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NEW YORK | Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses Redevelopment | FT | FLOORS

Per: https://pix11.com/news/local-news/ma...es-in-chelsea/

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) just announced the $1.5 billion plan working with private developers to transform the Fulton Houses and Elliott-Chelsea Houses in the Chelsea neighborhood.

None of the articles about this over the past few days specifically say in what form the replacement redevelopment will come in. One would hope and assume they are envisioning a redefined streetwall with an orderly layout that still mixes some open space with a more traditional urban building form instead of just rebuilding a taller building that is on the footprints of the old floating in the tower in the park format. One thing I'm waiting for is the cadre of "don't destroy the trees!" types to come out and make as much noise as possible about how you can't correct an historic wrong like turning the page on the tower-in-the-park vernacular if that means losing some mature trees - as if the entire concept of replacement trees is foreign to them.

Anyways, I'm eagerly looking forward to hearing some concrete details of what is envisioned here. It could be a blueprint for other flailing NYCHA projects where the rehab/modernization costs versus replacement just don't pencil out. Obviously we're not looking at complete redevelopment for all or even most pre and post war housing complexes, but where it makes sense - where the land value especially directs them toward that concept, it should be encouraged. Hopefully most public housing tenants would agree that would be the better move - not that we should necessarily be asking for permission from the recipients of public assistance.

The current plan is to go from 2,055 apartments to 3,500 apartments, some of which will be market rate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The New York Lion (Post 9975783)

The current plan is to go from 2,055 apartments to 3,500 apartments, some of which will be market rate.

The redevelopment also seems to hinge on moving most existing tenants into new buildings before the old ones are demolished.

Between adding so many new units and not displacing tenants, that means they'll probably be building on every possible inch. There will probably be some interesting building footprints when this is said and done.

A wall of buildings along the perimeter with a large interior park flanking 26th St (or even contiguous with Chelsea Park) seems to be the logical site plan here.

Im not sure if the intention is to also replace the NY Health Dept building but that would be a good site for the first building in terms of phasing. I'm sure the facility is pretty outmoded anyways. Also curious what the plan for Chelsea Prep (PS 33) is. The obvious solution would be to incorporate a brand new school into the base of one of the new towers. I would like to see the old City of NY shield saved from the old building and reincorporated though.

Also the thread title should read Chelsea Houses or technically Fulton/Elliot-Chelsea Houses

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee (Post 9976105)

Some earlier documentation from when renovation was the consideration suggest they might just be looking at NYCHA property. But you are right, those two buildings would make good first sites to redevelop.

https://images.fastcompany.net/image...ng-council.jpg

I actually don't mind PS 33 or the NY health buildings on 9th. Maybe I've grown soft, but they include nice open spaces in front of these buildings that are well used.

As a younger person I longed to see the restoration of many of the NYCHA properties back into the street grid. But I've come to appreciate some of their deviation from NYC's grid.

The housing complex was featured in a documentary a few years ago. Worth a watch...

• Video Link

https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/about...-20230621.page

Residents and NYCHA Announce Plans for Complete Rebuilding of Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses

June 21, 2023

Quote:

Today, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) joined residents of Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses to announce plans for a complete rebuilding of the campuses, following a recent survey that was the latest component of an unprecedented resident engagement effort underway since the formation of the Chelsea NYCHA Working Group in 2019.

This spring, the resident-selected partner team, Essence Development and Related Companies, continued their engagement with residents, NYCHA, and the Citizens Housing & Planning Council (CHPC) to facilitate a process for all residents to decide whether to pursue total redevelopment of their campuses or to rehabilitate existing buildings. More than half of resident respondents were in favor of building brand-new NYCHA Project-Based Section 8 buildings across the Fulton, Elliott, and Chelsea campuses.

The new redevelopment plan, which will be overseen by NYCHA and Essence Development, and co-developed by Related Companies, prioritizes the rebuilding of all the campuses’ existing NYCHA apartment buildings, as well as the redesigning of community centers and outdoor spaces, and building additional mixed-income buildings and community facilities (additional plan details are below).

