With the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) faced with years of federal, state and city funding cuts and growing deficits, the de Blasio administration released the NextGeneration NYCHA plan in May 2015. The plan calls for ways to increase operating and capital funds, improve housing maintenance and lease parcels of underutilized land in public housing to developers who would build housing. Management reforms, infill development, increased rents and fees, and contributions from the state and city budget will move the agency towards solvency. In addition, “scattered-site” developments will be transferred to community-based nonprofits, and new private owners and financing will be sought for some “distressed”developments.

How has NextGen NYCHA been received by public housing residents and community organizations?

What role, if any, will tenants and surrounding communities play in the planning decisions engendered by the
plan?

The fear of privatization looms, as do the concerns about the levels of affordability, and echoes from criticism of Bloomberg’s infill plan remain.

Join PN NYC to hear from progressive planners and people impacted by the plan who will discuss whether there’s room to be optimistic about the future of public housing in NYC.

Speakers:

Vic Bach, Community Service Society (CSS)
Mo George, Community Voices Heard (CVH)
Damaris Reyes, Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES)
Michael Higgins, Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE)

RSVP at www.facebook.com/PlannersNetworkNYC