The Trust Issues Request for Proposal for Comprehensive Renovation of Bronx River Addition
On January 31, the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust, in partnership with NYCHA, issued a new Request for Proposal (RFP) for major capital renovations and repairs at Bronx River Addition, a senior-only public housing development in the Soundview section of the Bronx. This capital procurement is a critical step in helping to identify modernization and preservation partners capable of delivering comprehensive renovations to 226 apartments across two buildings.
Bronx River Addition, the second NYCHA development to vote to join the Trust, is also the second to release a design-build procurement solicitation, which, as part of the final scope, will address all pillar areas identified in the 2019 Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Design-builders were shortlisted through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and include Community Modernization Group, Revamp Housing Group, and Fifth Avenue Builders, LLC. These firms will now submit detailed proposals (including 30 percent design documents) through the RFP process, with this solicitation serving to inform the financial closing package for the development, which is projected to close in mid-2026.
“This is the critical next step in ensuring the residents of Bronx River Addition receive necessary repairs to their homes,” said Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “Through this Request for Proposal for major capital renovations, Bronx River will begin its journey to transition from Section 9 to the Trust, ultimately receiving comprehensive improvements, such as new kitchens and bathrooms, heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, that will set the Bronx River community up for longer-term stability, affordability, and health.”
“This RFP is an exciting benchmark in our efforts to transform Bronx River Addition for the senior New Yorkers who live there,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer and Trust Board Chair Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “This project demonstrates the benefits of leveraging the Trust’s unique capabilities to deliver meaningful, resident-centered renovations that preserve and improve the quality of NYCHA’s communities. We’re very excited to see this project take another step forward.”
“Today’s announcement is a key step toward transforming Bronx River Addition into safer, more modern, and sustainable homes,” said NYC Public Housing Preservation Trust President Vlada Kenniff. “By prioritizing full electrification and aging-in-place design, we’re ensuring seniors benefit from accessible, energy-efficient, and resident-centered renovations.”
“For the residents of Bronx River Addition, this moment is a long time coming,” said Bronx River and Bronx River Addition Resident Association President Norma Saunders. “We have fought for the attention and resources our community deserves, and now we have the power to shape our future. I look forward to working with the Trust to build a process that is inclusive, transparent, and driven by the voice of the seniors who call Bronx River Addition home.”
“This RFP reflects a significant commitment to the residents of Bronx River Addition, bringing much-needed improvements that can positively impact their daily lives,” said Trust Board Member Pamela Campbell. “With nearly three decades of experience in public housing communities, I’m proud to be part of a process that prioritizes resident needs and works toward creating long-term stability and comfort for both current and senior residents.”
The Trust, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in June 2022, is a fully public entity that is expected to unlock billions of dollars in federal funding for comprehensive renovations at NYCHA developments to improve living conditions for residents. Under the Trust, a 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.
As dictated by the legislation, a property can only be moved to the Trust following a valid and binding vote from residents of that development. Residents help drive the priorities for the renovation project, including the procurement, design, and construction process, and ultimately will help oversee the quality of the work completed. Under the Trust model, NYCHA continues to manage the property, but the Trust oversees NYCHA’s operations and ensures accountability for meeting industry standards, with an emphasis on an improved resident experience at the property.
The RFP for Bronx River Addition is a significant milestone in the process, as the Trust prepares to transition the development from Section 9 to the Section 8 program, thereby doubling its current federal subsidy. The $93 million design-build contract is one piece of a final package that will lay the groundwork to address the comprehensive needs of the development. The project will include full kitchen and bathroom upgrades, flooring replacements, façade repairs, complete window replacements, full electrification of the property (which means replacement of the existing heating system), and comprehensive plumbing, electrical, and ventilation system updates. Additional work involves elevator replacements, structural repairs, hazardous material abatement, and other essential improvements.
The project will enhance the quality of life for the development’s predominantly Spanish-speaking, senior population, prioritizing resident-centered design elements that address accessibility and aging-in-place needs.
A robust resident partnership process kicked off at Bronx River Addition after the April 2024 vote to identify needs and shape modernization plans for the development. Between late June and early September, two in-person community visioning workshops and on-site surveys were conducted to identify key renovation priorities, ensuring that residents played a central role in shaping the Bronx River Addition Resident Priorities Report. Alongside on-site investigations and analysis, this report informed the RFP issued to design and construction firms. The top three design-build firms identified in the RFQ process will now submit to the Trust for consideration detailed proposals about how to address the renovation needs of the development and plans for temporary relocation and more.
The renovation plans use a lump-sum design-build framework, which establishes a single contract from firms for both design and construction. This method apportions a single point of responsibility, shortens the procurement process, and prioritizes firms offering the best value. Evaluation factors include the quality of the proposed design, the impact on residents, the project duration, the successful completion of similar projects, and the overall team experience.