This continuation of a robust resident engagement process is a model for having residents inform and cultivate a path to new, modern, and functional homes, while improving quality of life. In December 2021, the Resident Review Committee – which consisted of 10 resident leaders from the campuses – selected Essence Development and Related Companies as the team that would deliver comprehensive upgrades for nearly 4,500 residents living in 2,055 apartments through the PACT program. The Resident Review Committee evaluated proposals and conducted interviews regarding proposed building upgrades, management practices, sustainability and design features, and plans to enhance social services.

This year, over a 60-day period beginning in March, Essence and NYCHA held 35 information sessions, canvassed thousands of residents, and mailed informational packets to every apartment within the developments to inform the community of the selection process and the three options up for consideration. Residents 18 years of age and older could indicate their preference of new buildings or rehabilitation of existing buildings, using either an online or paper survey. If residents selected new buildings, they could then choose from two variations of new construction plans.

NYCHA currently has a growing backlog of over $40 billion worth of repairs and maintenance due to aging infrastructure and decades of federal disinvestment — the results of which are evident at all NYCHA developments, including Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses.

Following the 2021 designation of the joint venture between Essence Development and Related Companies as the development partner, a pre-design due diligence process revealed significant, previously unknown structural, systemic, and environmental issues, tripling the cost and requiring temporary resident relocation.

Before going ahead with renovations at such a drastically higher cost, longer timeline, and more disruptive schedule, Essence Development, NYCHA, and resident association leadership partnered to develop two alternative paths forward and engaged with residents directly in a transparent process for them to determine the future of their homes.

Quote:

The resident-selected plan includes the following:

-All 2,055 existing NYCHA apartments – including 1,111 homes at Elliott-Chelsea and 944 homes at Fulton – will be replaced on existing campuses within brand-new NYCHA buildings that offer enhanced layouts, ventilation, and energy efficiency.

-Roughly 3,500 new mixed-income apartments, including approximately 875 new affordable apartments, will be added to the campuses.

-Amenities in each building will include resident-controlled, in-unit heating and cooling; new dishwashers, washers, and dryers in every apartment; common area amenities; large, multipurpose community spaces; and rooftop space.

-Onsite community resources will be enhanced with healthcare facilities, community centers, grocery stores, retail stores, and additional outdoor recreational spaces.

-With updated zoning restrictions allowing for taller buildings, new construction is expected to be completed in approximately six years.

-Before residents move into new buildings, some renovations and upkeep will be completed in existing NYCHA residential buildings to immediately improve quality of life while residents await the construction of new NYCHA Section 8 replacement housing. Additionally, on-site security will be upgraded during this time as well.

-Similar to NYCHA’s PACT program, all resident rights and protections will be preserved. Rent will continue to be calculated at 30 percent of adjusted gross household income, heads of households will be able to add relatives to their household composition, and lease renewals will occur automatically, among other important protections.

Quote:

Residents also considered the following two options:

Additional New Construction Option Presented (Within Current Zoning):

-This option would have replaced all 2,055 existing apartments within brand-new NYCHA buildings that offer enhanced layouts, ventilation, and energy efficiency.

-This option would have built new buildings within current zoning restrictions, which would have limited the building height. Construction under this plan would have been completed in approximately nine years.

Original Plan for Rehabilitation of Current Buildings:

-This option would have resulted in the renovation of all apartments, including new windows; updated kitchens, bathrooms, floors; updated heating systems; and new security features.

-All tenants would be relocated out of their units into temporary housing for at least 21 to 30 days (longer in some cases, if necessary, to allow for abatement of serious conditions like asbestos or lead).

-Rehabilitation of current buildings under this plan would have been completed in roughly four years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSsocal (Post 9976211)

I actually don't mind PS 33 or the NY health buildings on 9th. Maybe I've grown soft, but they include nice open spaces in front of these buildings that are well used.

