On 2nd Anniversary Of NextGen NYCHA, Mayor De Blasio Invests $355M To Replace Crumbling Facades 20170515 - NYCHA

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2017
CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov

ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF NEXTGEN NYCHA, MAYOR DE BLASIO INVESTS $355 MILLION TO REPLACE CRUMBLING FACADES

The Authority launches “NextGen Up-Close,” a week-long series of development tours, events and announcements to kick off the second anniversary of NextGen NYCHA.

NextGen Up-Close starts with an infrastructure tour to highlight unprecedented City support and the devastating proposed federal budget cuts.

Mayor’s investment in facades is critical to maintaining NYCHA’s buildings directly benefiting residents and improving quality of life.

NEW YORK— Today, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) launched “NextGen Up-Close,” a week-long series of development tours, events and announcements to mark the second anniversary of NextGeneration NYCHA, the Authority’s long-term strategic plan to create financial stability and improve residents’ quality of life. To kick off NextGen Up-Close, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Housing Authority Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye will commit $355 million in City capital to replace deteriorating facades on NYCHA buildings over the next three years.

“Two years ago, we launched NextGeneration NYCHA to improve public housing for all who call NYCHA home,” said NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye. “In the face of federal disinvestment and devastating proposed budget cuts, Mayor de Blasio's investment preserves our buildings and moves us closer towards our NextGen mission of creating safe, clean and connected communities.”

“It’s great that NYCHA is focusing on core issues of livability, including roofs, facades, elevators and security,” said State Senator Daniel Squadron. “At a time when the federal government seems to be turning its back on public housing residents, I thank Chair Olatoye and Mayor de Blasio for their focus, and I look forward to continuing to work with the City and State to ensure the investments needed to protect residents’ homes.”

“It's great that Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chair Shola Olatoye are following through on their commitment to make the investments needed for our public housing to be secure, livable, and well maintained,” said Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, who represents thousands of public housing residents on the Lower East Side. “Housing provides a critical foundation for families and communities to flourish. I look forward to continuing to work with the Housing Authority to secure additional funding and to make certain that conditions continue to improve and all New Yorkers have access to the housing they deserve.”

“As I discussed in my State of the City address in February, NYCHA is a cornerstone of affordable housing and a center of opportunity. That’s why I applaud the Administration for this investment to replace deteriorating facades, which will undoubtedly serve to improve the safety and quality of life for countless New Yorkers,” said New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Now, more than ever, we must work to protect funding for NYCHA in the face of proposed HUD cuts. The Council will continue to work with the Mayor and housing advocates to ensure the safety, health, and sense of community within NYCHA.”

“This additional investment by the City to protect public housing and fix facades is laudatory. It will bring necessary infrastructure improvements and improve living conditions. While the City is committing more monetary resources to protect NYCHA, we must still be cautious of the proposed federal budget cuts that could devastate public housing,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres.

NYCHA Executive Vice President for Capital Projects Deborah Goddard, Council Member and Chair of the Committee on Public Housing Richie Torres, and Council Member Rosie Mendez hosted a press conference and tour today at Baruch Houses in Lower Manhattan to highlight how critical this $355 million from the City is among the greater capital needs throughout NYCHA. Facades are a crucial aspect of the Authority’s infrastructure portfolio in ensuring residents can stay in their homes without devastating leaks. Left unattended, crumbling facades can result in mold, long-term water damage and have wider impacts on the overall structure of NYCHA’s buildings.

The City’s $355 million investment will allow NYCHA to fix 150 building facades over the next three years, but the authority is facing more than $17 billion in unmet capital needs overall. The partnership between the City Hall and NYCHA is even more important in the face of growing federal disinvestment, resulting in more than $1 billion in losses to NYCHA since 2001. The Authority has an increasing list of necessary infrastructure repairs, and investments from the Mayor are crucial in combatting these problems as the federal government reduces its commitment to public housing in New York City.

To manage critical infrastructure needs, limit the devastating impacts of federal budget cuts and improve residents’ quality of life NYCHA launched NextGeneration NYCHA in May 2015. In two years, NextGen NYCHA has already achieved:

$1.2 million in savings resulting from deployment of smart phones to property management staff

677,000 work orders closed using smart phones

$960,000 in savings from launch of MyNYCHA app

$3.5 million in annual utility cost savings from the first phase of a large-scale Energy Performance Contract (EPC), benefitting over 45,000 residents at 16 developments

1,419 units of 100 percent affordable housing in development

5,663 residents placed in jobs

646 residents enrolled in NYCHA Resident Training Academy

3.2% increase in rent collection equaling $32 million in new revenue

Under NextGen NYCHA the Authority has made significant progress towards becoming a better landlord, but now faces unprecedented and devastating budget cuts that threaten the future of public housing in New York City. NextGen Up-Close will highlight the progress made under the strategic plan, how the Mayor and the Authority are going to continue to move forward in achieving their NextGen NYCHA goals, as well as what’s at stake for NYCHA and the half a million New Yorkers who call NYCHA home.

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
NYCHA’s mission is to increase opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers by providing safe, affordable housing and facilitating access to social and community services. More than 400,000 New Yorkers reside in NYCHA’s 326 public housing developments around the five boroughs, and another 235,000 receive subsidized rental assistance in private homes through the NYCHA-administered Section 8 Leased Housing Program. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/nycha and for regular updates on NYCHA news and services, connect with us via www.facebook.com/NYCHA and www.twitter.com/NYCHA.