CRACKS IN OUR

SENIOR
DEVELOPMENTS:
An Examination of the Sidewalk
Conditions of New York City Housing
Authoritys Senior Developments

OFFICE OF
COUNCIL
MEMBER
RITCHIE
TORRES

15th Council
District Bronx
250 Broadway.
17th Floor
New York, NY
10007
(212) 788-6966

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New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Senior Housing &

Sidewalk Repairs
Specifically, (the sidewalk in this area) was cracked, caving in and there were a lot of holesThere are many senior
citizens in this area, and we had a lot of near misses, meaning accidents where pedestrians could have fallen. Parkside
Houses, Bronx, New York1
Im still experiencing pain in my leg. Im much less active, and havent been able to do the things I was able to do in the
past. Im practically immobile now, and thats very sad for me. Resident Georgina Correa describes her recovery from a
fall she had suffered on a cracked sidewalk two years ago. Cooper Park Houses, Brooklyn, New York 2
I. OVERVIEW OF NYCHAS SIDEWALKS AT SENIOR DEVELOPMENTS
The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)s prevailing process of
sidewalk repair neglects the health and safety of a vulnerable population our citys public housing senior residents, ages
65 and older. Under the current system, during the conclusion of a fiscal
year, NYCHA provides DOT with a ranked priority list of property, across
61,500 +
the five boroughs, in need of sidewalk reconstruction. The process
New
Yorkers
ages 65 and older live in
produces an extensive list and DOT, because of limited capital funding, is
New
York
City
Housing Authority
only able to invest $1 million for sidewalk reconstruction; resulting in a
(NYCHA)
public
housing.
vast backlog of repairs for years.
Unfortunately, when identifying properties, NYCHA does not take into consideration factors such as demographics and
accessibility for seniors, primarily disabled seniors. Rather NYCHA focuses on the severity of the restoration. Although an
impartial process, it produces a system in which the protection and interests of our citys seniors in public housing are
marginalized. The current process erases the fact that the consequences and realities of having a destructive sidewalk in a
development with a predominant elder population differ greatly from that of a destructive sidewalk in a mixed population
development. Of the Citys 328 NYCHA public housing properties, there are 41 senior housing developments and 15
senior-only buildings within mixed population developments. 3
Cracked and caved sidewalks can result in: fatal accidents and falls, and restricted and difficult mobility. Such risks and
poor quality of life are an additional stressor for senior citizens living in poverty in a big city. New York City is a pedestrian
city residents primarily commute by walking and public transportation. Our Citys seniors who are disabled are faced
with a double burden destructive sidewalks affect their safety in their homes and community. It is our Citys
responsibility to protect the welfare of our elder community living in public housing. As a landlord, NYCHA is legally
obligated to ensure sidewalks are easily accessible for all New Yorkers living in public housing, especially our seniors.
II. PROPOSED LEGISLATION
A new bill, sponsored by City Council Member Ritchie Torres of District 15 (Bronx), would require the DOT Commissioner
to give priority to senior-only housing developments operated by NYCHA when determining the order of repairs to be
made for sidewalks. The legislation identifies senior-only housing developments as: public housing designated by NYCHA
to be occupied by individuals sixty-two years of age or older. The bill would give NYCHA senior housing sidewalk repairs
emergency status. Ultimately, the legislation will protect a vulnerable population and make our growing city age-friendly.
In the preliminary capital plan for fiscal year 2015-2018, the Department of Transportation (DOT) committed $118.1
Million for sidewalk repairs.4 Recently, the agency increased its commitment to NYCHA properties reconstructions, from
$1 Million to $3 Million over four years.5 For the citys Ten Year Capital Strategy 2016-2025, totaling at $67.7 Billion in
funding, the DOT was provided $8.9 Billion for capital construction and reconstruction projects.6 An estimated funding of
$327.2 Million will be allocated towards sidewalk and ramp repair for approximately 28.6 million square feet of citywide
sidewalks.7 Our seniors should be given priority throughout this process.
Bronx Times, Parkside Houses sees $132,000 Sidewalk Renovation, October 10, 2015.
Queens Ledger, East Williamsburg pothole to be repaired after 15 years, August 26, 2015.
New York City Housing Authority Fact Sheet: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nycha/downloads/pdf/factsheet.pdf
4 The Council of the City of New York, Report on the Fiscal 2016 Preliminary Budget and the Fiscal 2015 Preliminary Mayors Management Report, Department of
Transportation, March 5, 2015: http://council.nyc.gov/html/budget/2016/Pre/dot.pdf
5 Queens Ledger, East Williamsburg pothole to be repaired after 15 years, August 26, 2015.
6 The Council of the City of New York, Report on the Fiscal 2016 Preliminary Budget and the Fiscal 2015 Preliminary Mayors Management Report, Department of
Transportation, March 5, 2015: http://council.nyc.gov/html/budget/2016/Pre/dot.pdf
1

2
3

Ibid.