I know what you mean with the Health building, it has its charms and the parklike setting is charming but I don't see any redeeming value with PS 33 especially if given the option of getting a brand new state of the art school space in the new development.

Can a mod please change the title of this thread to NEW YORK | Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses Redevelopment

Of course, nothing gets done without a little controversy.

• Video Link

Per: https://www.planetizen.com/news/2023...illion-repairs

Repairing and renovating New York City’s aging public housing stock will cost more than $78 billion, reports Mihir Zaveri in The New York Times, an estimate 70 percent higher than in 2017.

According to Zaveri, the high cost “largely reflects inflation and growing construction costs, and underscores the staggering challenge facing city officials and the New York City Housing Authority, which runs the system of more than 2,100 buildings.” The agency says roughly $60 billion will be required in the next five years to repair things like boilers and heating systems. As Zaveri explains, “After a federal investigation, the city reached a settlement in 2019 that led to the appointment of a federal monitor to scrutinize NYCHA’s progress on dealing with some of its most serious problems, including lead, mold and heating failures.”

“Unique pockets of affordability” in a notoriously expensive city, NYCHA developments house over 330,000 New Yorkers, with almost 275,000 families on the agency’s waiting list.

During his administration, Mayor Adams has focused on shifting NYCHA developments to private management, which “could allow the agency to tap into billions of dollars in loans and subsidies, and could also lead to the demolition of some buildings.”

I’ll be glad to see this garbage redeveloped.

Talk about an improvement.

all of NYCHA should be redeveloped. Atlanta and Chicago tore down/redeveloped all their projects, why not NYC?

Quote:

Originally Posted by swipyfox (Post 10438017)

all of NYCHA should be redeveloped. Atlanta and Chicago tore down/redeveloped all their projects, why not NYC?

NYC is much larger than those cities, and it's much more complex than that. And what goes on in other cities has no bearing on New York. People still live in the housing projects, and you would have to move them before you can tear down and replace. That's just one reason why this redevelopment is being phased in over time. It's not like they are going to bulldoze entire blocks.

The beautiful thing about what they are doing here is incorporating the housing projects into the built fabric of the city, rather than stand alone, "tower in the park" developments.

https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1...iHiQdq.w4b.jpg

https://commercialobserver.com/2025/...t-19th-street/

NYC Housing Authority Partners With Related on New Chelsea Apartment Building

https://commercialobserver.com/wp-co...3&h=489&crop=1

BY ISABELLE DURSO
AUGUST 4, 2025

Quote:

The new york city housing authority (NYCHA) and Related Companies have teamed up on a new apartment building in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.

Matthew Charney, vice president of design and construction at NYCHA, and Amanda Rekemeyer from Related filed plans last week to build a new 12-story, 217-unit residential building at 401 West 19th Street, according to a filing with the New York City Department of Buildings.

The proposed building between Ninth and 10th avenues would span 211,205 square feet and include 10,785 square feet of community facility space, the filing shows.

NYCHA filed a permit in late July to demolish the existing seven-story, 36-unit apartment building on the property, which was approved.

The project is part of the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together program, an initiative aiming to renovate NYCHA buildings while ensuring that homes remain affordable, according to NYCHA.

NYCHA selected Related and Essence Development in October 2024 for the redevelopment of the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses, which includes 401 West 19th Street, as Commercial Observer previously reported.

The redevelopment of both buildings calls for a total of 3,500 new mixed-income units on the campus, CO reported.

It's a wonder anything gets done at all in the city...

https://www.archpaper.com/2025/09/ny...helsea-houses/

Why the demolition and privatization of NYCHA Fulton, Elliott, and Chelsea Houses in West Chelsea, Manhattan must be stopped

By Viren Brahmbhatt
September 5, 2025

Quote:

City and federal officials say there’s no choice but to seek “creative” solutions to the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) alleged $78 billion funding deficit. Chief among them is RAD/PACT (Rental Assistance Demonstration/Permanent Affordability Commitment Together), a program that shifts the management of public housing into the hands of private or nonprofit developers. Supporters frame it as a lifeline. Critics say it’s privatization by design.

