The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has announced a$406 million capital repair and renovation program at the 10-building EastchesterGardens apartment complex in the Bronx.
The work is being performed as part of the PermanentAffordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, which will see the complex convertedto a federally funded Project-Based Section 8 property that is included in thefederal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD).
Once a complex is converted to a Project-Based Section 8, theauthority will lease the land and buildings to development partners, which willthen make the repairs, manage the property and make available social servicesand community programs for residents.
Currently, the authority said, 138 NYCHA developments withmore than 37,000 apartments are in pre-development, under construction or havecompleted construction through the PACT program.
The development team for Eastchester Gardens includes MDGDesign + Construction LLC (Woodbury, New York), Infinite Horizons (Queens, NewYork City) and Wavecrest Management (Richmond Hill, New York).
Construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2024 when thedevelopment is converted to a Project-Based Section 8 property. In themeantime, the team will inspect Eastchester Gardens and meet with residents inorder to determine the work that will be done and develop project priorities.
The improvements that project officials expect to make atEastchester Gardens include:
New kitchens and bathrooms;
Upgraded heating and cooling systems;
LED light fixtures;
Fresh paint;
New flooring, windows and doors;
Renovations to lobbies, mail package areas, building
entrances, grounds and other common areas;
Security improvements;
Installation of free Wi-Fi;
Remediation of environmental health hazards;
Renovation of an existing community center; and
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements.
The development team will also launch a workforcedevelopment program that will train and hire Eastchester Gardens residents.
"This historic investment will breathe new life intoEastchester Gardens, initiating a comprehensive modernization of the homes ofNYCHA residents and guaranteeing a state of good repair for decades to come," said Deputy Mayor of Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce MariaTorres-Springer.
"Our administration is proud to be implementing the largestmodernization of public housing in decades," Torres-Springer said.
Last month, the authority closed on the financing for a$635.6 million PACT project that will see the renovation and repair of 87buildings in 15 East Brooklyn developments.
The development and management team include New YorkCity-based firms BRP Companies, Fairstead and Urbane. Construction, which willaddress 20-year capital needs, will start this winter.