City wants more out of NYCHA properties

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Once the weather gets warm, Edward De La Cruz, 18, spends every possible moment playing basketball at his home, the Marble Hill Houses.

But his home courts are in danger now that the city is looking for space on public housing property to lease to private residential developers.

Last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a major new plan to raise revenue for the long-struggling city housing authority. He wants to put a dent in NYCHA’s huge budget shortfalls by leasing vacant land to developers, increasing the rate of rent collection and raising monthly parking costs, among other steps.

Asked about the prospect of losing his basketball court and surrounding green space to new buildings, Mr. De La Cruz simply said, “It would be wack. That won’t work for us.”

“All we have is a court — it’s not a big court — and then we have that side for little kids, but we need more stuff here,” he added, gesturing to Marble Hill’s playgrounds.

While other Marble Hill residents voiced skepticism of the mayor’s plan, called Next Generation NYCHA, several local elected officials have had positive comments so far.

The Marble Hill Houses are divided among Councilmen Fernando Cabrera, Andrew Cohen and Ydanis Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez said he supports the plan; Mr. Cohen said, “I have not actually taken a position on it. Preliminarily, I am supportive;” and Mr. Cabrera declined an interview request.

“I think the mayor’s plan is a good one. It requires everyone to contribute to this initiative,” Mr. Rodriguez said.

The main goals of the 117-page plan include:

• lease vacant land to developers for the creation of thousands of housing units;

• improve rent collection from the current rate of 74 percent;

• raise the cost of parking in NYCHA lots to market rates and increase occupancy from the current rate of 59 percent;

• reduce NYCHA’s carbon footprint.

“I think the city is really demonstrating leadership in trying to preserve affordable housing and its public housing,” Mr. Cohen said.

Edward De La Cruz, Marble Hill, Bill de Blasio, NYCHA, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Jeff Klein, Andrew Cohen, Marble Hill Houses, Shant Shahrigian
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