New York Construction Report staff writer
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) joined residents of Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses this week to announce plans for a complete rebuilding of the campuses, following a survey and ongoing resident engagement since 2019.
More than half of resident respondents were in favor of building brand-new NYCHA project-based section 8 buildings across the Fulton, Elliott, and Chelsea campuses.
The redevelopment plan, which will be overseen by NYCHA and Essence Development, and co-developed by Related Companies, rebuilds existing NYCHA apartment buildings and includes redesigning community centers and outdoor spaces, and building additional mixed-income buildings and community facilities.
A pre-design due diligence process revealed significant, previously unknown structural, systemic, and environmental issues, tripling the cost and requiring temporary resident relocation. Before going ahead with renovations at such a drastically higher cost, longer timeline, and more disruptive schedule, Essence Development, NYCHA, and resident association leadership partnered to develop two alternative paths forward and engaged with residents directly in a transparent process for them to determine the future of their homes.
The resident-selected plan includes:
- All 2,055 existing NYCHA apartments – including 1,111 homes at Elliott-Chelsea and 944 homes at Fulton – will be replaced on existing campuses within brand-new NYCHA buildings that offer enhanced layouts, ventilation, and energy efficiency.
- Roughly 3,500 new mixed-income apartments, including approximately 875 new affordable apartments, will be added to the campuses.
- Amenities in each building will include resident-controlled, in-unit heating and cooling; new dishwashers, washers, and dryers in every apartment; common area amenities; large, multipurpose community spaces; and rooftop space.
- Onsite community resources will be enhanced with healthcare facilities, community centers, grocery stores, retail stores, and additional outdoor recreational spaces.
With updated zoning restrictions allowing for taller buildings, new construction is expected to be completed in approximately six years.
“Our administration has always put residents front and center in decision-making, and I am excited that the residents of Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses have seized their opportunity to plan their own future,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “No one knows better than the residents what they and their neighbors need, and they were smart to recognize the potential benefits of completely rebuilding their campus.
“This is how our administration has been conducting business since taking office, and this is how we will continue to do so: With NYCHA residents making decisions about their own communities.”
