Design-Build Team Selected for Unity Towers Trust Renovation

On June 17, the NYC Public Housing Preservation Trust announced that Fifth Avenue Builders, LLC, has been selected as the design-build team to perform renovation work in apartments and shared spaces at Unity Towers in Coney Island. With the Trust Board’s approval on June 10, 2026, the selection of the design-build team marks a major milestone for the project, which encompasses one building with 193 apartments. This project will deliver holistic repairs to the third NYCHA development to vote for the Trust , following the August 2024 resident vote. Residents of Unity Towers have been involved in robust engagement efforts since October 2024 and will provide valuable input to the selected design-build team to inform the design process, including the selection of finishes, colors, and other design elements.

“Comprehensive, resident-driven renovations are on the way for Unity Towers! Congratulations to the residents, the Public Housing Preservation Trust, and Fifth Avenue Builders on this milestone as we work to deliver public housing improvements across the city,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg. “This project shows how public investment, smart procurement and project delivery, and resident input can come together to make a real difference for New Yorkers.”

“The selection of the design-build team for Unity Towers marks an important milestone in bringing long-overdue improvements to this Coney Island development and the community that calls it home,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Since residents voted to join the Public Housing Preservation Trust, they have played a central role in shaping the future of their homes through extensive engagement and feedback. We are excited to continue that partnership as plans move forward and to deliver comprehensive renovations that will modernize apartments and shared spaces, improve quality of life, and create healthier, more dignified homes for Unity Towers residents.”

“The residents of Unity Towers voted for meaningful change, and the selection of a design-build team brings that vision closer to reality,” said President of the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust Vlada Kenniff. “This project will deliver comprehensive improvements to apartments, building systems, and shared spaces while keeping residents at the center of the process. We look forward to working alongside the community and Fifth Avenue Builders to transform Unity Towers into a healthier, safer, and more modern place to call home.”

“Our community has shown tremendous resilience, including through the challenges and recovery efforts that followed Superstorm Sandy,” said Unity Towers Tenant Association President Maribel Rodriguez. “While important investments have been made over the years, residents have continued to push for improvements that make a difference in everyday life. The selection of a design-build team is an important step toward delivering those long-awaited upgrades and creating a stronger future for Unity Towers.”

“Having seen firsthand the impact of residents voting to join the Trust at Nostrand Houses, I know how meaningful this milestone is for the Unity Towers community,” said Trust Board Resident Representative Miriam Rodriguez. “Selecting a design-build team is a major step toward delivering the renovations residents voted for and deserve. The Trust model is built on resident partnership, and I am proud to see Unity Towers moving forward toward comprehensive modernization.”

The selection of the design-build team followed a two-step procurement process. The first step was a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), which invited design-build teams to submit their qualifications. This was followed by the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) in October 2025, which targeted a short list of firms with an invitation to submit detailed proposals outlining their approach to the project, including the scope of work, quality of the design, impact on residents, project duration, and cost. The selection committee, including a resident representative, property management, and capital projects professionals, evaluated these proposals to determine which one offered the best value to the respective sites.

The project will undertake renovations through a single, integrated team, allowing developments to be renovated more quickly, at a better quality, and with better value for money spent. The Trust is utilizing design-build project delivery, which improves coordination, shortens the procurement process, and ultimately saves money by awarding contracts to single entities for both design and construction work.

Beginning in the months immediately following the resident vote, efforts have been guided by a robust stakeholder engagement process to identify resident priorities and implement input at the development, ensure that the final scope will address all pillar areas identified in the 2019 Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and support continued communication during renovation through a dedicated community liaison. In late 2024 and early 2025, the Trust organized two community visioning workshops with residents of Unity Towers to tailor the scope of work based on feedback from resident leadership and property management. Insight gained through these workshops directly informed the RFP issued to the short list of design and construction firms, which ultimately led to the selection of Fifth Avenue Builders. Since then, the Trust held or attended 19 community meetings, distributed approximately 3,867 flyers, placed 177 robocalls, and engaged directly with about 211 residents. In addition, a dedicated liaison serves as the main point of contact for residents, regularly attending tenant association meetings and staffing the development’s Engagement Office.

The projected scope of improvements at Unity Towers involves complete window replacements and facade repairs; full kitchen and bathroom upgrades, including flooring replacement; safety and security upgrades; landscape improvements; comprehensive plumbing and ventilation system updates and in-unit heating optimization. Additional work involves hazardous material abatement, as well as pest control and waste management improvements.

The removal of environmental hazards, such as lead-based materials and mold, will necessitate the brief, phased temporary relocation of residents both onsite and to neighboring developments at the Trust’s expense. Once this work is fully completed, residents will be able to return to their apartments within nine months of their temporary relocation.

As part of the modernization of Unity Towers, the Trust will oversee design and construction. Under the Trust, the development is kept 100 percent public and converted to the more stable, federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program, while residents maintain their rights, including permanently affordable rent. The design, financing, and construction process for this property is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.