The New York City Housing Authority closed on $453 million in financing this week to fund comprehensive renovations at seven public housing developments in Harlem, the latest in a record-setting year for the embattled agency’s preservation efforts.

The Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) project will modernize 1,058 apartments across ten residential buildings in Central and East Harlem. The renovations will serve more than 1,300 residents at Jackie Robinson Houses, 131 Saint Nicholas Avenue, Corsi Houses, Morris Park Senior Citizens Home, Taft Rehabs, and two UPACA developments.

“These buildings have been neglected for decades,” said Lisa Bova-Hiatt, NYCHA’s chief executive officer. “This investment will transform the living conditions for over a thousand families.”

The scope of work includes new kitchens and bathrooms, upgraded heating and electrical systems, roof repairs, elevator modernization, and security improvements. Residents will remain in their apartments during construction, with work phased to minimize disruption.

The Harlem deal brings NYCHA’s 2025 total to 16 developments converted through the PACT program, representing more than $1.6 billion in comprehensive renovations for approximately 7,300 residents. It is a record year for both total units converted and capital financing secured.

PACT converts traditional public housing to a model where private partners manage buildings and make repairs using federal Section 8 vouchers. Residents retain their rights to affordable rent, succession, and grievance procedures. The program has faced criticism from tenant advocates who worry about privatization, but NYCHA officials say it is the only way to fund desperately needed repairs.

“We have a $78 billion capital need across our portfolio,” said Bova-Hiatt. “The federal government has not provided the funding to address that. PACT allows us to leverage private capital while protecting residents.”

The agency’s total PACT investment has now surpassed $8.6 billion, with 146 developments either completed, under construction, or in pre-development. The work represents the most significant investment in NYCHA properties since the authority’s founding in 1934.

Residents at the Harlem developments expressed cautious optimism. Maria Santos, who has lived in Jackie Robinson Houses for 23 years, said conditions have deteriorated steadily during her tenure.

“The heat goes out every winter, the elevators break down, there’s mold in the bathrooms,” Santos said. “If they’re really going to fix everything, that would change our lives. But we’ve heard promises before.”

The renovation plans come as NYCHA continues to operate under a federal monitor appointed after a lead paint scandal. The monitor has pushed the authority to accelerate repairs and improve living conditions, particularly for families with young children.

Council Member Diana Ayala, who represents parts of East Harlem, called the financing “long overdue” but emphasized the need for accountability throughout the construction process.

“These residents have been let down too many times,” Ayala said. “We need to make sure the work gets done right, on time, and without forcing anyone out of their homes.”

NYCHA also announced this week that it has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest seeking partners for 27 additional developments across all five boroughs. Those buildings contain 5,266 units with approximately $2.5 billion in 20-year capital needs.

The authority serves one in 16 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to more than 511,000 authorized residents through public housing and Section 8 programs. Many residents pay 30% of their income toward rent, making NYCHA apartments some of the most affordable housing in a city where market-rate rents have reached historic highs.

For the families in Harlem who will see their buildings renovated, the financing represents more than construction contracts and capital budgets. It represents a chance for homes that work the way homes should.

“All I want is a bathroom that doesn’t leak and heat that comes on when it’s supposed to,” said Santos. “That shouldn’t be too much to ask.”