$1.2 billion in State funding provided to NYCHA has allowed for 125 elevator replacements, 17 heating system upgrades, and 36 building facade renovations

 Additional capital investments currently under construction, in design, or in procurement will bring improvements to a total of 75 developments, benefitting 122,996 residents

NEW YORK – Today, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced the completion of 125 elevator replacements, 17 heating system upgrades, and 36 building facade renovations, benefitting 38,974 NYCHA residents at 24 developments across the five boroughs, made possible by $1.2 billion in funding that has been provided by New York State since 2019. The State funding is also supporting an additional 126 elevator replacements, 105 heating systems upgrades, and 29 building facade renovations all currently under construction, and an additional 172 elevator replacements and 59 building facade renovations in design or procurement. In total, these capital investments are expected to benefit 122,996 residents across 75 developments.

“With this important milestone, NYCHA has completed major building improvements, leveraging $1.2 billion in State investment to improve the homes and lives of tens of thousands of NYCHA residents,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “NYCHA residents deserve access to a safe, affordable, and accessible place to live — and these improvements are critical to making that reality. I am proud to partner with NYCHA, its residents, and local and State officials to support NYCHA communities.”

“We are proud to call ourselves the most pro-housing administration in New York City history, and that includes public housing. From unlocking over $4.7 billion for capital repairs through the PACT program to delivering free internet to over 150,000 NYCHA households through our Big Apple Connect initiative, we are putting public housing first every day,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “These renovations will help tens of thousands of NYCHA residents stay safe, stay warm, and stay healthy. Thank you to the State for funding these critical upgrades and to all our NYCHA leaders for their tireless advocacy on behalf of our public housing tenants.”

“I am glad to see NYCHA has advanced the construction and planning of these critical capital projects,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “I'd like to extend a thank you to Governor Hochul and our State elected officials for advocating for and supporting NYCHA residents. Thanks to them, families will see tangible improvements in their homes.”

"Investing in NYCHA's building infrastructure is a critical piece of our plan to maintain and ultimately transform our public housing stock," said Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. "I thank our leaders in the State for supporting this goal and I look forward to seeing NYCHA complete these capital projects, which will elevate the quality of life of 122,996 residents." 

“Since 2019, NYCHA has worked diligently to address the pillar areas of the HUD Agreement and make tangible quality-of-life improvements for NYCHA residents,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “The Authority has made tremendous progress in the face of decades of federal disinvestment, and the support of our partners at the State has been integral as we continue working to improve building infrastructure and make much-needed capital improvements across the portfolio. We deeply appreciate the State's ongoing dedication to all the New Yorkers who call NYCHA home.”

“Critical infrastructure, such as an elevator or heating system, cannot perform optimally once past its useful life,” said NYCHA Chief Asset and Capital Management Officer Shaan Mavani. “The State’s funding has allowed us to replace and enhance these aging systems, and provide much-needed facade renovations, to developments across the city, benefitting nearly 39,000 NYCHA residents and counting — keeping them warm through the winter and getting them to and from their apartments quickly and safely — and we are deeply grateful for that.”

“The completion of these projects to make NYCHA properties more accessible and efficient will be an incredible benefit to residents across the city,” said New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie. “The Assembly Majority understands the critical need for affordable and reliable housing and will continue to support NYCHA’s efforts to improve facilities so that all residents can thrive.”

“Investing in public housing is critical to ensuring that New Yorkers have stable and affordable places to call home,” said New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. “Our State budgets have delivered $1.2 billion in capital funding to NYCHA since 2021, and I am pleased that residents are seeing the benefits of elevator replacements, heating system upgrades, facade renovations, and more across the city. With looming threats to our federal funding, we must continue to protect and preserve public housing. As Housing Chair, I will continue my work to ensure NYCHA has the necessary support to succeed.”

“This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to providing safe, healthy, and modern homes for NYCHA residents across the five boroughs,” said New York State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey. “With the support of $1.2 billion in essential State funding, vital improvements to elevators, heating systems, and building facades have been made, directly impacting the quality of life for nearly 39,000 New Yorkers. These investments not only address critical infrastructure needs but also reaffirm our mission to preserve housing for generations to come.”

