Three NYCHA developments on the Upper East Side ranked among the worst in the U.S.
Google Street View of the Holmes Towers
The federal government ranked three Upper East Side public housing buildings as some of the worst in the United States, the New York Post reported Monday. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gave the Holmes Towers, the Isaacs Houses and Robbins Plaza just 25 points out of a maximum of 100 as a measure of quality following recent inspections. Out of the more than 3,800 scores counted by HUD last year, the three complexes tied for 13th worst in the country.
Located between 93rd and 95th Streets, the Isaacs Houses include three 24-story buildings and contain 635 apartments. The Holmes Towers sits south of Isaacs and consists of two 25-story towers, with 537 apartments. The Robbins Plaza building, at East 70th Street, has 150 units designated for seniors.
A score of 25 remains the lowest given to any NYCHA management team since January 2015. The data provided by HUD does not show specific details about the problems, but an expert on public housing, Susan Popkin, told the Post the structural problems most likely include faulty elevators, boilers and roofs.
The three buildings received a score of 86 points in March 2015, high enough to excuse them from yearly inspection. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a lawsuit that said scores dating back to 2010 were questionable, claiming NYCHA staff were trained to hide problems by painting or placing cardboard over stained or damaged ceiling tiles.
The city agreed to pay $2 billion over the next decade in a settlement with federal prosecutors. According to the agreement, the city will spend $1 billion over the first four years, in addition to what was already promised to the agency, and spend $200 million each year over the 10-year term. The authority will also be overseen by a federal monitor.
Rendering of the Holmes Towers via NYCHA
As 6sqft learned last spring, the city unveiled plans to build a 47-story, 300-unit mixed-income tower on the playground at Holmes Towers. Half of the units are expected to be market-rate, with the rest of them affordable. The proposed building, which has been met with backlash from the community and local officials, would be used to raise funds for repairs at the Holmes Towers and other NYCHA buildings.
[Via NY Post]
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