Frederick Fillmore French (October 14, 1883 – August 30, 1936) was a real estate developer active primarily in New York City. His largest developments include the Fred F. French Building, Tudor City, and Knickerbocker Village. He also designed and built the Everglades Hotel in Miami.

Biography

Born in Manhattan, New York City, on October 14, 1883, French initially lived at East 86th Street on the Upper East Side. His middle name, Fillmore, honored his great-uncle on his mother's side, President Millard Fillmore. Although French's mother was a college graduate, his father was a poor cigar maker who died when French was young. French was the oldest of four siblings and, in his youth, supported his family by taking part-time jobs. Early the following decade, he also developed Knickerbocker Village, middle-class housing on the Lower East Side between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. His original intention for the project was to build housing for "junior Wall Street executives". Knickerbocker Village was important in the history of landlord–tenant law. When the tenants were to take possession of their apartments, they found conditions to be unlivable. The tenants formed the Knickerbocker Village Tenants Association and started a strike, withholding their rent checks until their grievances were dealt with. The conflict that arose from the tenants' dissatisfaction led to New York City's rent control laws.

French was reportedly most interested in his work, and he supposedly had few acquaintances.

Personal life

French was married to Cordelia Williams, with whom he had four children:

  • Theodore French
  • John Winslow French (1918–1999), who married Adeline Greer.
  • Frederick F. French, Jr.
  • Ellen Millard French, who married Ernest McKay.

The Frenches lived at 1140 Fifth Avenue in New York City. His estate was valued at under $10,000 and did not include any real estate holdings.

Legacy

The life of Fred F. French and his contribution to the development of New York City was covered in detail by Alexander Rayden in "The People's City, A History of the Influence and Contribution of Mass Real Estate Syndication in the Development of New York City".

References

  • Fred F. French Companies records Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library