The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is seeking partners to comprehensively address the capital needs at four developments in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan by leveraging the federal RAD program and new mixed-use construction.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was published on April 23 seeking applicant teams consisting of at least one Developer, General Contractor, and Property Manager to submit a cohesive and integrated plan to address the estimated $366 million capital need for the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses, which comprise 2,073 apartments across 24 buildings. Responses are due by August 11, 2021, and NYCHA anticipates selecting partners by the end of this year.

In developing the RFP, NYCHA leadership worked to incorporate the recommendations of the Chelsea Working Group — a cohort of residents, elected officials, community representatives, and housing and legal organizations — who convened regularly since late 2019 to evaluate the different options available for modernizing the properties. In February 2021, the Working Group published a set of recommendations to fund comprehensive repairs, while ensuring resident rights are protected and that residents remain deeply engaged in the planning process going forward. As part of the RFP process, NYCHA will involve resident leaders from Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea in reviewing proposals, interviewing respondent teams, and ultimately selecting the partners who will make the repairs and manage the properties over the long term.

Applicant teams will be responsible for working with NYCHA and resident leaders to transition the properties to the Project-Based Section 8 program through NYCHA's Permanent Affordability Commitment Together initiative, or "PACT," which makes use of the federal RAD and Section 18 programs. The selected team will be expected to complete comprehensive tenant-in-place rehabilitation of the properties and assume ongoing property management responsibilities. To further bolster the financial feasibility of the conversion to Section 8 and to create new housing, community programming, and commercial opportunities, Applicant teams may include newly constructed buildings and/or retail conversions in their proposals.

Interested entities can learn more about the RFP at upcoming virtual pre-submission conferences scheduled for May 5 at 12pm and May 19th at 12pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposal submission process and ask questions about this unique opportunity. Please RSVP to fultonelliottchelsearfp@nycha.nyc.gov.

More information about this opportunity can be found on the PACT Procurement website, and details on the Chelsea NYCHA Working Group process are available on the NYCHA website.