Mayor de Blasio at the April 5th press conference. Image credit: Mayor’s Office.

Roof rehabilitations are part of the de Blasio administration’s plan to improve NYCHA’s physical infrastructure and safety. On April 5, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the roofs at 65 NYCHA buildings have been completely replaced as part of the Mayor’s plan to replace the roofs of NYCHA buildings. Mayor de Blasio has invested $1.3 billion so far to repair 950 roofs of NYCHA buildings. The new roofs will reduce mold on NYCHA buildings and provide a long-term, cost-effective solution to improve the quality of life for tenants.

The roof rehabilitation plan consists of three phases. The first phase, which was just completed, consists of fixing 65 roofs on five NYCHA developments. The second phase, which is currently ongoing and expected to be completed by June 2019, consists of fixing 78 roofs on seven NYCHA developments. The third phase, which consists of fixing more than 100 NYCHA building roofs, is expected to be completed by 2020.

The roof rehabilitation plan is part of the Administration’s commitment to support NYCHA capital infrastructure and operations. In addition to the roof rehabilitation, the Administration has installed Wi-Fi to 5 NYCHA developments, repaired exterior brickwork, and improved security by installing CCTV cameras and security lights. The Administration also waived NYCHA’s annual Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) and NYPD payments to the City and relieved NYCHA of $100 million in operating expenses a year. The Administration plans to invest $2.1 billion to support NYCHA’s capital infrastructure from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2027 and $1.6 billion to support NYCHA’s operations from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal 2022.

At the press conference, Mayor de Blasio stated that the improvements to NYCHA housing will ensure an increase of quality of life for residents. He states that this investment will address and tackle the physical infrastructure and safety concerns that arise from NYCHA housing. NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye stated that the Administration’s investments will work “toward achieving [the goal] of providing safe, clean, and connected communities for all public housing residents.”

Click here to read the Mayor’s Press Release and here for the transcript of the press conference.

By: May Vutrapongvatana (May is a CityLaw Intern and a New York Law School Student, Class of 2019.)