Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, NYCHA Undertake Effort to Replace Elevators in Developments Serving Nearly 34,000 Residents

 

335 Elevators Will Be Replaced as Part of Large-Scale Modernization Work That Will Improve Elevator Service at 20 Developments

$300 Million Funding Agreement Between NYCHA and DASNY Will Deliver Much-Needed Repairs to Developments in All Five Boroughs

 Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and interim New York City Housing Authority CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt today announced that Phase I planning for critical capital work has begun to replace 335 elevators at 20 NYCHA developments, as part of a $300 million funding agreement with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York that was signed in April 2022. The financing was made possible through close collaboration between NYCHA, the New York State Legislature, and Governor Hochul — who all worked together to develop a framework for modernizing NYCHA's elevator infrastructure, as outlined in the 2019 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development agreement.

"With this important milestone, NYCHA is set to begin major building improvements, leveraging $300 million in state investment to improve the homes and lives of thousands of New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "Right now, as our state faces a dire shortage of safe, stable, and accessible housing, my administration is committed to preserving our housing stock — which is why I signed legislation to create the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust last year. I am proud to partner with NYCHA, its residents, and local and state officials, and look forward to even more opportunities to grow and support NYCHA communities."

"Every day, NYCHA residents experience the consequences of decades of underinvestment and tens of billions of dollars in capital needs. Providing them the quality of life that every New Yorker deserves requires creativity and partnership — and this agreement represents both," said Mayor Adams. "With the Public Housing Preservation Trust, the PACT program, and programs like this, we are giving residents a true menu of options to get the repairs they need in their homes in the way they prefer. I want to thank all of our partners in Albany for their investment in NYCHA, and I look forward to getting this work done to help 34,000 New Yorkers avoid dangerous broken elevators."

"Bringing critical repairs to NYCHA requires an all-hands effort, and we are incredibly grateful for the partnership of the State for this $300 million in capital funding. Soon, 34,000 New Yorkers will have the relief that everyone should enjoy with reliable and safe elevators," said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. "We look forward to continuing to work with the state and all other government partners to bring NYCHA residents the quality of life they deserve."

Nearly 34,000 residents living in almost 16,000 apartments will benefit from improved elevator service at the 20 developments, which include six senior-designated campuses. Consistent elevator service is particularly important for seniors and residents with mobility impairments; NYCHA has over 78,000 residents above the age of 62, and nearly 40 percent of NYCHA households are headed by a resident over the age of 62. NYCHA elevators also serve more than 31,000 mobility impaired residents.

NYCHA's elevator stock is old, with the longest-running traction elevators in the portfolio installed 32 years ago in 1990. All the elevators identified in the State Capital Revitalization Plan are at or beyond the typical useful life of 15 to 20 years for a multifamily residential property.

The New York State Legislature allocated $300 million to NYCHA in the 2020 and 2021 state budgets to upgrade the oldest elevators in the Authority's portfolio. NYCHA first presented the State Capital Revitalization Plan in September 2021 to outline its approach to achieving this goal, and it was approved by DASNY in the most recent funding agreement.

The funding allowed the planning process for elevator replacement to begin in early April. The timeline for elevator replacement work across the 20 different sites is estimated to range from 49 months (Cassidy-Lafayette Houses) to 81 months (Marcy Houses), depending on the number of elevators that need to be replaced and the age of the relevant developments. All elevator construction work is scheduled to be complete by early December 2028.

A full list of the developments that will receive elevator upgrades is available here.

This effort builds upon Governor Hochul's dedication to provide safe, stable homes for New York public housing residents. Since 2016, New York State has provided over $1.2 billion to NYCHA, with $350 million allocated in FY 2023. These critical investments have been used toward heating, security, elevator, and other improvements, along with quality-of-life enhancements.

In June, Governor Hochul signed legislation creating the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust, a public benefit corporation, to help fund repair, rehabilitation, and modernization of 25,000 apartments under NYCHA control. The Trust also guarantees homes are kept affordable by preserving rights that ensure residents only pay 30 percent of their income toward rent, residents maintain all current succession rights, apartments will continue to be reserved for low-income residents, and that apartment vacancies will continue to be filled using the NYCHA waiting list.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This is a start to what will hopefully be better living conditions for people living in NYCHA buildings. Just a start of what repairs are needed to bring NYCHA buildings up to code.

Nos Quedamos - 3 Kings Visit the South Bronx TONIGHT! Get your discounted tickets.

 

Join Nos Quedamos and Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture TONIGHT—January 6, 2023 at 7PM (450 Grand Concourse, Bronx)—as we celebrate the magical tradition of the Adoration of The Magi (Epiphany) and welcome Los Tres Reyes Magos to the South Bronx, with a special musical journey directly from Puerto Rico in honor of the diaspora! Family friendly.  Download Flier

General, children/student, and senior tickets available. Special group rates also available. SPECIAL DISCOUNT to Nos Quedamos’ residents: $5 tickets when purchased via phone (718-518-4455) or at box-office by saying “Nos Quedamos.” Online purchase discount with code "NOSQ"

Click or Scan below for tickets.

View / Purchase Tickets

Click Map for directions. 3 Kings artwork by Laura Alvárez. @bigeyesworld

STATE COMPTROLLER DiNAPOLI'S STATEMENT ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released the following statement today on the second anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol: “We must never minimize or become complacent about what happened on January 6. The attack on our Capitol was a fanatical attempt to prevent the orderly transition of power. It threatened the heart of our democracy, free and fair elections. Let us remember those who put their lives on the line that day defending our Capitol and work to ensure our democracy is protected against threats in the future.”

Permits Filed For 1342 Inwood Avenue In Mount Eden, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed to expand an existing two-story structure into a five-story community facility building at 1342 Inwood Avenue in Mount Eden, The Bronx. Located between Clarke Place West and West 170th Street, the lot is near the 170th Street subway station, serviced by the 4 train. Joseph Riegler is listed as the owner behind the applications, who also filed permits for an 11-story residential building at the adjacent 1351 Jerome Avenue site in May 2022.

The proposed 67-foot-tall development will yield 105,500 square feet designated for community facility space to be used for a school with an ambulatory health facility on the first and second floors. The masonry-based structure will also have a 30-foot-long rear yard.

Baobab Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the project calls for an expansion. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

MAYOR ADAMS, HUD, NYCHA ANNOUNCE PACT PROGRAM ON TRACK TO IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR 76,000 NYCHA RESIDENTS, DELIVER $7.2 BILLION IN BUILDING UPGRADES

 

Support From Adams Administration Drove $2 Billion in Large-Scale Public Housing Improvements to Renovate 8,531 Apartments Across 17 Developments in 2022

 

Overall, 36,103 Apartments Across 137 Developments Are in Pre-Development, Under Construction, or Have Completed Renovation Through PACT

 

Significant Achievement Puts NYCHA at Nearly 60 Percent Progress Towards Benchmark of Recapitalizing 62,000 Public Housing Apartments by 2028

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel, and interim New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt today announced that 36,103 apartments, across 137 NYCHA developments, have been renovated, are under construction, or are in the community planning and design process under NYCHA’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program from its inception through the end of 2022. Once complete, these renovations will improve quality of life for more than 76,000 NYCHA residents and address $7.2 billion in capital needs through building upgrades. In 2022, the PACT program drove $2 billion in large-scale improvements for NYCHA residents in 8,531 apartments across 17 developments.

 

The PACT program transitions developments from traditional public housing assistance to the more stable, federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program — unlocking funding for designated PACT partners to complete comprehensive repairs. With strong support from Mayor Adams and HUD, PACT is a key tool in the city’s strategy of preserving and upgrading New York City’s aging public housing stock. Photos of 2022 projects are available online.

 

“We have been clear since day one of this administration that NYCHA residents deserve the same quality of life as every New Yorker, and, in 2022, we delivered results,” said Mayor Adams. “Thanks to the PACT program, more than 76,000 New Yorkers will have safe, high-quality, affordable homes with all the tenant protections of public housing. As we continue to take major steps forward on the Public Housing Preservation Trust, we are giving residents a real menu of options to deliver much-needed repairs while always ensuring residents are at the center of the process.”

 

“Residents deserve to live in quality, safe, and affordable homes, and that is what the PACT program is about. In 2022, we saw thousands of New Yorkers finally receive the repairs they have been waiting years for, while keeping their public housing rights and permanently affordable rents,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “As we continue to fight for full funding of NYCHA, we will use every tool available to ensure our neighbors have homes they can be proud of. PACT delivers for NYCHA residents.”

 

“Since the creation of HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, public housing authorities across the country have generated over $15 billion for construction investment. NYCHA’s RAD/PACT program has addressed housing in dire need of repair and transformed it into homes NYCHA residents can be proud of,” said Alicka Ampry-Samuel, regional administrator for New York and New Jersey, HUD. “Utilizing readily available resources to improve the lives of NYCHA residents is imperative to preserve affordable housing for future generations.”

