FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2021 

CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov I (212) 306-3322 

NYCHA Announces New PACT Partners to Provide Approximately $445 Million in Comprehensive Repairs to more than 2,000 Apartments at Edenwald Houses  

The most recent selection of PACT Partners for the largest NYCHA campus in the Bronx and the third-largest citywide was informed by a new resident review committee process that will guide the scope of repairs and property management services for nearly 4,800 residents 

Photo renderings of the future project are available here 

NEW YORK - Today, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) formally announced the selection of Camber Property Group, Henge Development, and SAA | EVI Development as the development team to deliver comprehensive building and apartment upgrades for nearly 4,800 residents and more than 2,000 apartments at Edenwald Houses in the Bronx. The selected partners will further engage with residents and continue to refine their plans for renovations over the next 12 to 18 months, with construction expected to begin in 2023. The Authority’s community planning process for the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program incorporated a resident review committee, which interviewed prospective development teams about the proposed building upgrades, management practices, sustainability and design features, and plans to enhance social services. The selection of the PACT partners is an important step in the Authority’s commitment to meaningfully improve living conditions for NYCHA residents. 

“The selection of this development team, and the process used for that selection, highlight the important changes NYCHA continues to make to improve the PACT program in partnership with its residents,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “The robust resident engagement and inclusion of both minority-led and minority women-led firms are further evidence of the benefits PACT can bring to NYCHA’s residents and the City at large.”

“NYCHA residents and stakeholders have seen firsthand how PACT improvements are helping to rehabilitate NYCHA developments, maintain tenant protections, and preserve affordable housing,” said NYCHA Chair & CEO Greg Russ. “Engaging residents around the changes and improvements they’d like to see in their communities is an essential part of this process – and we look forward to centering their voices in the latest iteration of this vital program.” 

“I’m looking forward to Edenwald’s partnership with Camber Property Group, Henge Development, and SAA | EVI Development,” said Edenwald Houses Tenant Association President Walter McNeill. “In addition to the major repairs that will be coming to our development through this partnership, we’re looking forward to the reopening of our senior center which has been closed for several years. We’re also looking forward to the reopening of our laundry rooms, continuing with the resident watch program and increasing the capacity of our compactor yard.” 

“Affordable housing shouldn’t mean outdated or underdeveloped housing,'' said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “Sustaining quality housing is what all New York City residents deserve. NYCHA’s announcement to move forward on their commitment to deliver necessary building and apartment upgrades at Edenwald Houses is important for my district. I want to thank the New York City Housing Authority and the development team for taking steps to start addressing housing issues in the Bronx. I look forward to the completion of the Edenwald Houses improvements including the anticipated basketball court remodel.” 

“Today’s announcement is an important step towards bringing comprehensive repairs and improvements, as well as much-needed social services, to nearly 4,800 NYCHA households. Partnering with the residents of NYCHA, as well as local nonprofits and MWBEs, is critical to the ongoing success of the PACT program and ensuring equitable outcomes,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “HDC looks forward to our continued work together to improve the quality of life for our valued public housing residents.” 

“The Authority maintains a constant commitment to ensuring that the input of NYCHA residents is front and center in any conversations around the future of what happens to their homes and public spaces,” said NYCHA EVP of Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia. “We are grateful to the partners, resident review committee members, and NYCHA residents who helped us get here and look forward to the continued collaboration as we refine the plans in the coming months.” 

"Our City’s public housing stock is one of the most vital resources in the mission to house low-income New Yorkers," said Rick Gropper, Principal of Camber Property Group. "Our successful work at the neighboring Baychester Houses has given us considerable insight into the priorities of NYCHA residents, and we are ready to build on that positive experience. We are thrilled to collaborate with the residents of Edenwald and NYCHA in a community-minded process to renovate the complex and restore its status as a best-in-class home." 

“New York City's public housing residents deserve quality, affordable homes they can be proud of. This partnership will allow for much-needed renovations at the Edenwald Houses—repairs and improvements that will make a significant positive impact on the everyday lives of residents—and we are proud to be a part of this effort. We look forward to working with NYCHA and our development partners, local stakeholders and the residents of the Edenwald Houses to rebuild their homes and help preserve affordability, as well as create economic platforms and opportunities that lead to more inclusion for some of our most valuable and creative New Yorkers,” said Ernst Valery, Managing Partner and President at SAA | EVI Development. 

