The NYCHA Journal

The NYCHA Journal has informed and inspired residents since 1970, covering the news, contributions, and uplifting stories of the NYCHA community while providing the latest information on Authority initiatives.

Final Sandy crane lift at Hammel
Repair & Rebuild Top Story 

NYCHA Performs Milestone Crane Lift for Sandy Recovery Program 

Vincent Echavaria

As the city approaches the 10th anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, NYCHA has reached a milestone in its efforts to upgrade its infrastructure, improve storm surge protection, and prevent power outages and other storm-related impacts in the future.  

On August 24, the 144th, and final, crane lift of NYCHA’s Sandy recovery program was performed for a rooftop generator at Hammel Houses in Rockaway, Queens. A program of the Authority’s Recovery & Resilience Department (R+R), the Sandy recovery effort has involved crane lifts of critical rooftop equipment for developments since 2016, including generators, boilers, and electrical equipment. 

To date, almost 50 natural gas-powered generators, including those installed via cranes, are operational at 21 NYCHA developments, providing vital backup power to over 100 multifamily buildings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. More than 200 buildings will have this service by the end of 2023. 

“I was thrilled to be able to attend the 144th – and final – crane lift of critical equipment to the rooftop of a residential building for NYCHA’s Recovery and Resilience program,” said Joy Sinderbrand, Senior Vice President for Capital Programs. “Rooftop generators were new to NYCHA when the R+R program started and now they’re a critical part of the resilience strategy to prevent power outages.” 

Natural gas-powered generators, including those installed on rooftops via cranes, provide vital backup power for NYCHA residents.

To help ensure the safety of residents during the crane lifts, R+R’s community outreach team has worked with residents of impacted developments to vacate the top two floors of the occupied buildings while the work is conducted. The team has assisted residents with plans for temporary relocation, provided support for those with special needs, and coordinated gathering areas at indoor and outdoor spaces.  

In the wake of the destruction of Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, the Recovery & Resilience Department has been dedicated to providing safer homes for NYCHA residents in coastal developments, through building reinforcement projects, storm surge protection, and various infrastructure upgrades. The hurricane was the most costly and destructive disaster to impact NYCHA in its history, with its storm surge severely damaging 10 percent of NYCHA’s developments. As a result, in December 2015, NYCHA was awarded the largest single grant in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) history and has so far invested over $2.5 billion at the impacted developments.