pr-20241217

NYC Housing Authority


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2024
CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov | (212) 306-3322

NYCHA Celebrates Landmark Year Improving Residents’ Quality of Life, Bringing Total Investment Through PACT to Nearly $7 Billion to Date

Additionally, in further strides to preserve and strengthen NYCHA’s housing stock, design-build contracts were executed for two Comprehensive Modernization projects to modernize the homes of 4,340 residents

Official votes were held at four developments, enabling residents to choose between the Public Housing Preservation Trust, PACT, or remaining Section 9

NEW YORK – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today celebrated a landmark year of accomplishments and continued progress, marked by achievements across the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, Comprehensive Modernization, and the Public Housing Preservation Trust. Central to the efforts to preserve and strengthen its housing stock, in 2024 NYCHA closed on the financing for 8 developments through the PACT program, representing $1.7 billion in comprehensive renovations for nearly 7,600 residents, bringing the total amount invested in NYCHA properties through PACT to date to nearly $7 billion. Additionally, four new resident votes were held in 2024, including at Bronx River Addition and Coney Island I (Site 1B), also known as Unity Towers, both of which elected to join the Public Housing Preservation Trust.

This past summer, NYCHA also executed the design-build contracts for Saint Nicholas and Todt Hill Houses through Comprehensive Modernization — an approach that prioritizes holistic solutions and repairs, addressing the properties’ capital needs while improving quality of life for residents.

In totality, these milestones demonstrate major advances in programs that seek to invest in aging and deteriorating buildings across the public housing portfolio.

“From day one, our administration argued that NYCHA residents deserved a seat at the table to decide the future of their development. I'm proud to say: promises made and promises kept,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We successfully fought for the creation of the NYCHA Trust and helped NYCHA residents unlock billions in critically needed repairs. This year, we also continued our pledge to residents to invest in the future of NYCHA, committing a record $26 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a general housing crisis. I look forward to building on our success and to keep breaking records in 2025.”

“As we end the third year of our administration, we have fired on all cylinders to deliver real results for NYCHA residents, and the numbers and actions in 2024 continue to prove it," said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “Whether we point to the over 24,000 apartments that have been converted through PACT since the start of the program, reopening the Section 8 waitlist, or the four official votes this year to choose between PACT, the Public Housing Preservation Trust, or remaining in Section 9, NYCHA is stronger than it was a year ago, and continues to advance the mission of improving the lives of its residents. While we are proud of these successes, we know we have to redouble our efforts to reverse decades of under-investment at NYCHA. As we look forward to the fourth year of this administration, we will continue to center the voices of NYCHA tenants in all that we do.”

“This administration has made NYCHA a focal point of our efforts to preserve housing across the city, and over the course of this past year, NYCHA has made monumental progress towards a goal of ensuring all residents have the safe and decent homes they deserve,” said Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “In 2024 alone, over $1.7 billion in repairs are being addressed for nearly 7,600 residents through the PACT program; and through the voting process of the Public Housing Preservation Trust’s work, more tenants have a choice in how their homes will be rehabilitated. I commend NYCHA and their many partners for their ongoing dedication to improving and modernizing homes for residents.”

“In 2024, NYCHA continued employing every available strategy to bring our aging developments the funding they desperately need and directly improve the lives of the New Yorkers who call NYCHA home,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “The PACT program, the Public Housing Preservation Trust, and Comprehensive Modernization are just a few of the critical tools the Authority is using to modernize properties and transform the lives of residents. There is nothing that brings greater satisfaction than seeing our residents receive much-needed, comprehensive renovations to their homes, especially when they have been thoroughly engaged throughout the process. I look forward to continuing our work together as we continue to transform NYCHA and residents’ lives over the coming year.”

“Praises to the PACT partners for improving the residents’ quality of life at Claremont Parkway,” said Claremont Parkway Tenant Association President Gloria Tull. “We’re very pleased with the upgrades to the apartments, the new appliances, and how the hallways are now maintained.”

“We’re thankful for the security cameras that have deterred potential intruders at our development,” said Eagle Avenue-East 163 Street Tenant Association President Robin Romas. “For years, security was a major issue at our development, and now we have less worries.”

“The renovation was a major transition for the residents and many of them were feeling uncertain about the renovations,” said Edenwald Houses Tenant Association President Walter McNeill. “However, those doubts have faded away after seeing their homes with the beautiful new appliances and up-to-date features.”