Nowhere is this tension more visible than in the proposed demolition and redevelopment of the Fulton, Elliott, and Chelsea Houses (FEC), a flagship RAD/PACT project in Manhattan’s West Chelsea neighborhood that dates back to 2019, and has since undergone myriad controversial revisions. The latest design—by Related Companies, Essence, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), COOKFOX, and ILA—has ignited fierce backlash from residents, housing scholars, and community advocates.

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Renee Keitt, Elliott-Chelsea Houses Tenant Association president, and Layla Law-Gisiko, a district leader in Assembly District 75, recently spoke on NY1 about how elderly FEC residents have been issued 90-day notices to vacate their homes. With its soaring towers, full demolition of NYCHA buildings, and a unit mix dominated by market-rate apartments, the plan is seen by many as a top-down development strategy dressed up as revitalization.

Quote:

NYCHA owns over 2,400 acres of land across the city—much of it underbuilt compared to the surrounding neighborhoods. In a real estate market as aggressive as New York’s, this public land is seen less as a public resource and more as a development opportunity. But former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s framing of ‘filling in’ the ‘empty spaces’ on NYCHA campuses as an innocuous urban strategy fails to recognize the critical social and environmental functions these spaces serve.

NYCHA campuses have much higher density than typical urban blocks, and the open spaces and trees on these sites provide essential green infrastructure. These areas not only mitigate the urban heat island effect but also offer residents limited but vital access to nature and recreational space, contributing to their physical and mental well-being.

Quote:

Through infill strategies and ground leases, NYCHA campuses are being opened up to private developers in exchange for promises: better buildings, greener designs, mixed-income units, and some level of affordability. But critics argue that what’s being offered is less a renewal and more a repackaging—a transfer of public land into private hands under the guise of modernization.

https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/marke...me-tower/69724

Chelsea’s NYCHA overhaul begins with 40-story mixed-income tower

https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets...ouses-nyca.jpg

By CityRealty Staff
October 4, 2025

Quote:

In June 2025, permits were filed to demolish Chelsea Addition, a 14-story, 94-unit building at 441 West 26th Street that also houses the Hudson Guild Theater ("Hudson Guild") offices and childcare services. More recently, permits were filed for a new 40-story tower to rise in its place. Ismael Leyva Architects is the architect of record, and the permits call for a total of 481 housing units to start on top of a community facility, presumably new offices for Hudson Guild. Another new tower is set to rise next to it in the next phase of construction, and the buildings' ten-story wings will frame a common courtyard.

The units in the new building effectively replace the apartments in the buildings that are to be demolished in the first phase of construction. In addition to Chelsea Addition, the buildings at 420 West 26th Street, 415 West 25th Street, 288 Tenth Avenue, and 450 West 27th Street are set to be demolished. Residents received notices that they would have to move out within three months in late July 2025

Quote:

A Bridge Plan promises immediate resources as well as improvements while the new buildings are underway. NYCHA is legally required to replace each unit "one-for-one," and displaced residents will retain their right to return. And as per the terms of PACT, all tenants' rights and rents will be preserved.

But not everyone is assuaged. Grassroots groups are protesting the new buildings, and The Daily News calls it "a cynical erasure of public process — and a warning shot for every public housing community in New York City." It should be noted that not all of the opposition is coming from Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea House residents; some opponents are locals who aren't eager for the construction. Incidentally, the complexes are located near some of New York City's most expensive real estate.

Sentiment is divided among the residents who will be most directly affected by the project. Some say that between issues like heat and hot water outages, elevator outages, and mold, sparkling new doorman buildings with dishwashers and washer-dryers can't come soon enough. Others are afraid of losing the communities they've cultivated in their building when they move.
And still others, some of whom are senior citizens or speak little English, are confused about what's going on.

