NYCHA Targets 25 Developments for Post-Sandy Repairs in 2015

The New York City Housing Authority plans to begin primary projects this calendar year for a majority of the Superstorm Sandy-damaged developments slated to receive a portion of $3 billion from the federal government, according to documents obtained by City & State.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio heralded the $3 billion agreement for repairs and resiliency work at 33 developments as the largest grant in the Federal Emergency Management Agency history. Within a week and a half, City Councilmen Ritchie Torres and Mark Treyger formally sought documents from NYCHA detailing its plans for the funding. Torres’ office confirmed NYCHA sent a package outlining projects but he declined to discuss them, saying his office needed more time to assess the paperwork.

Copies obtained by City & State show NYCHA intends to begin a large, “primary" construction work on 25 of the 33 targeted developments during 2015. The other developments are expected to have primary projects underway in 2016, the documents show.

The work is expected to include elevating electrical systems above projected flood levels, installing new boilers and moving boiler rooms above projected flood levels, adding permanent stand-by generators and replacing roofs. Other tasks include using “dry flood proofing” to protect portions of buildings in flood planes, renovating first floor apartments, and repairing  damaged walls, floors, doors, sidewalks, fences, asphalt, playground areas and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, among other initiatives.

NYCHA stressed that the projects, cost estimates and timelines detailed in the documents were contingent upon federal approval.

“All breakdowns and details are preliminary until NYCHA finalizes our pending agreements with FEMA,” the agency said in a statement.

Monique George, the New York City director of organizing for Community Voices Heard, said the group, which advocates on behalf of low-income people, was “ecstatic” when the $3 billion figure was announced.

“The heat was not that great before Sandy, so the flooding of the boilers didn’t help. A lot of them still have temporary boilers … You want one that’s reliable and can weather the next Sandy,” George said. “I think the FEMA money really will help build that resilience.”

 Here’s a summary of NYCHA’s preliminary plans:

Astoria Houses:

Estimated start date: July 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 8

Estimated allocation: $158,323,367

Baruch Houses:

Estimated start date: November 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 9

Estimated allocation: $191,132,913

Beach 41^st Street – Beach Channel Drive:

Estimated start date: September 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 4

Estimated allocation: $68,176,180

Campos Plaza I:

Estimated start date: Unknown

Number of buildings targeted: 2

Estimated allocation: $25,172,892

Campos Plaza II:

Estimated start date: September 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 2

Estimated allocation: $24,928,234

Carey Gardens:

Estimated start date: January 2016

Number of buildings targeted: 4

Estimated allocation: $86,566,601

Carleton Manor:

Estimated start date: December 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 1

Estimated allocation: $29,522,427

Coney Island:

Estimated start date: September 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 5

Estimated allocation: $112,380,615

Coney Island I (Site 1B):

Estimated start date: July 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 1

Estimated allocation: $25,138,880

Coney Island I (Site 8):

Estimated start date: March 2016

Number of buildings targeted: 1

Estimated allocation: $27,647,852

Coney Island I (Sites 4&5):

Estimated start date: November 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 1

Estimated allocation: $40,811,060

East River Houses:

Estimated start date: August 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 8

Estimated allocation: $87,060,003

Gowanus Houses:

Estimated start date: September 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 12

Estimated allocation: $115,774,146

Gravesend Houses:

Estimated start date: November 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 15

Estimated allocation: $174,594,465

Haber:

Estimated start date: December 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 3

Estimated allocation: $48,390,409

Hammel Houses:

Estimated start date: January 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 14

Estimated allocation: $178,630,578

Isaacs Houses:

Estimated start date: September 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 1

Estimated allocation: $33,768,106

LaGuardia Houses:

Estimated start date: October 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 6

Estimated allocation: $84,912,385

Lavanburg Homes:

Estimated start date: December 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 1

Estimated allocation: $22,914,200

Metro North Plaza:

Estimated start date: November 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 3

Estimated allocation: $39,401,615

Ocean Bay Apartments (Bayside):

Estimated start date: March 2016

Number of buildings targeted: 23

Estimated allocation: $284,820,692

Ocean Bay Apartments (Oceanside):

Estimated start date: July 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 7

Estimated allocation: $66,935,391

O’Dwyer Gardens:

Estimated start date: March 2016

Number of buildings targeted: 6

Estimated allocation: $104,749,779

Rangel Houses:

Estimated start date: August 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 5

Estimated allocation: $57,982,276

Red Hook East Houses:

Estimated start date: April 2016

Number of buildings targeted: 14

Estimated allocation: $206,914,917

Red Hook West Houses:

Estimated start date: April 2016

Number of buildings targeted: 14

Estimated allocation: $240,919,782

Redfern Houses:

Estimated start date: November 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 9

Estimated allocation: $142,049,712

Riis Houses:

Estimated start date: September 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 13

Estimated allocation: $127,515,590

Riis Houses II:

Estimated start date: September 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 6

Estimated allocation: $57,764,456

Smith Houses:

Estimated start date: August 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 4

Estimated allocation: $113,032,058

Surfside Gardens:

Estimated start date: March 2016

Number of buildings targeted: 5

Estimated allocation: $99,936,229

Two Bridges Urban Renewal Area (Site 7):

Estimated start date: October 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 1

Estimated allocation: $17,551,086

Wald Houses:

Estimated start date: August 2015

Number of buildings targeted: 12

Estimated allocation: $161,807,907