Visioning the Future of Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens
Over 200 residents from Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens recently had the opportunity to share their ideas and feedback on the future repairs and renovation work coming to their development during community visioning workshops led by NYCHA’s Comprehensive Modernization (Comp Mod) team. The workshops (held in Wyckoff Gardens in October and Gowanus Houses in November) allowed residents to share their renovation priorities and preferences for kitchen and bathroom materials, colors, finishes, and fixtures as well as their thoughts on how construction and temporary moves due to the renovations should be planned.
“Meetings like the community visioning sessions are vital to the participatory process towards intentional and meaningful change,” said Andreas Tyre, Tenant Association President of Gowanus Houses. “Residents want clarity, accountability, and the assurance that their considerations are met and concerns are addressed. NYCHA’s willingness to collaborate with residents is an encouraging step forward that shows their commitment for building a true partnership with the residents of Gowanus Houses.”
The repair and renovation work is made possible through the Gowanus Neighborhood Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2021. As part of the plan’s commitment, approximately $200 million is being invested at Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens. NYCHA’s Comprehensive Modernization program will oversee and utilize the funding to deliver comprehensive interior apartment renovations focused on hazardous materials abatement and kitchen and bathroom renovations. This streamlined renovation approach will bring improved quality of life to the developments’ nearly 4,000 residents while reducing construction costs and limiting the inconvenience to residents.
Residents have been part of the project from the beginning, through virtual and in-person meetings that kicked off in April 2022 at Wyckoff Gardens and in July 2022 at Gowanus Houses. The community visioning workshops were conducted in round-table style to promote interaction and participation. NYCHA facilitators led a set of three 20-minute discussions on the topics of construction phasing and timeline; kitchen renovations; and bathroom renovations. Note-takers and residents wrote specific feedback on sticky notes they posted on boards (and captured other important points made during the session) – over 500 sticky notes were collected in total. Feedback and survey results from the meeting will be used to release a Community Visioning Report for Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens that will be available on the Comp Mod webpage. The report could help inform the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued and selection of a construction team best positioned to address residents’ goals and priorities.
“I was a participant at the visioning workshop, not only as the tenant association president but as a long-time resident,” said Valerie Bell, Tenant Association President of Wyckoff Gardens. “This Gowanus Neighborhood funding is a rare opportunity for NYCHA to address some of the long-standing issues that residents have been complaining about. I am encouraged by the early outreach efforts by Comp Mod. We live here and know our homes, neighbors, and community the best. Prioritizing repairs that are inclusive to our needs and input is a move in the right direction.”
