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Q&A
HPD staffing levels and vacancy rates
2:12:35
·
120 sec
Council Member Restler inquires about HPD's high vacancy rate and current staffing levels, particularly in the preservation and new construction departments. Deputy Commissioner Caphart provides clarification on the vacancy rates and planned hiring.
- HPD's vacancy rate has declined from 14.8% to 13.8%, but remains three times the citywide rate
- The preservation and new construction departments have a 27% vacancy rate for project managers
- New staff lines added for FY 2026 are not yet reflected in current vacancy rates
Lincoln Restler
2:12:35
And I think that thinking about how in the mayor's management report and other HPD metrics, we can better center that as a kind of north star data point would be helpful.
2:12:45
Okay.
2:12:45
One more important bucket from the chair.
2:12:49
HPD's high vacancy rate has declined in the past year from 14.8% in January 23, this is staffing, from 14.8% in January 23 to 13.8% in March 2025 as critical positions like inspectors have been hired.
2:13:06
But this is still three times the citywide vacancy rate.
2:13:09
The last time that HPD's budgeted headcount was lower than 2,500 was fiscal year twenty seventeen.
2:13:16
That's term one of Bill de Blasio.
2:13:18
And currently, there are only 2,383 active employees.
2:13:23
Earlier, deputy commissioner Caphart said the preservation staff has a head count of a 13, 80 two on staff, 30 vacancies.
2:13:32
This is a 27% vacancy rate.
2:13:36
Are the 30 new heads mentioned in addition to the 30 vacant ones?
2:13:39
Is that 60 total?
2:13:41
Could you clarify what division and I'll I'll follow-up from there.
2:14:04
clarifying that the vacancy rate is for the full team under deputy commissioner Yes.
Gardea Caphart
2:13:46
Yeah.
2:13:46
Just to clarify, the numbers quoted is for preservation and new construction, not just preservation.
2:13:51
So we for flexibility, we track based on the project managers for the entire office as opposed to the specific unit, but we can get back to you with more details on that.
2:14:04
So you're
2:14:08
So the that's for project managers.
2:14:09
So all our project managers, assistant project managers, senior project managers working both on preservation and new construction, we are carrying about a 27 vacancy rate.
2:14:20
And that does not include, to your point about the new lines that were added.
2:14:24
Those new lines were added for FY fiscal year twenty six, so they are not captured yet for our current vacancy rate, but we will be hiring for those and it will be reflected in our fiscal year twenty six numbers.