Financing Secured For Renovations to NYCHA Properties in East Harlem, Manhattan

Publication: New York YIMBY

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has closed on $272.6 million in financing for a Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) project that will bring extensive renovations to Metro North Plaza and Gaylord White Houses in East Harlem, Manhattan. The project, supported through the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration program, will allow for the rehabilitation of 523 apartments across four residential buildings, benefitting nearly 800 residents. Nonprofit organizations The Community Builders and Ascendant Neighborhood Development will lead the redevelopment, while Wavecrest Management will oversee day-to-day property management.

With this new financing comes the official conversion of the developments to Project-Based Section 8. Planned upgrades include repairs to façades, roofs, windows, and elevators, as well as new security systems with LED lighting, cameras, and intercoms. Metro North Plaza will also get heating system upgrades, a new laundry facility, and enhanced outdoor spaces with a playground and fitness area. White Houses will receive modernized heat and hot water systems, renovated community spaces, and expanded outdoor seating and landscaping.

Both developments are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Metro North Plaza, completed in 1971, is recognized as a model of community-led development, while White Houses holds significance as NYCHA’s first senior-only building. Rehabilitation work will preserve the buildings’ historic features while modernizing interiors and common areas to meet current needs. Construction is expected to take approximately three years.

“The renovations guaranteed by this PACT partnership will improve the lives of more than 800 public housing residents while ensuring that Metro North Plaza and the White Houses remain affordable for generations to come,” said Eric Enderlin, president of the New York City Housing Development Corporation. “HDC remains a proud partner in financing the crucial preservation of our city’s public housing stock.”

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