NYCHA Announces Joint Venture for Comprehensive Renovations at Linden and Penn-Wortman Houses in East New York, Brooklyn

The New York City Housing Authority is working in partnership with Douglaston Development, L+M Development Partners, Dantes Partners, and SMJ Development to complete major renovations at the Linden and Penn-Wortman Houses in East New York, Brooklyn. Together, the public houses comprise 1,922 units.

The partnership is the latest project launched through NYCHA’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together, or PACT initiative, which utilizes the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration program to unlock funding for repairs. The private development partners have entered into a joint venture known as Stanley Avenue Preservation, abbreviated at SAP.

“The PACT program continues to be one of the Authority’s best tools for comprehensively improving NYCHA campuses with significant infrastructure repair needs,” said Greg Russ, NYCHA chair and CEO. “The collection of experienced partners that have been assembled to provide large-scale rehabilitation work, robust property management, and much-needed social services for these sites will enable NYCHA to maintain our commitment to creating stronger developments for thousands of additional public housing families.”

Existing view of Linden Houses – Courtesy of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects

Existing view of Penn-Wortman Houses – Courtesy of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects

The Linden Houses comprise 21 individual buildings between Van Siclen Avenue and Vernon Street across from Linden Park. Constructed in the 1950s, the complex comprises 1,586 units. The Penn-Wortman Houses, a three-tower complex, is located at 851-895 Pennsylvania Avenue and was constructed in the 1970s. Today, the complex comprises 336 apartments.

Specific improvements to individual units will include modernized kitchen and bathrooms, the installation of Energy Star appliances, LED lighting, new paint and flooring repairs, and in-unit WiFi hardware. Enhanced communal amenities will include enlarged lobbies with parcel lockers, recycling rooms, modernized laundry facilities, a resident community center, and offices for on-site social and tenant services.

Exterior modifications will include new trees and planters, public seating, pathway repairs, new playgrounds, and fencing replacements. Façade and building envelope upgrades include window replacements, the installation of insulated roofs at both developments, and new cladding where needed.

For the health and safety of all tenants, the property will receive new security systems, key-fob access for tenants, improved lighting, new elevators, and updated water piping systems.

Rendering of the new community center at Penn-Wortman Houses – Courtesy of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects

Rendering of the new lobby mailroom at Penn-Wortman Houses – Courtesy of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects

“At Dantes Partners our goal is to facilitate and enhance local urban economic development by designing and structuring innovative funding and financing solutions for affordable, workforce, and mixed-income housing and community-based real estate,” said Buwa Binitie, managing principal of Dantes Partners. “Through this public-private partnership we can apply those same principles to make a significant impact in the enhancement of NYCHA communities.”

To finance the project, NYCHA and its private development partners recently closed on a $430 million package provided by The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), Wells Fargo, and Citi.

Renovations are expected to begin next month led by Curtis + Ginsberg Architects.

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