Q&A
Capital improvements planned for NYCHA older adult centers
1:29:12
ยท
4 min
Council Member Banks inquires about planned capital improvements for older adult centers on NYCHA campuses. NYCHA representatives discuss current and future projects, timelines, and funding challenges.
- NYCHA completed 4 OAC renovations in 2024 at a cost of $1.7 million, with 15 more projects in various stages totaling $26 million
- Discussion of challenges in renovating centers, including extensive infrastructure issues and the need to phase work to avoid displacing seniors
- Concerns raised about specific centers in need of repairs, such as Vandalia Senior Center and Rosetta Gatson Senior Center
Dylan Baker-Rice
1:29:12
Thank you, chair.
1:29:13
Those are those are great questions.
1:29:15
So we just completed 4 OACs, actually, this past year in 2024 at a cost of roughly $1,700,000.
1:29:25
And thank you to Council by and large who's provided the funding.
1:29:29
We have another 4 or 15 projects that are in various stages of design, procurement, and construction.
1:29:36
That's a total of roughly $26,000,000 and that constitutes roughly 25% of our overall community center portfolio.
1:29:46
So, that's a big piece of the portfolio.
1:29:49
So, it's a it's a big focus for us.
1:29:51
And like I shared before, it typically takes 4 to 5 years to complete these capital renovations.
1:29:57
The challenges there are quite extensive.
1:30:00
I think you outlined and some of the other council members outlined through their questions some of the challenges.
1:30:06
We're often renovating places that have deferred maintenance over a long period of time.
1:30:11
Right.
1:30:11
So the renovations are very extensive.
1:30:13
It constitutes, in many cases, exterior work.
1:30:17
So we're talking about roofs, windows, facade work, access, not to mention plumbing work, which is extensive.
1:30:24
In some cases, they're part of our buildings, and so it connects to larger building infrastructure issues.
1:30:31
In other cases, they're separate.
1:30:33
But as much as possible, we try to do the work without relocating these OACs because we understand the impact to the community if we relocate them.
1:30:42
So that means that the work is generally phased over a longer period of time.
1:30:46
So we're trying to work in sections to not displace the entire population there, and that means it does take us longer.
1:30:55
The other challenges that we run into is at the tail end of work, we have to close that out.
1:31:01
And in some cases, the changes to the use means that the certificate of occupancy needs to be updated and corrected.
1:31:09
So we have to work with our other partner agencies in order to remedy that.
1:31:13
And that sometimes can take more time than we would like.
Chris Banks
1:31:16
Alright.
1:31:16
And just wanna, point it towards, the, 2 centers in my district, the Vandalia Senior Center, which is one that is in disrepair and bad in bad need of, just a complete overhaul.
1:31:33
They have bathroom issues, plumbing issues, that have been ongoing for years.
1:31:40
And, that's one of the, NYCHA developments that's predominantly it's only a senior development.
Dylan Baker-Rice
1:31:46
Yep.
Chris Banks
1:31:47
So that particular senior center is a jewel to those seniors in that development.
1:31:54
Also, the, Rosetta Gatson Senior Center, which is also a senior center that is in that is in bad disrepair, and also the pink houses Senior Center.
1:32:10
The first two centers I mentioned are only senior only centers that are only occupied by seniors.
1:32:16
The, Pink Houses community center is actually shared by 2 different programs, the senior seniors senior program and and, and and I believe, Cameron, the youth program.
1:32:29
What is being done?
1:32:30
Are they in the pipeline?
1:32:31
Are they gonna get any relief, any help, or assistance, on the capital side?
1:32:38
It seems like, you know, they're being left out there to starve.
1:32:41
Good programs.
1:32:42
Yeah.
1:32:42
Fork Community Services does an amazing job, and Millennium Development does an amazing job, and and the Wayside is does an okay a pretty good decent job.
1:32:52
But, what what what what is being done on the capital side?
1:32:56
Are they are they in the pipeline?
1:32:57
Will they ever see the daylight?
1:32:59
Would they ever
Dylan Baker-Rice
1:33:01
So we can come back to you on the particulars for those, but currently, the funding we have is the funding that that's the pipeline.
1:33:09
So that's the challenge we run into.
1:33:11
You know, the priority for funding really is towards our residents in the buildings and building infrastructure.
1:33:17
So most of the funding on the capital side for upgrades has come through discretionary funding.
Chris Banks
1:33:24
Alright.
1:33:24
Well, I'm hoping in this budget we can work together on those, particular centers.
1:33:29
Yeah.
1:33:31
Madam Chair, thank you, and, I'll come back.
Crystal Hudson
1:33:33
Thank you, Chair Banks.
1:33:35
I'd like to share that we've also been joined by council members Mealy and Batcher, and I'm going to go to, our colleague for questions and then, I'll wrap up.
1:33:46
So starting with, council member Brewer followed by Aviles.