“My experience with PACT has been very complex,” said Linden Houses Tenant Association President Carol Barnes. “However, the overall performance has been convenient and an upgrade for me. The new amenities are good, and the development, as a whole, looks very elegant. I no longer feel like I'm living in the ‘projects.’ I can bring people to my apartment and have a feeling of being upgraded. If I had to choose, I would gladly stay with PACT.”

"We’ve been waiting a long time for comprehensive repairs at Saint Nicholas that don’t just put a bandage on the problems but address the root issues,” said Saint Nicholas Resident Association President Leslie Johnson. “These buildings are aging, and residents have been dealing with ongoing issues for years. The Comprehensive Modernization project shows that NYCHA is making residents' needs a priority. This isn’t just about fixing the buildings — it’s about improving the quality of life for the families who call Saint Nicholas home. We’re hopeful about the positive changes to come."

"I’ve been involved in the Comprehensive Modernization process at Todt Hill from the very beginning, and it’s been so rewarding to see it all come together, knowing the impact it will have on so many lives,” said Todt Hill Houses Tenant Association President Doreen Williams. “NYCHA has worked closely with us, ensuring residents’ voices were heard and our needs prioritized every step of the way. This journey has shown me the thoughtfulness and care that have gone into every decision, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. These improvements will truly make a difference for everyone at Todt Hill, and I can’t wait to see the positive changes in our daily lives."

“First of all, I was informed at multiple meetings, letting us know how the process was going to be, what we had to do, and the timeframe for renovations,” said Warren Street Resident Association President Vicente Velez. “Honestly, I was stressed beforehand and now when I see how it has all turned out, I’m very happy. It’s just me and my 85-year-old mom, and you know, it worked out great.”

Over this past year, NYCHA worked in partnership with resident leadership to select PACT partner teams and deliver record-breaking capital improvements and renovations at campuses around the city through the PACT program. In addition to the 24,584 apartments already converted to PACT since the program’s inception, another 14,082 apartments at 48 developments are in active planning and are slated for comprehensive repairs and upgrades. Overall, over 38,000 apartments across 140 developments are in pre-development, under construction, or have completed renovations through the PACT program. The Authority is on track to include 62,000 apartments in the PACT program in order to bring the benefits of comprehensive apartment repairs and building upgrades, as well as enhanced property management and social services, to more than 142,000 residents.

Together, PACT and the Public Housing Preservation Trust represent two key strategies to drive investment into NYCHA properties following decades of federal disinvestment. Following an inaugural resident vote at Nostrand Houses in 2023, subsequent votes were held in 2024 at Bronx River Addition, Coney Island Houses, and Coney Island I (Site 1B), also known as Unity Towers, and Hylan Houses. Residents were able to choose between joining the Trust, PACT, or remaining Section 9, and in each case, residents voted in favor of the Trust, which is expected to unlock billions of dollars in federal funding for comprehensive renovations (except at Coney Island Houses, where residents opted to remain Section 9). Votes are currently being tallied for Hylan Houses, where the voting period recently concluded, with final results expected on December 20. Additionally, an official Notice of Vote was mailed to residents of Throggs Neck Addition and Randall Avenue-Balcom Avenue on December 3, thereby starting 100 days of public engagement at those developments, which will hold votes in 2025.

As the first NYCHA development to vote for the Trust, Nostrand Houses is also the first Trust development to have a design-build procurement solicitation released, which, as part of the final scope, will address all pillar areas identified in the 2019 Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). This milestone marks a significant step in the procurement process to identify modernization and preservation partners capable of delivering comprehensive renovations that will benefit more than 2,200 residents.

In 2024, the Authority furthered the large-scale holistic repairs outlined in the City Capital Action Plan approved by the Federal Monitor through the execution of design-build contracts for the $740 million Comprehensive Modernization of Saint Nicholas Houses and Todt Hill Houses. Comprehensive Modernization effectively utilizes available capital funding to rehabilitate a NYCHA property, improve building performance, and enhance residents’ quality of life through improved living conditions. The approval of the City Capital Action Plan in 2021 unlocked $2.2 billion in funding support for addressing key pillar areas of the HUD Agreement, primarily around lead-based paint and mold abatement but also for the renovation of other building systems. These renovations will enhance the apartments and campuses of over 4,340 NYCHA residents. Residents will continue to provide valuable input into the design process before major construction is expected to commence in early 2025.

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 528,105 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.