From Baseball Star To Affordable Housing Rehabilitator

Former major league baseball player Maurice Vaughn has made a new new career of buying, then rehabilitating public housing projects. The Times describes Mo's life and transformation as well as that of his six-year-old company, Omni New York LLC.

1 minute read

August 2, 2010, 1:00 PM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"Mr. Vaughn, a (42-year-old) star slugger for the Boston Red Sox who quit baseball in 2003 after a lackluster run with the Mets, decided to build what he called his "afterlife" from the ashes of his baseball career."

The Times chronicles the start of his business, teaming up with his attorney and a low-income housing expert. In 2004, the three purchased two deteriorating projects near foreclosure that the City wanted to unload.

"Omni New York LLC is on its way to becoming a major player in the low-income housing world. It has acquired 4,000 apartments, most of them in New York State's scrappiest neighborhoods, housing the poorest of tenants (98 percent of them qualify for Section 8 rent subsidies). It has bought and rehabilitated 23 sites in New York, Massachusetts and Wyoming for a total of $503 million."

Sunday, August 1, 2010 in The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Nighttime view of downtown Los Angeles through arches of new 6th Street Viaduct.

Downtown Los Angeles Gears Up for Growth

A new report highlights Downtown L.A.’s ongoing revival through major housing projects, adaptive reuse, hospitality growth, and preparations for global events in the years ahead.

15 minutes ago - Los Angeles Downtown News

Supreme Court Statue

Supreme Court Landlord Appeal Case Could Overturn Tenant Protections

A legal case claiming that COVID-era eviction moratoriums were unconstitutional could spell trouble for tenant protections.

1 hour ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Distant view of oil derrick on barren plain with harsh sun in background.

Texas Moves to Curb Orphan Wells, But Critics Say Loopholes Remain

A proposed state law would shift financial responsibility for sealing unused drilling sites from the public to energy operators, though some advocates question its effectiveness due to industry-backed exemptions.

2 hours ago - Texas Public Radio

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.