From 2019-2021, Hester Street worked in collaboration with New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents, then NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, then Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and a number of city and state officials on a working group to address the future of the Fulton Houses, Elliott-Chelsea Houses and Chelsea Addition NYCHA developments in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
In the fall of 2019, the Chelsea NYCHA developments faced a capital deficit of $344 million to reach a state of good repair. Over 5,000 people lived across the developments and, without action, residents’ housing quality faced continued deterioration. The working group launched in late October 2019 and was composed of NYCHA residents, elected officials, community representatives and housing organizations. The team at HST facilitated in-person conversations with officials and developed workshop and engagement tools to prioritize community and resident participation.
The first set of working group convenings took place in the fall of 2019 and the remaining convenings took place virtually during the fall and winter of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to working group meetings, HST also facilitated two public workshops that fostered input from a wider group of NYCHA residents. From the deep discussions and working sessions among the working group and the resident engagement sessions, the process established community- and resident-driven recommendations for actionable approaches to capital improvements by NYCHA that will ultimately enhance the Chelsea properties and residents’ quality of life.
In addition to creating a set of parameters and goals for future development at the Chelsea properties, the working group established a framework and precedent for resident and community-informed capital improvements across NYCHA. HST’s unique approach to facilitating challenging conversations and building consensus around controversial issues provides a roadmap for others looking to engage residents in determining the future of public housing.
Working group materials:
Public engagement materials: