NEW YORK CITY-Public housing residents, city politicians and housing advocates alike, are criticizing the plan by New York City to allow private developers to build on public housing property.

Some critics are calling for the city to abandon the new policy and have even hired legal counsel from the Urban Justice Center and the Legal Aid Society, although no lawsuits have been filed to date in connection with the development plan. City officials are preparing to let developers submit plans on eight parcels of land owned by the New York City Housing Authority. The projects would be built under a 99-year lease and could result in the build-out of at least 4,300 new private apartments, according to the Wall Street Journal. Under the plan, 20% of the newly developed apartments would be set aside for low-income residents—which critics contend is too low.

"You're going to have these luxury housing units that will block our light, take away our trees and our playgrounds and our parks," says Carmen Negron, a Lower East Side resident of the Baruch Houses.

Policy critics have staged demonstrations against the plan including one held Tuesday at City Hall.

The city remains steadfastly in favor of the initiative. "Strategies like this Land Lease plan are vital to improving the circumstances of NYCHA's residents and buildings and ensuring that quality public housing is available to New Yorkers who need it most," housing-authority spokeswoman Sheila Stainback wrote in a statement. "Since announcing this plan in the Fall 2012, we've been closely engaged with residents, community leaders and elected officials. We look forward to continuing that outreach." See story in the Wall Street Journal.

Instant Insights /

NYCHA Development Plans Spark Criticism

Related Stories

Recommended For You