Beleaguered NY Housing Authority Turns to Private Sector to Raise Needed Cash

Beset by daunting challenges, and a summer of stinging articles and reports, the chairman of the New York City Housing Authority has announced a controversial plan to raise hundreds of millions of dollars by leasing land to private developers.

1 minute read

September 27, 2012, 5:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


At a breakfast event this week, John B. Rhea, chairman of NYCHA, announced plans to "squeeze hundreds of millions of dollars out of parking lots, walkways, open spaces and other areas," reports David W. Chen. With a maintenance backlog topping $6 billion, the potential for hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue could solve some, but certainly not all, of the agency's considerable challenges.  

"Under the plan, which would take several years, the housing authority
would lease land to private developers, who would then come up with
projects featuring a mixture of apartments and commercial and retail
space," notes Chen. "At least 1,000 of those apartments - or perhaps 20 percent of all
the units, according to housing advocates - would be set aside for low-
and moderate-income families." 

While the city's leading elected officials were guardedly optimistic, "Judith Goldiner, attorney in charge of civil law
reform at the Legal Aid Society, voiced some misgivings."

"We are concerned that the development proposed will not be affordable
to Nycha residents, that Nycha is not consulting with the community as a
whole and that losing open space in dense high-rise communities will
have a negative impact on the public-housing community," she said.

 

Monday, September 24, 2012 in The New York Times

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

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

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.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

6 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

7 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today