Urbane serves as co-developer and lead entity for resident relationship building through NYCHA’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT), a multi-year process designed to bring new financing for critical repairs, amenities and services over 1,600 households across Crown Heights, East New York and Brownsville. The process culminates in converting NYCHA residences to Section 8 Voucher holders under private management. NYCHA remains a prominent partner as perpetual landowner and Section 8 administrator. PACT marshals resources for long-overdue maintenance and repairs and while maintaining affordability at 30% of household income.
In addition to supporting the physical development plan, Urbane is charged with establishing the infrastructure to bolster resident participation and leadership during pre-development, construction and post-rehabilitation and restoration. We are leveraging the unique coalescence of funding, policy and human resources presented by PACT to strengthen resident agency over the future of these critical community anchors, to connect residents to tailored support networks and to introduce tangible opportunities for community wealth building to residents and community.
Phase I: Pre-Development (Q1 2022 – Q1 2023)
During this phase, the Reid Park Rock PACT Partners are focused on due diligence activities including thorough inspection of all buildings, grounds and apartments in the portfolio, finalizing the scope of work and closing on financing in late Q1 2023. Urbane crafted a comprehensive engagement plan and is connecting with each household door-to-door, through in-person and virtual meetings, campus-wide events, tabling and small group conversations. A resident needs assessment will be disseminated in Phase I, informing key design, social service and programmatic elements at Reid & Park Rock. Urbane will establish a data and case management framework to enable effective service referrals and dynamic linkages to entrepreneurship, financial capability and community investment pathways.
Phase II: Construction (Q2 2023 – 2025)
The final scope of rehabilitation work will be executed in phases across the portfolio, with a goal of executing tenantinplace renovations through 2025. As construction proceeds, Urbane will build on Phase I introductory workshops to implement an economic empowerment workshop series, including financial literacy and planning, access to private wealth managers, and training on community wealth tools targeted at pooled investments from residents. Urbane also will lead the design and build efforts to launch 6 economic empowerment and wealth building hubs across the 15 Reid Park Rock campuses. Urbane manages activity and operating funds for 14 Tenant Associations: including housing the funds; deploying commercial card infrastructure for spending; and monitoring, compliance and reporting. Additionally, Urbane will train the permanent property management team on resident engagement protocols developed during Phase I.
Phase III: Rehabilitation Complete; Ongoing Resident Programming will occur from late 2025 and beyond.
