Upper East Siders Vote On Whether To Privatize Their NYCHA Complex

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Residents at the Isaacs Houses on the Upper East Side have begun voting on whether to privatize their public housing complex, the New York City Housing Authority said on Friday.

The voting period started on Feb. 13, and will continue until March 16, allowing residents to choose between three options for their housing. Residents can elect to join the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust, participate in the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, or keep traditional Section 9 public housing structure.

Home to more than 1,100 residents across 633 apartments, Isaacs Houses faces an estimated $248 million in repairs, public housing officials said. Citywide, the New York City Housing Authority's total capital need is nearly $80 billion.

The Public Housing Preservation Trust would keep the development public but bring in new federal funding for repairs, while the PACT program would allow public-private partnerships to fund and manage upgrades under NYCHA oversight.

Isaacs Houses is the first public housing development in Manhattan to hold such a vote.

The vote follows 100 days of public engagement, which included public information meetings, door-knocking, phone-banking, and distributing informative materials.

"This election gives residents an important chance to determine the future management of their homes," Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg said.

Residents can cast ballots online, by mail, or in person during the final five days of the voting period, starting March 12.

Eligible voters must be 18 years or older and part of the household composition. A minimum turnout of 20 percent of heads of household is required for the vote to be considered valid. An independent vote administrator is overseeing the election and will certify the results.

"Beginning today, we will use our voices to decide the next chapter for our homes," Isaacs Houses Resident Association President Rose Bergin said.

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