Quote:

However, PACT projects are underway throughout the city without adverse effects to residents. One success story may be found at Harlem River Houses, one of the United States' first federally funded housing developments built for African Americans. Comprehensive improvements include facade repairs, sustainability upgrades, updated elevators and infrastructure, and apartments renovated with new floors, lighting, and appliances. New playgrounds were added to the central courtyard, and a historic fountain and public art were restored. The improvements have led to enhanced quality of life for residents and a 2025 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award.

https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets...2113aa3991b4f5

https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets...-courtyard.jpg

https://www.6sqft.com/judge-temporar...ex-in-chelsea/

Judge temporarily halts demolition of NYCHA complex in Chelsea

By Aaron Ginsburg
February 24, 2026

Quote:

A plan to demolish two Chelsea public housing complexes and replace more than 2,000 units has been temporarily halted after a judge issued a restraining order Thursday. Judge Margaret Chen issued the stay on the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Fulton and Chelsea-Elliot Houses, part of a plan to replace 18 buildings and create 2,500 market-rate units across the two complexes, as The City reported. The order comes after a group of tenants successfully appealed to stop the project, which NYCHA approved in October 2024, following the dismissal of their initial lawsuit last month.

Developed by Related Companies and Essence Development, the project would replace all 2,056 existing homes with six new buildings across both campuses. It also calls for roughly 3,500 mixed-income apartments, including about 1,000 permanently affordable units.

Quote:

Under the plan, most current residents would remain in their homes while the new buildings are constructed, moving into their new apartments in phases over the next seven years. About 120 tenants—including those in a senior building—would need to relocate temporarily until their new units are ready.

The developers have guaranteed that current NYCHA residents would receive new units on a “one-to-one” basis, at the same rent-capped rate, in any of the new buildings. As Chelsea News notes, if all displaced residents opt for units in the new development, it would require building 2,000 additional apartments—bringing the total to more than 5,000 new units.

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The new apartments would feature resident-controlled heating and ventilation, dishwashers, and in-unit washers and dryers. Buildings would also include common areas, multi-purpose community spaces, rooftop access, and lobby attendants, as 6sqft previously reported.

On-site community resources, including healthcare facilities, community centers, grocery and retail stores, and outdoor recreation spaces, would also be included.

Last year, a group of tenant advocates led by State Sen. Tom Duane sued to halt the project, arguing that it violates a 2010 state law he helped pass, which he says prohibits developers from building any market-rate units on the site. Opponents also claim the plan improperly bypassed the city’s uniform land use review process.

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The plaintiffs’ demand was rejected in January by Supreme Court Justice David Cohen. After they appealed, the appellate division’s ruling has now temporarily halted the project while the case is resolved.

Another major point of contention is the project’s cost. NYCHA and Related estimate it would cost about $2 billion, roughly the same as repairing the existing housing stock. Advocates, however, argue the true price tag is closer to $2.4 billion and claim that repairs would cost less than the $2 billion estimate.

Plans to demolish the two complexes have circulated for years, but only recently gained majority support from residents as conditions have continued to deteriorate. Tenants frequently report leaks, mold, heating issues, broken elevators, and other problems.

Quote:

A survey previously conducted by NYCHA and the developers found that about 30 percent of eligible residents, roughly 950 people, responded, with 60 percent of respondents expressing support for the redevelopment plan.

The project is part of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, which transfers management of public housing buildings to private developers. In return for financing millions of dollars in critical upgrades, developers collect rent payments while the agency retains ownership.

Since 2017, RAD has encompassed more than 40,000 units, including the Fulton and Chelsea-Elliot complexes, as NYCHA works to address decades of neglect and mismanagement that have left tenants in deteriorating conditions, as reported by The City.

One step closer to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee (Post 10558637)

One step closer to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

I don't understand people. Even with the prospect of getting something much better, some would prefer business as usual if it means not going through change. But yet, will continue to complain about the current state of affairs.

now, now.

let them air out their gas.

we all know the public process is far more tortured than the private route.

patience.