MAKE MOTT HAVEN... Our Housing, People and Neighborhood
1 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... TRANSFORMATION PLAN
Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Make Mott Haven... Transformation Plan October 2014
Mott Haven Neighborhood, The Bronx New York City
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
4 Message from NYCHA Chair 136 D. Neighborhood Plan 138 1. Safety 5 1 Executive Summary 145 2. Neighborhood Affordable Housing Development 153 3. Economic Development 14 2 Vision and Guiding Principles 161 4. Open Spaces, Parks and Culture 15 A. Vision Statement 17 B. Guiding Principles 166 6 Governance
18 3 Mott Haven Today 169 7 Appendix 19 A. History of Mott Haven A. List of Partners 24 B. Make Mott Haven... Catchment Area B. Housing Market Study 28 C. Mott Haven Today: Housing C. New Yorkers for Parks Open Space Study 33 E. Mott Haven Today: People D. Betances Household Survey Results 45 F. Mott Haven Today: Neighborhood E. Community Visioning Report F. NYCHA Existing Conditions report 53 4 Community Engagement G. Sources 55 A. Establishing Goals and Strategies 56 B. Drafting Mott Haven’s Vision 59 C. Building Residents Capacity for a Sustainable Mott Haven 64 D. Sharing Best Practices and Lessons Learned
66 5 Transformation Plan 67 A. Introduction 70 B. Housing Plan 72 1. Betances North Rehabilitation 89 2. New Mixed Use Development on NYCHA-Owned Land 90 3. Rehabilitation of Surrounding Public Housing Developments
94 C. People Plan 95 1. Education 115 2. Workforce Development 127 3. Health
3 MESSAGE FROM NYCHA CHAIR One of Mayor de Blasio’s major commitment and day care. Existing public housing will be is to reset relationships between city agencies preserved with the rehabilitation of 493 units and the residents they serve. NYCHA’s at two housing developments, along with collaboration and community engagement other upgrades and increased participation in through Choice Neighborhoods has resident self-governance. demonstrated that principle. The Mott Haven community has already begun Resource integration is central to the to see the benefits of this collaborative effort. Shola Olatoye Chair & Chief Executive Officer sustainability of a community. Our Choice Neighborhoods Initiative provides New York City Housing Authority transformation plan aims to encompass NYCHA with the unique opportunity to marry residents’ quality of life from multiple angles, housing with the economic, educational,
Dear Hon. Secretary Castro, working to fortify housing while expanding and social resources to enhance community local resources. It is a roadmap which will not capacity. Resiliency will only continue to grow
On behalf of the New York City Housing only address the maintenance and expansion as this initiative continues. Authority (NYCHA), I am thrilled to submit of affordable housing, but the preservation Make Mott Haven: a transformation plan for the of existing stock. It will create more usable To demonstrate our commitment, we have revitalization of Mott Haven, a neighborhood in open space, increase youth programming, dedicated resources to push our plan forward. the Bronx, New York. This plan is the product implement crime-reduction programming, We will create a Steering Committee so that of two years of input from public housing and increase access to community health diverse stakeholders can help us expand our residents and community stakeholders, resources. vision and implement our roadmap. If NYCHA and broad collaboration with local agencies is chosen, the implementation grant will and organizations. This letter serves as a This roadmap will create new jobs, increase be leveraged by multiple city agencies as a commitment to this project, and a commitment access through job training, and thus enhance testament to future collaboration. to the future of public housing. the local economy. As such, our multi-pronged transformation plan will expand opportunity I look forward to Making Mott Haven a reality
The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative and vibrancy in Mott Haven. Affordable for generations to come. is a demonstration of effective agency housing will be developed on three new sites collaboration. This framework is a cornerstone with mixed-use opportunities for community Sincerely, of how NYCHA will transform as a business. amenities such as schools, supermarkets Shola Olatoye
4 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MESSAGE FROM NYCHA CHAIR 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Make Mott Haven… as the key issues. They included: violent crime rates in the city, particularly gun crimes. The Neighborhood Challenge • NYCHA developments are in disrepair. Mott Haven – located in the southernmost • The affordable housing supply is Over the course of the two year planning section of the Bronx – is the focus of limited. period, we focused on addressing these the New York City Housing Authority’s • Parks are underutilized because concerns. The result is a comprehensive (NYCHA) Choice Neighborhoods Initiative residents do not feel safe in them. transformation plan which will change the Transformation Plan. Within the area, trajectory of Mott Haven. there are thousands of units of public • All children are not school ready or testing at/above grade level. housing, local businesses, places of Historically, the presence of public housing worship, institutions of education, • Students are not prepared for 21st prevented a full-scale abandonment of community gardens and many resources century jobs. the neighborhood in the 1970s, and the for both seniors and