“As a State Senator, I am proud to have helped secure State funding for these projects,” said New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. “Seniors, children, and residents with mobility impairments deserve modern, working, and safe elevators, and I'm so happy that Queensbridge North residents are receiving these replacements. I look forward to continuing to fight for more NYCHA funding to repair and maintain these essential developments in NYC.”

“I’m thrilled that thanks to $1.2 billion in funding from New York State, NYCHA has completed much-needed upgrades to 24 developments throughout the five boroughs,” said New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “Once the remainder of the work is finished, over 120,000 New Yorkers across 75 NYCHA developments will be able to benefit from more reliable elevator service, new and improved heating systems, and crucial facade repairs that will improve both the aesthetics and the safety of their buildings. All New Yorkers deserve to live in homes that are safe, accessible, and comfortable. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the State Legislature, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Governor Hochul for allocating this funding, which will go a long way towards making that a reality.”

“Too many NYCHA residents have had to forgo their health, security, and dignity due to crumbling infrastructure and delayed repairs,” said New York State Senator John C. Liu. “With this State funding, NYCHA residents across the city will finally see long-overdue improvements to heating, elevators, and building facades. While there is always more to be done to keep our NYCHA buildings in a state of good repair, this funding will address many urgent needs and help improve the long-term viability of our NYCHA developments.”

“I am pleased to learn of the much-needed improvements made to NYCHA housing, especially in Senate District 19,” said New York State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. “The recent investments in Unity Plaza and Pink Houses are a long-overdue step toward improving the quality of life for NYCHA residents in our community. With new elevators at Unity Plaza and heating system upgrades at Pink Houses, families in East New York are seeing progress. I will continue to advocate for sustained and expanded support to ensure all NYCHA residents live in safe, modern, and healthy homes.”

“I'm thrilled to see State funding finally put to good use for critical infrastructure upgrades at Pelham Parkway Houses and across the city,” said New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “I'm glad to see this funding prioritized for major capital projects rather than tinkering around the edges of deep-rooted issues.”

“I applaud the recent progress and upgrades made by NYCHA, which benefit nearly 39,000 residents and was made possible by a State funding initiative,” said New York State Senator Julia Salazar. “I look forward to continuing our work toward addressing the pressing needs of our NYCHA developments.”

“Every New Yorker deserves to live with dignity, and that begins with safe, warm homes and reliable infrastructure,” said New York State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda. “I’m proud to have helped deliver funding for NYCHA developments in my district, ensuring that residents can rely on modern systems that meet their needs. These improvements are more than brick and mortar — they are a lifeline for our families, our seniors, and our future. This progress is a great start, but it is just the beginning. I stand proudly alongside NYCHA and my colleagues as we continue to fight for the investment our communities have long deserved.”

“Improvements to the housing situation of the city’s most vulnerable were long overdue and I’m happy to have been able to direct our public funds to where they were so sorely needed,” said New York State Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny. “With the newly completed elevator projects in Coney Island, residents’ quality of life will change for the better, which will add to their well-being in multiple ways. It’s about time we showed NYCHA residents the respect they deserve.”

“These upgrades are a long-overdue investment in the dignity and well-being of NYCHA residents,” said New York State Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos. “I’m proud to see State funding delivering real results, safer elevators, better heating, and improved living conditions for thousands of families. This is what housing justice looks like.”

“I am very excited that we were able to provide $1.2 billion in funding to help with capital upgrades for dozens of NYCHA developments throughout the city, including Marble Hill Houses in my district,” said New York State Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz. “Tens of thousands of residents live in these developments and these capital improvements will have a significantly positive impact on all of them. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the future so that we can continue to make the necessary improvements in our public housing.”

“There is not enough the state of New York can do to fix the years of disinvestment done by the federal government but I’m glad to say that every year I advocate for NYCHA funding,” said New York State Assemblymember Chantel Jackson. “This year was no different. These funds will help the over 20 developments in my district and across the city. Cheers to us!”

