Mills House No. 1

Mills House No. 1, located at 160 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, is a historic building originally constructed in 1897 as a hotel for poor men, funded by banker Darius Ogden Mills and designed by architect Ernest Flagg. This eleven-story structure featured 1,554 small rooms rented at an affordable rate, with communal bathrooms and basic amenities. It was a pioneer of the philanthropic hotel movement, emphasizing efficient management while maintaining the dignity of its residents. Over the years, it transitioned from a men's hotel to a welfare hotel, and eventually underwent renovations to become The Atrium, a residential complex with 194 apartments and short-term rental options. The building's rich history includes its operation as a jazz club and plans for artistic housing, making it a notable site for both tourists and researchers interested in New York's social history and architectural evolution.