In the mid-1940’s, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America sponsored the construction of Hillman Housing Corporation, named for Sidney Hillman, which became home to about 800 families. Opened in 1948, with the second and third buildings opening shortly thereafter, Hillman was organized as a redevelopment company, under New York's Private Housing Finance Law. The three, 12-story Hillman structures were built on either side of Amalgamated Dwellings, creating a contiguous stretch of modern housing with gardens, playgrounds, and shopping.

500 A-B-C Grand Street is named after Edward A. Filene, president of Filene's in Boston - pioneer of the bargain basement. Filene was also known as the father of the credit union movement in this country. He was one of the first employers to implement a profit-sharing plan for his employees. He advocated a 5-day, 40-hour work week and allowed his employees to engage in collective bargaining

530 D-E-F Grand Street is named after Meyer London. Russian born, Meyer London became interested in politics and provided legal services to the ILGWU. He ran on the Socialist ticket for a seat on the NYS Assembly, representing the Lower East Side. He lost that election but ran three times for Congress on the Socialist ticket, finally winning in 1914. In Congress, he sponsored bills that were eventually adopted through years and decades later, including minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and civil rights.

550 G-H-J Grand Street is named after Louis D. Brandeis. Born in Kentucky, in Boston Brandeis practiced law in Boston and came to be known as an attorney for the people. He fought for such causes as the minimum wage and savings-bank insurance. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Woodrow Wilson and his strong pro-Zionist beliefs influenced Wilson's policies. © Joel Raskin