Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other city officials announced a $610 million modernization project at NYCHA’s Nostrand Houses on Wednesday as part of a six-phase plan to revitalize the space.

“My friends, today we come together to start to try and bring that legacy of neglect to an end. Today, we mark a major milestone on a new path for NYCHA,” said Mamdani.  

That new path looks like finally investing millions into homes that have long been neglected. The vehicle spurring the investment is NYCHA’s Community Preservation Trust, a state-created public entity that can access more private and public funding to make much-needed capital repairs.

The first development to undergo the upgrades under the Preservation Trust will be the 16 buildings that make up the Nostrand Houses in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.

“We just closed on $610 million in financing that will totally transform their development with fully upgraded building systems, enhanced security, improved accessibility and top to bottom renovations,” said Lisa Bova-Hiatt, the CEO of the New York City Housing Authority. 

“The whole city is watching because the Nostrand Houses is the proof of concept. If we do this right, and I know we will, it becomes the blueprint,” said state Sen. Julia Salazar. 

The project will span five years and be done across six phases, with two buildings undergoing repairs at once. Officials said they expect little disruption for residents. 

Repairs include upgrades to heating and hot water, new elevators, kitchens and bathrooms, as well as mold and lead remediation. 

Tenants told NY1 they voted to join the trust in December o2023 with the hope that their housing would improve after years of disinvestment from the federal government. 

“It can’t get no worse than it already is. We have to try something different because the other way wasn’t working. There was no satisfaction; we complained, complained, but nothing’s getting done,” said resident Marvin Flagg.

“This is 2026, you’re dealing with buildings that were built back in 1950 or before then and were in 2026, and you have a lot of apartment buildings where nothing has been upgraded since the beginning of time,” added resident Kelly Wade. 

“Popcorn ceilings; it’s falling apart all the time, it chips away, they come, they want to paint, they don’t want to paint. There’s mold crap, excessive amounts of mold, water trapped in the walls,” said resident Kesha Blake.

Barabara McFadden, the tenant president, said the project is about improving people’s homes and lives. 

“I took the residents to get in the Preservation Trust. I wanted them to have another option. I care about the residents’ quality of life. How can a tenant be healthy if their home is dealing with filth, roaches, rats, mildew? That’s not healthiness,” she said.

McFadden said she is going to hold whoever is in City Hall to the five-year timeline.

“The repairs need to be done; I don’t want to hear anything. If it’s not done, as I quoted, I’m going to hold people accountable,” said McFadden.