Over $605 Million in Major Repairs Coming to Northwest Bronx Scattered Sites
Northwest Bronx is comprised of eight developments, encompassing nearly 1,600 apartments within 14 buildings
NYCHA and resident leaders selected The Arker Companies; Dabar Development, Omni New York LLC; and SBV RE Investments LLC to carry out comprehensive repairs at the developments
On July 26, NYCHA announced that over $605 million in capital repair needs will be addressed for more than 3,000 residents of the Northwest Bronx Scattered Sites through the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, which will greatly improve living conditions at the developments. As a pivotal milestone in this process, following years of planning and engagement with residents, NYCHA and resident leaders have selected The Arker Companies; Dabar Development, a Minority- and Woman-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE); Omni New York LLC; and SBV RE Investments LLC to provide comprehensive repairs to 1,597 apartments across 14 buildings at eight different Bronx developments.
Following conversion to Project-Based Section 8, Progressive Management will handle the day-to-day property management responsibilities at the Northwest Bronx Scattered Sites developments, which include Bailey Avenue-West 193rd Street, East 180th Street-Monterey Avenue, Fort Independence Street-Heath Avenue, Harrison Avenue Rehab A and B, Twin Parks East (Site 9), University Avenue Rehab, and West Tremont Avenue-Sedgwick Avenue Area. The PACT partners will spend the coming months conducting apartment inspections and assessments of the buildings and meeting with residents to develop rehabilitation, property management, and social service plans. Construction will begin in 2024.
“Today’s selection of PACT partners at the Northwest Bronx Scattered Sites will ensure that 3,000 hardworking NYCHA residents will get newly renovated apartments that they have long-deserved,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “The PACT program has shown it is one of the most reliable and consistent tools we have at our disposal to deliver comprehensive renovations that transform the lives of thousands of residents.”
“No one knows a community better than those living in it,” said NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “And no one knows what a development needs better than its residents. Along with Northwest Bronx resident leaders, we have selected a seasoned team here, one versed in listening and responding to resident concerns, and creating actionable plans to provide comprehensive renovations and repairs to these developments, just as they did in Brooklyn.”
“The selection of the Northwest Bronx PACT partner team is very exciting,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia. “We are confident in the Omni, Arker, Dabar, and SBV team and their ability to respond to residents’ priorities. We have seen the quality of their work at other PACT developments across the city and are pleased to announce this partnership with residents at the Northwest Bronx sites.”
“This latest PACT preservation effort will ensure more than 3,000 NYCHA residents will benefit from much-needed apartment improvements, building repairs, and accessibility upgrades,” said New York City Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “We look forward to working with the selected development teams to deliver critical improvements and guaranteed affordability to the residents of the Northwest Bronx Scattered Sites developments.”
“I’m very excited about moving forward. We’ve been waiting for change to come,” said Fort Independence Tenant Association President Barbara Lauray. “This will increase the value of the development as well as increase the fulfillment of the residents in the community. We’re ready to start any minute.”
“Twin Parks East needs a total makeover, “said Twin Parks East Tenant Association President Queen McFarland. “I’m excited for the PACT partners to renovate it, make it more vibrant, and create a beautiful place for the seniors who live here to call home.”
“I’m looking forward to changes that will benefit people in the community,” said University Avenue Tenant Association President Stephen Warner.
“I’m excited for the changes in the apartments and throughout the building, and how the team will make the development safer,” said East 180th Street-Monterey Tenant Association President Andrea Barnes.
“I have enjoyed working collectively to impact the lives of people in the NYCHA community,” said Bailey Avenue Tenant Association President Jake (Helene) Wilson.
The selected PACT partners will provide residents at the eight developments with extensive building and apartment upgrades, including new flooring, doors, lighting, and windows; new bathrooms and kitchens; and new and upgraded building systems, such as elevators, heating and hot water systems, and roofs and facades.
During the engagement process, Northwest Bronx residents expressed interest in improvements to outdoor and shared spaces, as well as concerns about accessibility and security, which will inform plans for the capital repairs.
Renovations will include the reactivation of open outdoor spaces at University Avenue Rehab and West Tremont Avenue-Sedgwick Avenue Area; refinished common areas; an energy storage system, including back-up storage from rooftop solar panels; new windows and expanded entryways for greater accessibility; new exterior lighting, security systems, and intercoms; landscaping, including new grass, trees, and planters; and new playground equipment, turf fields, and water play areas.
The Arker Companies, Dabar Development, and Omni New York LLC, and members of SBV RE Investments previously worked with NYCHA residents to deliver comprehensive renovations through the PACT program for more than 6,300 residents across nine Brooklyn developments.
Founded in 1949, The Arker Companies has created over 11,000 affordable housing units and nearly one million square feet of commercial office space. Arker works to support the needs and goals of the communities across the region with well-established relationships between private-sector investors; federal, state, and local agencies; and not-for-profit organizations.
Dabar Development Partners is a minority- and woman-owned, full-service real estate development firm, focused on the preservation, renovation, and new construction of architecturally significant properties. Through market-rate and affordable mixed-use projects in New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, Dabar has developed over 3,000 residential units since 2003.
Omni New York LLC is a full-service real estate development company founded in 2004 with a vision to bring quality, well-managed affordable housing to historically underserved communities, working to strengthen the social fabric of the neighborhoods it serves through its partnerships with non-profit social service organizations.
SBV RE Investments LLC is a privately held real estate development company whose principals have owned, developed, and managed over 19,400 units of affordable housing in 15 states.
The PACT program transitions developments from traditional public housing assistance to the more stable, federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program — unlocking funding for designated PACT partners to complete comprehensive repairs. Overall, 138 NYCHA developments (representing over 37,000 apartments) are in pre-development, are under construction, or have completed construction through the program. The Authority is on track to include 62,000 apartments in the PACT program in order to bring the benefits of comprehensive apartment repairs and building upgrades, as well as enhanced property management and social services, to more than 142,000 residents. The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), New York City’s municipal Housing Finance Agency, is the key financing partner for PACT. In addition to providing or arranging the financing, HDC provides ongoing asset management and compliance support for PACT transactions.