Matt Chaban profiles John Rhea, NYC Housing Authority Chairman, and his efforts to improve the city's last bastion of affordable apartments.
Dependent on the federal government for its financing, NYCHA has been heading in a downward trajectory as the rest of the city has been booming. Its problems, spread among 178,000 apartments in 334 complexes scattered across all five boroughs, have been headline fodder for the city's tabloids of late.
Tapped three years ago to fix issues with the agency and its housing stock by Mayor Bloomberg, Rhea, a former managing director at Barclays, speaks with Chaban about his frustrations in trying to solve problems that he admits are grave, including a maintenance backlog that tops $6 billion, and is expected
to balloon to $14 billion in the next three years.
"Is there enough time, resources or authority to make a difference?" asks Chaban.
"Despite widespread praise from housing advocates, many question whether
or not Mr. Rhea can truly effect the change he speaks constantly of.
After decades of disinvestment, no one person could turn around NYCHA in
four years."
Read the full story: With Public Housing Under Attack, Can An Ex-Lehman Banker Save New York’s Last Affordable Apartments?
Long Island public housing applicants face longest wait times in America
Applicants to large, medium and small housing authorities in Long Beach all face exceptionally long waiting periods.
Troubled Houston housing agency announces plan to resolve 'material deficiencies'
The newly renamed Housing Alliance Houston has created a new accounting team and instituted new tenant file inspections, per a recent update required by HUD.
Book review: Co-ops, commons and the conundrum of cashing in on the American dream
Jonathan Tarleton’s "Homes for Living: The Fight for Social Housing and a New American Commons" shows what happens when a loophole in housing legislation opens the door to the privatization of a common good — and when an affordable home suddenly becomes a commodity.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic place names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority