Coney Island NYCHA residents weigh funding options to make building repairs

Coney Island Houses and Unity Towers will vote this summer on three options to decide how to fund their communities.

Nadia Galindo

Apr 19, 2024, 12:49 AM

Updated 251 days ago

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Two more NYCHA developments in Brooklyn will hold votes that allow residents to have a say in the future of their homes.
Coney Island Houses and Unity Towers will vote this summer on three options to decide how to fund their communities.
"We know there's been a history of under funding and a history of the need for renovations to deal with key issues like lead mold heating elevators," said Andrew Kaplan, NYCHA chief of staff. "The options on the table for the residents are for them to decide how they want to go about getting those renovations for their communities."
Coney Island Houses and Unity Towers residents will decide between the following options:
-To remain as Section 9 housing under the management of NYCHA
-Opt to enter the Public Housing Preservation Trust
-Opt to join the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program
The Public Housing Preservation Trust and PACT program options would allow the two communities to leverage federal funding that could be used to renovate and repair the buildings.
According to NYCHA, Coney Island Houses is home to 1,040 residents in 530 apartments.
It has an estimated 20-year capital need of more than $230 million.
Unity Towers is home to 447 residents in 192 apartments and has an estimated 20-year capital need of $83 million.
If residents chose the Public Housing Preservation Trust option, the development would be kept 100% public but converted to a federally funded Section 8 program.
If residents chose the PACT program the development would change to a Section 8 program and a third-party PACT partner would complete repairs.
Two NYCHA developments have already gone to the polls on this same issue including Nostrand Houses in Sheepshead Bay.
Residents there chose the Public Housing Preservation Trust option.
Coney Island Houses and Unity Towers residents will begin a 30-day voting period on July 17.
Residents can vote online, by mail or in person the final 10 days of the voting period.
For more information click here.