Tom Lunke Studio, Tom Lunke, Mar 3, 2026

Manhattan Community Board 4

Re: Item #25, NYCHA Fulton/Elliott-Chelsea Proposed Redevelopment Request for Collaboration with Administration

Dear Manhattan Community Board 4 Members and Staff: As we transition to a new administration, it is vital that our communications reflect the full scale and potential impact of the proposed Fulton Elliott Chelsea project on our historic Chelsea community.

To ensure Mayor Mamdani and his team fully grasp the stakes involved, I respectfully request that you incorporate the following points into the opening paragraphs of your letter (Item #25 in your agenda):

Expansion of Housing: While the project is framed as an expansion of housing, Chelsea has absorbed 10,000 new private units, more than any other community, over the past two decades.

Long-Term Privatization of Public Assets: The plan would lease 14 acres of publicly owned land and buildings to private, for-profit enterprises for 99 years, effectively removing public oversight of these essential community assets for nearly a century.

Mass Displacement of Residents: The project involves the demolition of 22 to 24 taxpayer-financed buildings. This would  result in the loss of over 2,000 existing homes and the displacement of nearly 5,000 residents, destabilizing a long-standing diverse community.

Absence of Guaranteed Housing Security: Because the existing structures would be entirely removed, there is no physical “right of return” for current residents. Access to new, privately managed buildings would be subject to the standards of private owners, offering no equivalent protection currently afforded to NYCHA residents.

Environmental Damage: Demolition and construction would cause significant environmental damage within and beyond the six central Chelsea blocks that contain the two NYCHA campuses, impacting the health and quality of life for the surrounding neighborhood.

Loss of Vital Green Space: The proposal would eliminate two urban forests containing 370 mature trees, expediting climate change and diminishing our air quality. Furthermore, the new developments would permanently shadow local parks, schools, and playgrounds in Chelsea—a neighborhood already critically underserved by open community space.

Rights Infringement: There are deeply concerning reports of residents being pressured to sign away their Section 9 federally protected housing rights. We are grateful for the legal efforts, supported by leaders like Tom Duane, that have secured a temporary stay on these actions.

By highlighting these “on-the-ground” realities at the beginning of your correspondence, you will provide the Mayor’s office with the necessary context to evaluate this plan through a lens of equity and community preservation. Thank you for your dedication to protecting the residents and the character of Chelsea.