Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer on Friday voiced their support for residents of the Nostrand Houses following their recent vote to enter their complex into a Public Housing Preservation Trust.
The voting process, initiated in late November, gave the Brooklyn NYCHA residents until Dec. 7 to cast their ballots on three options: the preservation trust, the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together initiative, also known as PACT, or to remain in Section 9 public housing.
The vote was certified Thursday night, according to Torres-Springer, who said more than 50% of the residents in the 1,150-unit complex voted, with the majority opting for the trust.
During an appearance on “Mornings On 1” Friday alongside Adams, she said that the preservation trust is the best way forward to fix the public housing complex.
“For too long, after decades of disinvestment, we are now fortunately in a position where we have the tools, and we are using them with the type of urgency and velocity that's needed,” she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, the preservation trust will gain the authority to issue public bonds to finance essential repair projects—a capability not available under the existing Section 9 housing status.
Furthermore, the trust will have the ability to hire outside vendors for projects rather than relying on in-house NYCHA workers.
The city has said that this trust model will streamline access to federal funding while maintaining rent caps at 30% of tenant income.
Adams, a vocal advocate for the new approach to public housing, said Friday that the Nostrand Houses community will benefit from this arrangement as it grants tenants significant control over their housing.
"We are tapping into federal dollars to ensure that NYCHA residents will finally have an opportunity to see a real recovery in NYCHA," Adams said. "NYCHA was dying, and we said, 'Not in this administration.'"
While acknowledging that the transformation won't be immediate, Torres-Springer indicated that the trust model — along with increased federal funding — will provide a pathway for the sustainable rehabilitation of public housing projects.
She estimated that the transfer of the property to the trust will take approximately one and a half to two years, at which point the repair process will begin.
“We're at a critical turning point. NYCHA residents deserve no less and will continue to work with the type of speed and care while centering residents’ voices because they deserve that,” Torres-Springer said.