 

“2022 saw the continued utilization of the PACT program in providing public housing families with the resources, renovated apartments, and thriving communities they need,” said NYCHA Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “We are committed to realizing the unparalleled potential of this program to meaningfully improve the quality of life for NYCHA residents, and look forward to bringing even more comprehensive apartment upgrades, building modernizations, and enhanced services on-line in the coming year.”

Mayor Adams, HUD, and NYCHA announced the completion of a $434 million full-scale revitalization of nine NYCHA developments under the PACT program, including at Independence Towers Community Center in Brooklyn. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

Through PACT, a total of 22 NYCHA developments have been completely revitalized, and 36 more developments are in the process of being renovated. An additional 79 developments are in pre-development, where NYCHA and its PACT partners collaborate with residents to design detailed rehabilitation, property management, and social service plans that meet the needs of each community and ensure they thrive for years to come. The city has committed an additional $1.5 billion in capital funding for fiscal years 2023-2026 to help NYCHA continue this critical work. A breakdown of NYCHA’s PACT projects citywide — and the associated minority- and women-owned business enterprise partners involved — is available online.

 

“The authority has continually looked for ways to make the PACT program more reflective of the urgent priorities and lived experiences of NYCHA residents,” said Jonathan Gouveia, executive vice president, real estate development, NYCHA. “The host of innovative rehabilitation plans and full-scale modernizations that were delivered and committed to over the past year are indicative of that resident-centered focus, a process that provides NYCHA residents with homes they can be proud of for generations.”

 

“Every New Yorker deserves a safe place to call home, and under this administration’s ‘Housing Our Neighbors’ blueprint, HPD, HDC, and NYCHA will continue to work together to advance our shared goals of providing affordable housing and economic opportunity to all New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr.

 

“As a key financing partner for PACT, HDC is proud to support the effort to secure guaranteed affordability and improved housing quality for New York City’s public housing residents,” said New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Eric Enderlin. “Today’s announcement is indicative of the city’s commitment to bring essential building repairs and upgrades, alongside expanded social services, to thousands of NYCHA residents across New York. Thank you to all the residents, as well as the incredible teams at NYCHA and HDC, for their dedication to ensuring the ongoing success of this crucial program.”

 

PACT achievements from 2022 include:

• The beginning of construction to renovate 5,216 apartments across six NYCHA campuses in Brooklyn. This includes work at Williamsburg Houses, Linden Houses, Penn-Wortman Houses, Boulevard Houses, Fiorentino Plaza, and Belmont-Sutter Area.
• The closing of a $236 million project to fund comprehensive renovations for 690 apartments at Harlem River Houses and Harlem River II. The conversion enabled NYCHA’s PACT partners to begin comprehensive upgrades to apartments and common areas; modernize building facades and provide facade repairs to landmarked buildings; upgrade elevators and security and heating systems; abate environmental hazards, such as lead-based paint; and invest in energy- and sustainability-related improvements.
• The selection of partners to provide $360 million in comprehensive building and apartment upgrades for Reid Apartments and Park Rock Consolidated. The development team selected to deliver upgrades and social services included the experienced minority-owned business enterprises BRP Companies and Urbane, as well as the Local Development Corporation of East New York.
• The $434 million revitalization of nine public housing developments across 37 buildings and over 2,600 apartments, collectively known as the Brooklyn Bundle. Renovations included full-scale replacements of kitchens, bathrooms, and electrical panels, as well as the installation of new flooring for living rooms and hallways and the installation of new roofs, elevators, windows, doors, plumbing fixtures, and trash removal systems across 37 buildings and 2,600 apartments that are home to more than 6,000 public housing residents.
• The selection of a development team to deliver $166 million in comprehensive upgrades across 18 buildings at Union Avenue Consolidated. The team was selected after a year-long resident-led engagement process in which a resident review committee analyzed submitted proposals, interviewed the development teams, and made the selection in partnership with NYCHA.
• The selection of new partners to design and implement an $80.7 million comprehensive rehabilitation plan for approximately 850 residents at Sack Wern Houses. Residents of the development also engaged in a year-long review process in which they outlined priority improvements and organized a resident review committee to analyze proposals, interview the development teams, visit recently completed projects, and select the team that best suited their needs.

