A new public-private partnership is set to invest more than $300 million dollars to repair NYCHA housing in Arverne. NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.

Lolita Miller has called the Ocean Bay Houses in Arverne home for almost 50 years. But she says it's time for change at the NYCHA housing complex.

"I've seen the good and I've seen the bad. And I want to see the good again," said Miller.

Big changes are underway. Last month, NYCHA announced a major public-private partnership to generate funding to repair the complex while keeping the apartments affordable.

The Ocean Bay Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) is the first of its kind in NYCHA history. Wavecrest Management will take over the daily management of the buildings, and NYCHA will still own the property.

Through the partnership, $325 million will be reinvested back into the Ocean Bay Houses to pay for desperately needed renovations.

"Basically, everything that's supposed to be done, they're doing it," said Miller.

Many of the repairs will fix damage from Hurricane Sandy, like the boiler room, which provides water and heat for 3,700 residents and 28 buildings.

"If this building goes down, you can't flush toilets, you have no heat,: said Timothy Russell, a super with Wavecrest Management.

That's exactly what happened during Sandy. Part of the renovation plan includes putting individual water and heating units on the roof of each building to ensure heat and water will be available through future storms.

"Right now, we have temporary boilers that were placed after Hurricane Sandy in the exterior of the complex," said Juan Roman, a General Manager with Wavecrest Management.

Additional plans include building floodwalls and a floodgate to protect the building from future storms. Individual apartments, elevators and lobbies are all set to be upgraded.

As for Miller, she's excited for the grounds to be restored and to be able to plant a garden again.

"So when you come back, you'll have a cucumber or a ripe tomato for your lunch," she said.

NYCHA officials say the work is just beginning, but they expect it to complete by the end of 2019.