Street Named For Harlemite Norman Rockwell

By Mark Levine, City Council

Did you know that the American art legend Norman Rockwell was born
in our very own district?
Most famous for his ability to capture small town family life, not many would have thought he was raised in the big city.

It all started in 2014, when a handful of students from Edward A. Reynolds West Side High School, an alternative high school on West 102nd Street, went to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. To their great surprise, they discovered that the American icon was born and raised just around the corner from their school, on West 103rd Street.

Before long, they were campaigning to rename the street where he had lived. They filled out forms, collected signatures, and attended hearings. This year their efforts finally paid off, and after a successful vote by the City Council, Mayor Bill De Blasio authorized the legislation.

On June 9th, 2016, I joined students and local residents to designate the block between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue as Norman Rockwell Place. I hope this sign will inspire future students to discover the timeless charm of his art.