NYCHA Wraps $492M Affordable Renovation
This property is one of the oldest managed by the public development corporation.
The New York City Housing Authority, RDC Development, and a joint venture between Wavecrest Management and MDG Design & Construction, have completed the $492 million renovation of Williamsburg Houses, a 1,620-unit public housing complex in Brooklyn. The project was part of the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together program.
Designed in 1935 by Williamsburg Associate Architects and completed in 1938, Williamsburg Houses stands as one of the oldest properties managed by NYCHA. It became a New York City Landmark in 2003 and added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2021.
Thanks to the property’s historic status, NYCHA obtained $142 million in state and federal historic tax credits for this redevelopment.
Out with the old, in with the historic new
Home to more than 3,000 residents, Williamsburg Houses comprises 20 buildings spread across a 21-acre site and includes 17,800 square feet of retail space, according to Yardi Matrix information. MDG obtained $490 million in financing to preserve and rehabilitate the complex in February 2022.
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Renovations targeted not only the insides of the units, but also the buildings’ infrastructure, shared spaces, a community center, two childcare facilities and 19 commercial storefronts. The partners repaired kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces, as well as exterior façades and roofs. Additionally, they replaced windows, installed intercoms, a surveillance system and a new, hydronic heating system. For the outdoor shared spaces, the developers upgraded the basketball courts, playgrounds and exercise stations.
Among the most important goals of the renovation project was checking all units were lead-free, while restoring Williamsburg Houses to its historic design and ensuring that all apartments will remain permanently affordable in the process.
During unit renovations, residents were required to relocate to vacant apartments on-site for a period of 10 to 12 weeks. Wavecrest Management handled all moves, cost-free.
The community is at 176 Maujer St., less than 1 mile from Interstate 278. The community is surrounded by several public schools on a 2-mile radius, as well as some eateries and retail options. Subway stations for the M, J, G and L trains are all less than 1 mile away.
Part of PACT
Developments included in PACT transition from traditional public housing to the federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program, enabling comprehensive repairs. Currently, 139 NYCHA projects totaling more than 37,000 apartments are in various stages of the program. The goal is to include 62,000 apartments, benefiting north of 142,000 residents with repairs, upgrades and enhanced services.
One of the PACT projects is Frederick Samuel Apartments in Harlem, N.Y. In October, Genesis Cos. and Lemor Development Group obtained $383.6 million in financing for the renovation of the property’s more than 600 units.
Another one is West Brighton Houses, a 574-unit community in Staten Island, N.Y. NYCHA landed $332 million in financing for capital improvements in July, with completion expected by the fall of 2026.
