Provided by Wikipedia Alfred Tredway White (May 28, 1846 – January 29, 1921) was an American housing reformer and philanthropist, and was known as "Brooklyn's first citizen." After attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he developed the Home Buildings (1877), Tower Buildings (1879, now Cobble Hill Towers) and the Riverside Buildings (1890). He advocated a model of "philanthropy plus five percent," accepting a limited financial return on his projects.
White's buildings were extensively praised by Jacob Riis in "How The Other Half Lives" as a "''beau ideal''" and a "big village of contented people." They covered roughly half of their lots, leaving large courtyards suitable for concerts and other recreation.
