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NYCHA Now
Touring new security enhancements at Gompers Houses
Highlighted January 2019 

Safety and Security Upgrades at 7 Manhattan Developments

Michael Corwin
Touring new security enhancements at Gompers Houses
Touring security enhancements at Gompers Houses (from left to right): Gompers Houses Property Manager Valerie Galloway, Executive Vice President for Capital Projects Deborah Goddard, State Senator Brian Kavanagh, and Council Member Carlina Rivera.

Seven NYCHA developments across Manhattan will receive $13 million in safety and security upgrades thanks to a new grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). More than 6,000 public housing residents will benefit from upgrades that include new facades, exterior LED lighting, and CCTV cameras at seven developments.

As part of the new upgrades announced on December 20, residents at the seven developments will see new facades, exterior LED lighting, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems. The improvements include:

  • Façade and masonry enhancements at 45 Allen Street ($1 million) and Baruch Addition Houses ($2.6 million);
  • Exterior LED lighting upgrades at Vladeck ($2.4 million) and Vladeck II Houses ($2.4 million), Seward Park Extension ($700,000), and Hernandez Houses ($340,000); and
  • CCTV camera surveillance system and exterior LED lighting installation at Gompers Houses ($2.5 million).

“NYCHA is pleased to bring these all-important safety and security upgrades to thousands of our residents in Manhattan,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Capital Projects Deborah Goddard. “NYCHA faces a $32 billion repair need, and these new enhancements would not be possible without the generous support from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. The façade improvements, new exterior LED lighting, and CCTV cameras will help address our residents’ concerns for safety and security in and around their homes, serving our goal of creating safe communities for all NYCHA households.”

The masonry and façade work will address ongoing safety concerns from residents. Exterior LED lighting and CCTV cameras will also be installed to address residents’ overall quality of life, deter crime, and improve safety at these developments for all residents.

These new upgrades, already completed at 45 Allen Street and Gompers Houses, are made possible by a $12,680,000 grant from LMDC. The grant is funded through Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

LMDC has also funded $41.2 million toward four other Lower Manhattan affordable housing programs. LMDC works with its partners in the public and private sectors to coordinate long-term planning for the World Trade Center site and surrounding communities, while pursuing short-term initiatives to improve the quality of life in Lower Manhattan during the revitalization effort.