youth. Despite these • Residents’ skills are mismatched with construction of new public housing in the assets, Mott Haven is in one of the poorest the current needs of the economy, and 1970s and 1980s helped to revitalize the congressional districts in the country, limited job training opportunities are area. Public housing preservation will help and is plagued by deteriorating housing, available for growth-sector industries. to ensure that new generations of residents low educational achievement, few job • Limited jobs in the neighborhood benefit from the stability and security prospects, and high crime. Unfortunately, make it difficult to connect to workforce that permanently affordable housing these difficult challenges have come to opportunities. provides. And in many ways, it is why define the neighborhood and its residents. the neighborhood revitalization is deeply • Local small businesses need support connected to public housing. Preserving to grow. In early 2013, NYCHA embarked on a the existing public housing stock is the core comprehensive planning process to • Rates of chronic diseases are very of the transformation plan. Furthermore, reverse these trends, funded by HUD’s high in Mott Haven, and residents with NYCHA residents, consisting of a third of Choice Neighborhood Initiative. Early chronic disease need targeted and the population, have long standing roots on, 10 neighborhood challenges were consistent support. in the neighborhood which sustain and identified by the community and elevated • Mott Haven has among the highest support the surrounding community.
6 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY a substantial increase in private and public Mott Haven… is based on hundreds of investment, and enlarging the circle of hours of community outreach conducted partners. by NYCHA and Local Initiatives Support Corporation NYC (LISC), which was Planning for Neighborhood engaged by the Authority to coordinate Transformation the planning and visioning efforts that In five years, Make Mott Haven… envisions underlay the plan. Implementation will a safe and healthy neighborhood with consist of strategic alliances with resident decent, affordable housing that offers associations, dozens of community-based quality education and opportunities for organizations, governmental and social economic success. services agencies, businesses and large anchor institutions. Strategies detailed In planning for this neighborhood in the Transformation Plan emphasize transformation, the collective “we” had to NYCHA’s commitment to partnering with Alongside residents, we named the Choice tackle the overarching question: How can everyone who shares our goal of igniting Neighborhoods Initiative Transformation community revitalization and development transformational change in Mott Haven. Plan Make Mott Haven… The premise is reconnect a disinvested neighborhood that through a transparent and inclusive back into the economic mainstream and Transforming Housing process, we can make the community change the economic conditions of the Make Mott Haven… is unique in that it into a celebrated, vibrant, and diverse people who live there? And how do we envisions transformational change through place to live and raise a family. Make Mott do so in a way that leverages assets that a preservation strategy: rehabilitation Haven… is a call to action for the residents, currently exist, fills in the gaps, and creates of existing buildings and re-designing local organizations, government and a cohesive strategy that has meaningful the neighborhood. We have developed businesses. No longer can organizations impact and is multi-dimensional? a plan that weaves together community operate in silos or residents accept a needs with market conditions to preserve deteriorating neighborhood. All of the At the heart of the planning process were the current public housing resources and stakeholders will come together to residents, organizations and institutions provide needed affordable housing in be part of the solution. The plan is a that are essential to the community’s life Mott Haven. The plan encourages public comprehensive roadmap for an expanded and prosperity. Together we created a and private reinvestment by: and comprehensive array of capital and comprehensive place-based strategy for (1) Transforming Betances North human development programs, pursuing housing, people, and neighborhood. Make through the major rehabilitation of 493
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 public housing apartments. broader community. The Plan includes “With all this work, energy and effort (2) Developing additional affordable redesigning several outdoor spaces housing and mixed-use resources for to delineate public and private spaces being synchronized and mobilized I the neighborhood on three NYCHA and introducing structural and lighting can’t tell you how optimistic it makes sites. enhancements to promote active use of this lifelong resident. It makes me the areas. Redesigning East 146th Street (3) Engaging in intensive effort to almost cry (ok I did!) for the hope of my -- currently an underutilized pedestrian address the general conditions of all plaza -- will promote both pedestrian and kids and neighbors. Much Success!” the public housing developments in the vehicular traffic as well as include a new ~Resident at Draft Presentation community. bicycle route that links with the Randalls Academy, and Universal Pre-K classrooms. The 16 buildings of Betances North Island Connector. Creating more foot The planned development of these three occupy three of four