The PACT program is the result of New York City’s implementation of HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, which has spurred construction investment at public housing authorities nationwide. The PACT program is designed to ensure that the homes of NYCHA residents are permanently affordable by maintaining public control of converted developments. Residents who transition to the Section 8-based PACT program will continue to pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross household income towards rent and have the right to renew their lease and call for grievance hearings. NYCHA continues to monitor conditions at PACT developments after conversion.

 

NYCHA ensures that PACT investments respond to the lived experiences of residents and, through a robust community planning process, engages them to learn more about each development’s needs. Through the PACT Resource Team, launched in 2022, resident leaders can work with independent advisors and consultants to help advocate for resident priorities and support them through the PACT planning process. Resident Review Committees analyze proposals submitted by potential PACT partner teams, conduct interviews with potential partners, and visit similarly renovated sites in each developer’s portfolio. Once that process is complete, residents rank the best proposals and make a selection.

 

VCJC News & Notes 1/6/23

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful! Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 1/6/23@ 4:25 pm Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely.  Shabbos Ends Saturday 1/7/23 @ 5:29 pm   Sunday 1/8/23 Sisterhood Happy New Year Brunch at 11:00 am Van Cortlandt Jewish Center 3880 Sedgwick Ave Bronx, NY 10463

New York State Department of Labor - Window Cleaners Recruit Apprentices

Thomas Shortman Training, Scholarship and Safety Fund will conduct a recruitment from February 6, 2023 through February 17, 2023 for 30 Multi-Story Window and Building Surface Cleaner apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today.

Applications must be obtained in person at Thomas Shortman Training, Scholarship and Safety Fund, 25 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., during the recruitment period. Applications must be completed and submitted onsite on the same day they are received.

This is a limited-application recruitment. Only 300 applications will be distributed, on a first-come, first-served basis. The recruitment will be offered for 10 business days or until 300 applications have been issued, whichever comes first.

The Committee requires that applicants:

• Must be at least 18 years old. Proof will be required after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.
• Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as TASC or GED). Proof will be required after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.
• Must sign a statement indicating that they are physically able to perform the work of the trade, which may include:
  • Working outside, at heights, attached to a window cleaning safety belt.
  • Working off suspended scaffolds at heights of 500 feet or more.
  • Having no fear of heights of 500 feet.
  • Climbing and working off extension ladders at heights of 50 feet.
  • Setting up and taking down six pieces of sectional ladders.
  • Raising and lowering ladders and davits for suspended scaffolds.
• Must have reliable transportation to and from various work sites and required classes at the approved school.
• Must pass a substance abuse test, at the expense of the sponsor, after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.

For further information, applicants should contact Thomas Shortman Training, Scholarship and Safety Fund at (917) 992-5004. Additional job search assistance can be obtained at your local New York State Department of Labor Career Center (see: dol.ny.gov/career-centers).

Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the Commissioner. Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status. Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs. Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities. 

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S ANNOUNCEMENT TO BETTER MANAGE ASYLUM SEEKERS COMING IN FROM SOUTHERN BORDER

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after President Joseph Biden announced new measures to better manage the flow of asylum seekers entering the southern border — most coming from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela:

 

“For months, New Yorkers have seen an influx of asylum seekers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and every day since, we have far surpassed our moral and legal mandates to serve the more than 36,400 asylum seekers who have arrived here. We have, largely on our own, provided shelter, clothes, food, education, health care, legal support, and a host of other services to asylum seekers — more than any other city in this country. But, as we have said for months, we cannot continue to maintain this flow.

 

“President Biden’s announcement today to expand the humanitarian program to allow more asylum seekers to travel to the United States safely, legally, and in a more controlled manner, is an important, positive step in ensuring our federal partners can better address this humanitarian crisis. We appreciate this administration’s partnership and response to our request for action, and we are hopeful this policy will help better control the flow of asylum seekers arriving at the southern border. At the same time, we still need a long-term and proactive strategy to manage the crisis we are seeing. This must include legislation that will allow asylum seekers to legally work while waiting on their asylum applications, a true decompression strategy and resettlement program that ensures asylum seekers are being spread out across the nation and not just sent to a handful of cities, and emergency financial relief for our city. Finally, we ultimately need a bipartisan effort to deliver true, long-awaited immigration reform so we can offer people a safe, legal path to the American dream. We know the members of our state’s delegation in Washington, D.C., are willing to lead these efforts and, indeed, many have been immigration reform champions for decades.”