME/Strycker’s Bay first  partnered to work with  residents, youth, storeowners, schools, parents, and religious institutions in saving seven local city-buildings on Amsterdam Avenue between West 85th and West 82nd Streets  as low income housing. This multi-generational, ethnically and economically diverse group of neighborhood stakeholders worked together to raise funds and make these buildings safe for the 200 families residing in the city owned buildings. 

We believe in programs centered on area residents and community stakeholders. Their commitment, interest, and investment of time are what create the extended neighborhood family, the foundation of The West Side Commons.