“The capital challenges facing NYCHA are vast, and all of us in government have much more to do for NYCHA residents,” said New York State Assemblymember Micah C. Lasher. “But it’s good to be able to celebrate small wins, particularly right here in our community. The heating system improvements at 830 Amsterdam Avenue, and building facade renovations at Douglass I, Douglass II, and Thomas Apartments, will hopefully improve the quality of life for thousands of NYCHA residents in the 69th Assembly district.”

“As a representative of the South Bronx, I’m proud to see our State’s investment delivering real results for NYCHA residents,” said New York State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo. “These critical upgrades — new elevators, reliable heating, and safer buildings — are long overdue and deeply deserved. This is about dignity, safety, and making sure our public housing residents are not forgotten. We must continue to prioritize funding that improves the quality of life for the families who call NYCHA home.”

NYCHA has received a total capital funding allocation of $1.2 billion from New York State through three funding agreements: $450 million for boiler and elevator upgrades in November 2021; $300 million for additional elevator upgrades in April 2022; and $485 million for facade restoration and additional heating system upgrades in December 2023. The State reimburses agencies only after a Grant Disbursement Agreement (GDA) is in place and requisitions that meet the terms of the GDA have been submitted by NYCHA and approved by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). NYCHA mobilizes quickly to initiate projects soon after a GDA is signed.

New York State additionally awarded NYCHA $350 million in capital funds in Fiscal Year 2023 and $135 million in Fiscal Year 2024. To date, the State has allocated $161 million in Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and $35 million in COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program (CRA) funding to NYCHA to ease rental arrears for residents.

Elevator service is a key pillar area of the 2019 Agreement with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and reducing the length and frequency of service disruptions, and expediting response times, have been focal points of improvement for NYCHA in the time since. Much of NYCHA’s elevator stock is beyond the typical useful life of 15-20 years for a multifamily residential property, making elevator replacement and modernization increasingly important, particularly in high-rise buildings, and for seniors and residents with mobility impairments. Using funding from New York State, NYCHA has completed elevator assets at Atlantic Terminal Site 4B, Carey Gardens, Coney Island I (Site 1B), Coney Island I (Sites 4 & 5), Unity Plaza (Sites 17, 24, & 25A), and Unity Plaza (Sites 4, 5A, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, & 27) in Brooklyn; Butler, Highbridge Gardens, and Mitchel in the Bronx; Queensbridge North in Queens; and Richmond Terrace in Staten Island. At Coney Island I (Site 1B) and Unity Plaza (Sites 17, 24, & 25A), NYCHA recently completed the replacement of 6 elevators, benefitting a total of 808 residents.

Another key pillar area of the 2019 HUD Agreement is heating service. With many of NYCHA’s boilers past their useful lifespan of 25 years, investment in reliable, sustainable, and lower cost heating systems and infrastructure upgrades has become a necessity for the Authority. State funding has allowed for the completion of comprehensive heating system upgrades at Pink Houses in Brooklyn; Marble Hill in the Bronx; 830 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan; and Berry Houses in Staten Island. At Marble Hill, NYCHA recently completed installation of 6 new high-efficiency gas-condensing boilers for space heating and decoupled the hot water heating, serving 2,975 residents across 11 buildings.

Facade renovation alleviates any existing structural damage and water infiltration; ensures compliance with Local Law 11 by identifying and addressing potential hazards from building facades; and improves energy efficiency while enhancing a building’s overall physical aesthetic. Using State funding, NYCHA has completed facade renovations to buildings at Jackson and Pelham Parkway in the Bronx; Clinton, Douglass I and II, East River, Thomas Apartments, and Washington in Manhattan; and Bland Houses in Queens. At Douglass I and II, NYCHA recently completed facade renovations across 12 buildings and removed sidewalk sheds that had been in place for five to seven years due to unsafe facade conditions, benefiting 3,904 residents.

Portfolio-wide, a Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) released by NYCHA in 2023 estimates the Authority’s total capital needs to be nearly $80 billion, representing the level of funding required to bring developments to a good state of repair and ensure their long-term viability.

  

 ###   
   

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 1934 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 520,808 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.