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BOROUGH: The Bronx

RANK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
..
30

BOROUGH
Bronx
Bronx
Bronx
Bronx
Bronx
Bronx
Bronx
Bronx
Bronx
Bronx
.
Bronx

NYCHA PROPERTY
Parkside Houses
Castle Hill Houses
Baychester Houses
Forest Houses
Murphy Houses
St. Marys Park Houses
Marble Hill Houses
Murphy Private Houses
Murphy Private Houses
Murphy Private Houses
..
Senior Housing: Union Avenue/163rd
Street

ESTIMATED REPAIR COST

$30,800.00
$54,440.00
$264,840.00
$117,696.00
$68,904.00
$48,000.00
$18,192.00
$48,432.00
$39,280.00
$16,672.00
.
$12,680.00

Source: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

A cracked sidewalk outside of the entry way of the

Union Avenue/163rd senior housing
development.

Senior Development Ranked:

# 30
Union Avenue/163rd Street
950 Union Avenue Bronx, NY 10459

Total Population:

200 apartments; 210 residents

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BOROUGH: BROOKLYN
RANK
1
2
3

Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn

BOROUGH

4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn

NYCHA PROPERTY
Bushwick/Hylan Houses
Marlboro Houses
Senior Housing Development: Armstrong
I Houses
Linden Houses
Hope Gardens Houses
Hope Gardens Houses
Hope Gardens Houses
Hope Gardens Houses
Hope Gardens Houses
Hope Gardens Houses

ESTIMATED REPAIR COST

$4,264.00
$480.00
$57,816.00
$25,200.00
$64,640.00
$1,024.00
$1,024.00
$1,376.00
$7,168.00
$1,152.00

Source: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

An image of a destructive sidewalk outside of the

senior housing development, Armstrong Houses,
in Brooklyn.

Senior Development Ranked:

#3
Armstrong I Houses
260 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Total Population:
369 apartments; 1,288 residents

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BOROUGH: MANHATTAN
RANK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

BOROUGH
Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan

8
9
10

Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan

NYCHA PROPERTY
Seward Park Extention Houses
Wagner Houses
Milbank-Frawley Houses
Drew Hamilton Houses
Straus Houses
344 East 28th Street
Senior Housing Development:
Baruch Houses
Polo Grounds Houses
Rutgers Houses
Jefferson Houses

ESTIMATED REPAIR COST

$160,000.00
$317,920.00
$3,840.00
$247,848.00
$84,528.00
$20,000.00
$70,184.00
$36,496.00
$159,056.00
$163,680.00

Source: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

An image of a section of the damaged sidewalk at the senior

housing development, Baruch Houses, in Manhattan.

Senior Development Ranked:

#7
Baruch Houses
100 Columbia Street New York, NY 10002

Total Population:

2,193 apartments; 5,367 residents

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BOROUGH: QUEENS
RANK
1
2
3
4
5
6

Queens
Queens
Queens
Queens
Queens
Queens

BOROUGH

7
8
9
10

Queens
Queens
Queens
Queens

NYCHA PROPERTY
South Jamaica Houses
South Jamaica Houses
Hammel Houses
Redfern Houses
Redfern Houses
Senior Housing Development:
College Pt. Houses
Leavitt Houses
Bland Houses
Beach 41st Street
Queensbridge North Houses

ESTIMATED REPAIR COST

$59,360.00
$118,720.00
$306,976.00
$93,704.00
$72,000.00
$41,264.00
$15,552.00
$12,000.00
$6,800.00
$200,000.00

Source: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

Cracked sidewalk outside of College Point Houses, a senior

housing development; such damage can result in fatal accidents
and falls for its residents.

Senior Development Ranked:

#6
College Pt. Houses
4021 College Point Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11354

Total Population:
400 apartments; 878 residents

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BOROUGH: STATEN ISLAND

RANK
1

BOROUGH
Staten Island

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island

NYCHA PROPERTY
Senior Housing Development: CassidyLafayette Houses
Richmond Terrace Houses
Richmond Terrace Houses
Stapleton Houses
West Brighton Houses
Mariners Harbor Houses
South Beach Houses
South Beach Houses
South Beach Houses
South Beach Houses

ESTIMATED REPAIR COST

$5,976.00
$4,816.00
$2,024.00
$2,024.00
$1,200.00
$1,088.00
$6,440.00
$1,600.00
$2,280.00
$1,440.00

Source: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

Senior residents at Cassidy-Lafayette Houses endure

mobility challenges because of destructive sidewalks.

Senior Development Ranked:

#1
Cassidy-Lafayette Houses
90 Lafayette Avenue Staten Island, NY 10301

Total Population:
381 apartments; 400 residents

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III. EXAMPLES OF DAMAGED SIDEWALKS

An unleveled sidewalk at the senior housing development,

Union Avenue/163rd Street, in the Bronx.

A cracked sidewalk at the entrance of the senior housing development,

Union Avenue/163rd Street, in the Bronx.

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A section of the cracked sidewalks at the senior housing development,

Armstrong I Houses, in Brooklyn.

A section of the disheveled sidewalk at the housing development,

College Point Houses, in the borough of Queens.