Established in 1953, Edenwald Houses is one of the oldest and largest public housing developments in the Authority’s portfolio, encompassing 40 residential buildings and more than 48 acres. The proposed rehabilitation scope will address the 20-year capital needs of the property while prioritizing resident preferences and investments towards healthy and efficient buildings within a resilient campus. The extensive modernization of the property will include improvements to the building envelopes, mechanical systems, and apartments while addressing resident priorities, such as a fully renovated senior center, laundry facilities, improved waste management, and exterior site improvements. The PACT team will also analyze the feasibility of increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in response to the NYCHA Sustainability Agenda and City mandates. 

Over the last year, NYCHA briefed hundreds of Edenwald residents on the PACT program, the RFEI selection process, and how the Authority identifies partners best positioned to address areas of need. From there, a resident review committee was convened to work with the Authority to vet submitted proposals, assess their feasibility, and interview the development teams directly. The review committee’s perspective was invaluable in understanding resident needs and preferences across key issues such as priorities for repairs and investments, safety measures, and how to best activate public spaces, among other topics.

Responsible for more than two dozen rehabilitation projects in the New York Tri-State Area, Camber Property Group focuses on the development of affordable and mixed-income housing. The firm most recently oversaw the comprehensive rehabilitation of nearby Baychester Houses, which was completed in February of 2021. SAA | EVI Development and Henge Development are minority-led and minority, woman-owned firms, respectively, with several decades of experience managing multi-family housing redevelopment projects. Camber Property Group, Henge Development, and SAA | EVI will lead the project as co-developers; L+M Builders Group will be the general contractor; and C+C Apartment Management will be the property manager. In the coming months, NYCHA and the selected development team will work with resident leaders to select a non-profit partner, which will deliver enhanced social services and community programs.

The selected PACT team will use the Rental Assistance Demonstration program to transition operating subsidy to the Project-Based Section 8 program and finance the 20-year capital needs at the development. They will also be responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the development. NYCHA will continue to own the land and buildings, administer the Section 8 subsidy, set rents, manage the waitlist for vacant apartments, and monitor conditions at the development. With the development team now in place, NYCHA and its partners will continue to work closely with residents and tenant association leaders to plan and prepare for these historic community investments. 

The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), New York City’s municipal Housing Finance Agency, is the financing partner for PACT. HDC will coordinate or provide loan financing funding by bonds issued through HDC’s Multi-Family Housing Bond Resolution (the “Open Resolution”) or the newly created Housing Impact Bond Resolution (the “Impact Resolution’), a bond resolution created solely to facilitate NYCHA transactions. 

The PACT program has generated more than $1.7 billion in comprehensive apartment renovations and building infrastructure improvements to date for more than 9,500 households, with $1.2 billion in major upgrades underway and approximately $579 million in renovations that have already been completed. An additional 25,600 households are part of active development projects in the process of resident engagement or pre-development. In sum, NYCHA has more than 35,000 units completed, in construction, or in a stage of resident engagement or pre-development. 

More information on NYCHA’s PACT program can be found here and here. For more information regarding upcoming PACT meetings, residents can call NYCHA at (212) 306-4036 or email pact@nycha.nyc.gov. 

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) 
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to roughly 1 in 15 New Yorkers across over 177,000 apartments within 335 housing developments. NYCHA serves over 350,000 residents through the conventional public housing program (Section 9), over 20,000 residents at developments that have been converted to PACT/RAD, and over 75,000 families through federal rent subsidies (the Section 8 Leased Housing Program). In addition, NYCHA connects residents to opportunities in financial empowerment, business development, career advancement, and educational programs. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city. 

About the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) 
The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is the nation’s largest municipal Housing Finance Agency and is charged with helping to finance the creation or preservation of affordable housing under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York plan. Since 2003, HDC has financed more than 180,000 housing units using over $23.5 billion in bonds and other debt obligations, and provided in excess of $2.9 billion in subsidy. HDC ranks among the nation’s top issuers of mortgage revenue bonds for affordable multi-family housing on Thomson Reuter’s annual list of multi-family bond issuers. In each of the last seven consecutive years, HDC’s annual bond issuance has surpassed $1 billion. For additional information, visit: http://www.nychdc.com.