Senator Serrano Joins Other Elected Officials in Fight For Resident Input & Transparency in NYCHA Infill Process

(New York, NY)- Senator José M. Serrano joined City Council Members Rosie Mendez, Margaret Chin and Melissa Mark-Viverito in a press conference on the steps of City Hall to demand that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) improve the Infill Development process to include residents. The infill development plan is a current proposal by NYCHA to lease land on open spaces within NYCHA developments to developers, who would then build private housing developments on the sites. NYCHA claims that this will allow them to raise revenue for long overdue repairs and maintenance within public housing. Senator Serrano maintains that NYCHA residents should be involved in the process.

"I believe that the residents of NYCHA, along with other members of the community and local representatives, should have a say in what gets built on the land," said Serrano. "That is why I'm fighting to ensure that there is an open and transparent process that allows the public to weigh in and have their voices heard and respected," continued Serrano.

NYCHA has targeted thirteen sites in eight public housing developments in New York City. These developments encompass 11,037 apartment units housing 25,031 residents for private, market-rate residential development with affordable components. The proposal, offering 99-year ground leases of the NYCHA-owned land to private developers, was designed by NYCHA to raise revenue in order to pay for much-needed repairs across NYCHA-owned properties.

"While I agree that there are many NYCHA housing complexes in New York City that need immediate attention, renovations and modifications, everyone will be best served by allowing the people of our communities to sit at the table throughout this rebuilding process," concluded Serrano.