stopfecdemolition, March 1, 2025

New York, NY – The New York City Council Public Housing Committee held an oversight hearing on Transparency at NYCHA , where residents of the Fulton, Elliott, and Chelsea developments gathered to rally on the steps of City Hall in opposition to NYCHA’s proposal to demolish their homes and hand over the majority of the land to Related Companies for luxury apartment development.

Fulton and Elliott Chelsea (FEC) Tenants Against Demolition member and Elliott Houses resident Celines Miranda called out NYCHA’s misleading engagement tactics, stating: “NYCHA partners with powerful real estate interests—Essence and Related Companies—to misinform residents with a survey that very few participated in. NYCHA claims residents support their proposal to demolish our homes, but they are ignoring a petition signed by almost a thousand residents saying NO to demolition. We’ve been making plenty of noise, and our elected officials refuse to listen. The validity of our petitions is being questioned, yet they have not questioned the validity of a controversial survey that barely reached 550 participants.”

Joined by allies and NY City Council Public Housing Committee Chair Chris Banks , residents made it clear that they will not be displaced without a fight. Banks stated that “We are demanding transparency. We are saying, NYCHA, step up to the plate, stop disappearing when these conversions are taking place. Yes, we understand Elliott-Chelsea is being attacked—demolition is not the answer. Before we go forth with any more conversions, let’s take a pause.”

Jacqueline Lara , who has been fighting this proposal since 2019 when NYCHA first proposed demolishing two buildings at Fulton Houses, emphasized the community’s determination to remain in their homes:

“We deserve to live here as well, and we deserve a good apartment. Our buildings aren’t deplorable. If where we are living is deplorable, they wouldn’t be bringing new residents in. We are here to stop the demolition of our homes. We love our homes and our community. Chelsea is a beautiful neighborhood, and we want to keep it that way.”

Renee Keitt , newly elected Residents Association President of Elliott-Chelsea Houses, emphasized that this fight goes beyond their development: “This isn’t just about Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses—this is about every tenant in public, rent-controlled, and rent-stabilized housing. NYCHA leaders have made it clear: this demolition model is coming citywide. Greed knows no limits. If we don’t stop them now, it won’t just be us today—it will be you tomorrow.”

Miranda stated that “The cost to demolish our buildings and rebuild is an increase of the original projected clause. They want to demolish public housing. We demand to review all documents that are relevant to this proposal. We need to see the audit done by Related/Essence that is being used to justify the demolition of are homes.”

NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia stated that the cost to demolish and build new buildings would be $1.7 billion. However, according to the financial presentation given to Manhattan Community Board 4, the estimated total has now risen to $1.9 billion. This growing price tag raises serious concerns about the feasibility and financial transparency of NYCHA’s demolition plans, further underscoring the need for oversight and accountability.

In a stunning revelation during the hearing, Gouveia admitted that HUD, the federal agency that has oversight over the process, has NOT granted final approval for the demolition of the Fulton, Elliott, and Chelsea (FEC) campuses. This admission directly contradicts NYCHA and Related Companies’ claims that demolition and relocations will begin in just a few months. Instead, Gouveia confirmed that the project is still in the environmental review process and lacks critical federal approval.

When Committee Chair Chris Banks pressed further, asking whether HUD had approved a Section 18 application for the demolition and disposition of the FEC campus, Gouveia’s response was a clear: “No, not yet.”

This bombshell exposes the misinformation NYCHA has fed to residents, as well as the Community Board, creating a false sense of inevitability around the demolition while key approvals are still missing. Residents are demanding accountability, transparency, and an immediate halt to NYCHA’s reckless push for displacement.

NYCHA proved once again that they are indifferent to the very real struggles of their residents Carla Hollingsworth who reported being harassed and retaliated against for their legal and rightful resistance to RAD PACT takeovers of their homes and communities.

“It’s an outrage to any and every New Yorker who believes in the right of public housing tenants to determine their own futures.” said Lydia Andre of Chelsea Neighbors Coalition.

“Today’s hearing exposes what tenants and advocates have long known—NYCHA has failed to meet even the most basic standard of transparency required of a public agency. Despite repeated requests, it continues to withhold essential information about the Fulton Elliott-Chelsea redevelopment and its contract with Related—a no-bid agreement lacking public scrutiny. This process has been marked by secrecy, and omission. New Yorkers deserve better. I applaud Chair Banks for his steadfast commitment to accountability and transparency in today’s hearing. His leadership in demanding answers from NYCHA is critical to ensuring that public housing residents are not sidelined in decisions that affect their homes and communities.” said Layla Law-Gisiko, District Leader AD75/A.

For more information contact: stopfecdemolition@gmail.com