$260 Million in Comprehensive Repairs Coming to Frederick Samuel Apartments

On December 17, NYCHA formally announced the selection of Genesis Companies and Lemor Development Group as the development team to deliver comprehensive building and apartment upgrades for nearly 1,400 residents and more than 660 apartments at Frederick Samuel Apartments in Manhattan. The selected PACT partners will further engage residents and continue to refine their plans for renovations over the next year, with construction expected to begin in early 2023. The Authority’s community planning process incorporated a resident review committee, which reviewed and interviewed prospective development teams about the proposed building upgrades, property management practices, sustainability and design features, and plans to enhance social services. The selection of the PACT partners is an important step in the Authority’s commitment to improve living conditions for NYCHA residents. Both development partners are Harlem-based Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), in fulfillment of NYCHA’s new requirements.

“NYCHA continues to improve the PACT program to ensure that the work will meet the needs of residents and bring significant upgrades to homes,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “This selection reflects greater involvement of tenant leadership in the choice of the developer. The project will bring a range of benefits, such as workforce development, enhanced social services, and sustainable design.” 

“The Authority is dedicated to enlisting the input of our tenant leadership and resident associations,” said NYCHA Chair & CEO Greg Russ. “The tireless passion they exhibit in envisioning the future of their homes is an indispensable resource that we will continue to leverage, and today’s PACT designation at Frederick Samuel Apartments is indicative of this approach.”

“NYCHA residents are the backbone of our campuses, and when we facilitate collaborative working relationships between them and our partners – we can deliver holistic upgrades that conform to the needs of a specific community,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia.

“The selection of this development team will create a host of benefits for our residents, in areas ranging from workforce development and social services to sustainable urban design. Our resident review committee is pleased with the selection of this development team,” said Frederick Samuel Apartments Tenant Association President Diana Blackwell. “We believe this partnership will provide our community with services to meet our many needs. These needs are critical and are known firsthand by our residents. We also anticipate them leading us in a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable environment for the future.”

 “Today’s announcement reflects the dedicated effort underway to bring comprehensive repairs and upgrades, as well as enhanced social services, to the nearly 660 households at NYCHA’s Frederick Samuel Apartments. Following an extensive review process, the selected Harlem-based MBE development teams will partner with the NYCHA residents to ensure equitable outcomes and guaranteed affordability,” said NYC Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “I look forward to working together with our partners to improve the quality of life for residents under the PACT program.”

Hundreds of residents of Frederick Samuel Apartments attended meetings about the PACT program, their rights and protections, the developer selection process, and how the Authority identifies partners best positioned to address areas of need. To assist with the engagement process, the tenant association identified several building captains to help share information about the PACT program and to answer questions from residents. Once proposals were received, a resident review committee was also convened to work with the Authority to vet submitted proposals, assess their feasibility, and interview the development teams directly. The review committee included members of the tenant association, building captains, and other residents. Review committee members provided critical insight on several resident needs and preferences across key issues, such as pest management, sustainability measures, job opportunities for residents, and repairs and investments in community spaces and gardens.

Genesis Companies and Lemor Development Group will lead the project as co-developers; Monadnock Construction will be the general contractor; and VPH Management Services LLC will be the property manager. In the coming months, a non-profit social service provider will be added to the team. Both Genesis Companies and Lemor Development Group have deep ties to the Harlem community. Genesis was founded in 2004 as a full-service real estate development firm. The firm has a portfolio of 49 developments in the Harlem area, and the average life span of those buildings is more than a century. Lemor Development Group, another minority-owned entity, was established in Harlem in 2014 to manage the acquisition, development, and management of underperforming government- and privately funded multifamily properties and projects. The company focuses on affordable and workforce housing in New York City, New Jersey, and select markets throughout the country. The 42 buildings comprising the Frederick Samuel Apartments were constructed between 1910 and 1928. NYCHA assumed control and responsibility for managing the upkeep of the properties in 1994.  

The selected PACT teams will use the Rental Assistance Demonstration program to transition operating subsidy to the Project-Based Section 8 program and finance the 20-year capital needs at each development. They will also be responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the development. NYCHA will continue to own the land and buildings, administer the Section 8 subsidy, set rents, manage the waitlist for vacant apartments, and monitor conditions at the development. With the development team now in place, NYCHA and its partners will continue to work closely with residents and tenant association leaders to plan and prepare for these historic community investments.

The PACT program has generated more than $1.7 billion in comprehensive apartment renovations and building infrastructure improvements to date for more than 9,500 households, with $1.2 billion in major upgrades underway and approximately $579 million in renovations that have already been completed. An additional 25,600 households are part of active development projects in the process of resident engagement or pre-development. In sum, NYCHA has more than 35,000 apartments completed, in construction, or in a stage of resident engagement or pre-development.

For more information about upcoming PACT meetings, residents can call NYCHA at (212) 306-4036 or email pact@nycha.nyc.gov.

And watch this video to learn more about how residents are involved in the PACT process: