NYCHA plans to lease out ‘unused’ space for housing projects

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The New York City Housing Authority has announced it will begin leasing out “underutilized” space at various housing projects as part of its “NextGen Neighborhoods” plan.

One of the most contentious parts of the plan, which NYCHA first proposed a year ago, involves the agency’s intention to lease what it deems underutilized space to private developers for building affordable housing. 

In its entirety, the NextGen plan is intended to both make the housing authority more efficient and increase revenue to stay afloat, according to NYCHA. 

“Over the next 10 years, the authority is committing to the creation of 10,000 units of affordable housing,” Crystal Walker a NYCHA spokesperson, said in an emailed statement to The Press. “The NextGeneration (NextGen) Neighborhoods program enables NYCHA to generate revenue to reinvest back into our development sites and across NYCHA by leveraging a 50-50 split of market-rate and affordable housing units.”

The first 100-percent affordable housing development in the Bronx is to be located at the Mill Brook Houses in Mott Haven. 

Ms. Walker said the housing authority would take special care to include current residents in the planning process for each new development.

“As part of the NextGen Neighborhoods program, NYCHA has held 40 meetings and conducted floor-by-floor outreach with residents from Holmes Towers and Wyckoff Gardens since fall 2015,” she said. “Their input has helped inform the character of the mix of programs and uses at the sites, as well as the pros and cons of building locations.”

However, some residents at the Marble Hill Houses in the northwest Bronx said they weren’t even aware that such a plan existed, much less that it might eventually affect their neighborhood.

“This is the first time I hear of this program,” Victoria Sanchez, a Marble Hill Houses resident, said.

Two others, Jose Suarez and Sha Vaughn, also said they had never heard of NYCHA’s plan, although after some explanation, both said they did not mind the proposal, as long as the new revenue benefits the community.

“It depends on what they’re profiting off of,” Mr. Vaughn said. “I’m all good for affordable housing, because if you’re not in the projects, a one-bedroom is going to cost you every bit of $1,100.”

Mr. Suarez said he would prefer NYCHA to focus its efforts on renovating and updating existing buildings.

Ms. Walker said most of the land to be leased is now housing parking lots and garbage pick-up areas, but it is possible that some spaces where playgrounds currently sit will become potential options for new developments.

“If the site is a playground, it is replaced within the NYCHA development,” she said in her statement. “NYCHA will work with residents and developers to ensure these sites offer unique opportunities to deliver community amenities and significant capital repairs to the surrounding NYCHA development.”

NYCHA, NextGen Neighborhoods, underutilized space, Marble Hill Houses, Anthony Capote

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