New York is moving to redevelop thousands of subsidized apartments and wants your thoughts on it.
'26.02.2024'
Lyudmila Balabay
January 8 New York City Hall declared its intention prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Fulton Elliott-Chelsea renovation project in Manhattan (New York). The statement was issued jointly with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
Through its Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, NYCHA intends to apply to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to:
- manage the housing stock;
- Convert Section 9 housing subsidies to Section 8 Project Based Vouchers (PBV) through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and Title 18 USHA.
Under the PACT program, NYCHA will enter into a long-term lease agreement with Elliott Fulton LLC, Essence Development and/or their affiliates for the land on which the project is located. Such HUD-assisted activities and projects require an environmental permit and require an EIS.
The publication of the intent to prepare an EIS initiated open discussion of the redevelopment plan and provided an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to submit comments on the project. In addition, the publication mentioned three public hearings on the Fulton Elliott-Chelsea renovation project in Manhattan. The hearings took place on February 1, 5 and 7. The deadline for accepting written comments on the project was originally limited to February 20, 2024, but it was extended.
HPD will accept written comments until Friday, March 8, 2024, at the addresses:
- [email protected];
- Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Attn: Anthony Howard, 100 Gold Street, #7-A3, New York, NY 10038.
More information about the project can be found here web page.
What do they want to reconstruct?
The project includes four NYCHA housing developments: Chelsea, Chelsea Addition, Elliott and Fulton Houses, which are located on two separate public housing campuses in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
Because they are separated by approximately a quarter of a mile, Fulton and Elliott Chelsea are described separately. The Fulton Houses site is bounded by West 20th Street to the north, 9th Avenue to the east, West 16th Street to the south, and 10th Avenue to the west. The Fulton Houses project site consists of eleven buildings containing 944 residential units housing approximately 2100 people.
Elliott Houses, Chelsea Houses and Chelsea Addition Houses (collectively called Elliott Chelsea in the project) are bounded by West 27th Street on the north, 9th Avenue on the east, West 25th Street on the south and 10th Avenue on the west. with Chelsea Park adjacent to the north side of the site. The campus includes seven buildings containing 1112 residential units, housing approximately 2310 people.
Actions proposed in the project for the reconstruction of these buildings:
- Phased demolition of all existing residential units and public spaces.
- Phased construction of new mixed-use buildings, including affordable and market-rate apartment buildings, new public spaces, and new retail facilities, including supermarkets).
The proposed measures will facilitate the gradual replacement or modernization of the following facilities:
- 2 residential units (DU) at the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea sites.
- Approximately 67 square feet (159 sq m) of existing public facilities space currently managed by Hudson Guild.
- 95 additional parking spaces.
What is analyzed in EIS
Two alternatives for bringing the project to fruition have been identified and will be analyzed in the EIS: the “Rezoning Alternative” and the “No Rezoning Alternative.”
The rezoning alternative would require approval from the New York City Planning Commission (CPC). This alternative would result in additional construction:
- 3 residential units, comprising up to 454 affordable DUs (up to 1% of the total) and up to 038 market rate DUs (up to 30% of the total). Affordable DUs will be built in mixed-income buildings to meet New York City's mandatory inclusionary housing (MIH) requirements;
- up to 46 sq ft (364 sq m) of local retail space (including supermarkets);
- 108 square feet (693 sq m) of public space;
- 1 more parking lot on site at Fulton Houses.
The no-zoning alternative would not require CPC approval. It will lead to additional construction:
- up to 1 residential units, including up to 783 affordable DUs and 536 market rate DUs in new mixed-income buildings. Affordable DUs will be constructed in mixed-income buildings and documented in the NYCHA Operating Agreement and other transaction documents between NYCHA and the PACT partner;
- up to 29 sq ft (075 sq m) of local retail space (including supermarkets);
- up to 132 square feet (549 sq m) of public space;
- 1 more parking lot on site at Fulton Houses.
The proposed actions will include the phased demolition of all 18 existing buildings at the project sites and their phased replacement with new buildings. The implementation of the plan will be designed in such a way as to minimize inconvenience for people living on site. The estimated completion date of the project is 2040.
The rezoning alternative proposes 15 new buildings ranging from 11 to 39 stories in height with 96 additional parking spaces. And as part of the alternative, 17 new buildings with heights ranging from 11 to 39 floors would be built without changing zoning.
The project described above could have a significant impact on environmental quality. Therefore, Council on Environmental Quality CEQ regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) and HUD regulations (24 CFR part 58) require the preparation of an EIS.
Contacts
Send written comments on the project by e-mail: [email protected] or at: Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Attn: Anthony Howard, 100 Gold Street, #7-A3, New York, New York 10038.
Find out more about the project at this web page.