square blocks and are traffic and activity on the street will also NYCHA-owned sites will incorporate a combination of taller, elevator buildings address neighborhood safety concerns, as design elements and amenities that will and small walk-ups. Rehabilitation of the area is currently seen as a safe haven enable them to blend into and enrich the these buildings will focus on interior unit for drug dealing. improvements with green and energy neighborhood and appeal to intended market segments. efficiency upgrades, common space NYCHA is planning to leverage its assets renovation and integration of active design to develop new affordable and/or senior Investing in public and affordable housing features, façade improvements, exterior housing on NYCHA-owned land. Multi- is essential in a community where rental envelope sealing, and infrastructure story, mixed-income housing with vacancy rates remain very low – at 3.2% improvements in lighting, security commercial space on the ground floor in 2011 – and lower-income households cameras, roof work, among others. will go far in transforming the area and often spend up to 50% of their incomes encouraging continued investment in Mott on rent. Preservation of permanently NYCHA is committed to improving the Haven. This new development will yield affordable public housing is essential for a sustainability of these buildings. Make over 300 apartments and thousands of community with a historically underserved Mott Haven…will ensure that all building square feet of commercial and community population in a city suffering from a crisis- upgrades meet the standards of LEED facility space. Throughout the planning level shortage of affordable housing. – ND, and NYCHA will pursue Stage 1 process, the community expressed their certification. The streetscape of Betances need for services. NYCHA is committed to Transforming People North will also be revitalized to promote providing space for programs such as a Opportunity and connectivity are themes a greater sense of connectivity with the fresh food market, the Resident Training that reverberate throughout the entire
8 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Make Mott Haven… Transformation Plan. (STEM) and career-based curriculum, and focused on high standards. As students Opportunities to be creative and explore add a comprehensive set of wrap around begin to achieve, they will take increased ideas combined with connectivity and services – individualized to each student responsibility for their own education and genuine access to tools and resources are and family – through the community school share their knowledge and know-how twin pillars for creating transformative model. By high school, youth will have a with others as peer leaders and mentors. neighborhood-wide change. strong base of educational achievement Make Mott Haven’s vision for education from which to build, and will be supported will ensure youth are on par with their In Transforming People, we start with with supplemental academic support and counterparts throughout the City and education. We value the fundamental preparation for a college or career-track. State, and can compete on a national scale. premise that all students and their The interventions are also consistent with families should have access to quality the Common Core State Standards, a set Another sign of a thriving community is education and be supported by a culture of high-quality, academically rigorous residents who feel confident their lives will of high achievement. Through strategic standards in math and English that outlines improve, their incomes rise, and their job partnerships with the NYC Department of goals and expectations of what a student prospects widen. Achieving community Education and United Way of NYC, Make should know and be able to do at the end economic stability is a long-term process Mott Haven… has linked evidence-based of each grade. that builds upon a neighborhood’s interventions to key educational transition human capital – the skills, educational points. For early childhood education, the If we are actively motivating and attainment, talents, and creativity of the interventions focus on getting toddlers engaging youth in authentic and relevant working age population. The historical and young children ready to enter school experiences at these points, then together lack of educational achievement in Mott through the Universal Pre-Kindergarten we will see the cohesive cradle-to-career Haven continues today with far too program, and by fostering connections strategy culminate in improved student many residents who are unemployed, through expanded learning programs and achievement and strengthened family underemployed or marginally attached family involvement in order to achieve participation. Doing so ensures that to the workforce. While the impacts of reading proficiency by third grade in the youth and their families are encompassed the Make Mott Haven… Education Plan ReadNYC program, part of the national by strong supports and individualized will ultimately result in young people Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. When attention along their entire educational prepared with the education, skills and the youth reach middle school, we continue trajectory. Continuity, follow through and experience needed to succeed in a career, with the strong academic focus through feedback, over the course of a young the Make Mott Haven… Workforce Plan is contextualized learning of Science, person’s education, at these strategic bridging the immediate gap in labor force Technology, Engineering and Mathematics checkpoints will keep youth on-course and participation for disconnected youth and adults.