Following the rejection by a federal judge last week of a proposed plan to improve public housing. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a new initiative today to fix the ongoing problems NYCHA residents have been facing for decades.
De Blasio says 62,000 apartments will undergo upgrades, involving nearly $13 billion in repairs, through a public-private partnerships, with the Rental Assistance Demonstration program, that will convert units to section 8 housing.
“Development by development basis, this has worked it’s a proven methodology, what does it mean, it means that entire development is renovated up and down, public spaces and apartments, it means new kitchens, it means new bathrooms, new windows, it means upgrading the entire development.”
De Blasio says the 140,000 residents who call these apartments home will retain rights as public housing residents, pay limited rent, and remain in their buildings during the renovations. Conversions are expected to get underway at 21 developments across Manhattan and Brooklyn next month.