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9 With the goal of improving career Market-Driven Skills Training, Section 3, effect on transforming the community. preparation, skill development, JobsPlus, and Business Incubation and Working along the health continuum from employment and job retention rates, the Entrepreneurship Support. prevention to care, we have developed Plan seeks to help people where they a robust and comprehensive set of are now get to where they need to be to Make Mott Haven… strives to create a strategies to promote healthy human and achieve economic stability and ultimately, healthy community – one in which residents physical development. advancement. Through a collective have good health, strong relationships, impact network, Make Mott Haven… will access to quality education, well-paying The goal of the health initiatives is to fundamentally change how residents, employment, a safe environment and transform the neighborhood of Mott multi-service providers and the business participate in family and community life. Haven from a chronic disease hotspot community interact by replicating best These basic pillars make up the Make into a community where residents and practices through a partner learning Mott Haven… Transformation Plan and public and private partners work in close community; improving outreach and without which, access and opportunities collaboration to reduce health disparities sharing information on services to are limited. Studies conducted over many and ensure resources to support healthy residents; developing measurable referral years have confirmed that low-income living are within reach of all residents. To systems; and attracting more investment communities are disproportionately accomplish this work NYCHA will for the in Mott Haven for economic and workforce affected by health disparities. Individuals first time enlist the partnership support development. The goal is to streamline who are vulnerable to unhealthy behaviors of the City’s accomplished Department services, remove duplication, and add and environments are challenged to attain of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) capacity to fill identified gaps in training and sustain good health. In turn, when to focus attention and resources on a and service delivery. Additionally, we will individuals are not healthy, they are less particular NYC community with a high increase residents access to information likely to maintain employment or be active density of NYCHA housing. Make Mott through multiple venues – from individual participants in family and community Haven…Health will reduce rates of chronic connections to an online web portal and life. The challenge is further expanded diseases by increasing health knowledge referral system. Make Mott Haven… is to family members, who are often and changing the environment to make also working to substantially increase the burdened with supporting the unhealthy, healthier choices the easier choices number, type, and offering of workforce thereby putting additional pressures on through evidence based programs, such training programs that match the varied the family’s economic and employment as Diabetes Prevention Program and skill sets and interests of community situation. Studies also indicate that a.i.r. Bronx. We will increase physical residents, which include programs positive impacts on individual and activity through active design and fitness such as the Resident Training Academy, neighborhood health can have a profound programming by promoting fitness
10 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY classes, walking groups, and additional reduce violence in the neighborhood. This center. The vision for Make Mott Haven… free physical fitness activities. Lastly, Make collective impact of resident engagement, Economic Development is to bring the Mott Haven… will improve connectivity infrastructure improvements, agency economic investment that is underway into and service coordination between local connectedness, and early intervention Mott Haven by connecting the residents of health providers and residents through the programs will ensure its success. For Mott Haven to the New Bronx workforce. Mitchel HUB and support seniors aging in intervention, we seek to reduce the most This will allow for more resources within place. pervasive and pressing safety issue in easy reach of their homes. Mott Haven: gun violence. By expanding Make Mott Haven… anticipates promoting the evidence-based Cure Violence First, we will marshal the jobs, internships, a sense of neighborhood to stimulate model, we can aggressively interrupt gun training, and other employment-related resident engagement in community life. violence at its core. For prevention, we will opportunities that grow out of the The feeling of community will inspire significantly alter the physical landscape construction and operation of buildings greater participation across community to create a safer environment and expand that are planned and already underway. activities and issues, and create resident educational programs that support young Second, we will leverage the Plan’s health networks. This connectivity will enhance people on a path away from criminal or initiatives to facilitate residents’ use of the value of Make Mott Haven’s initiatives negative behavior. the forthcoming full-service supermarket, to identify additional community needs YMCA, health centers, to support active and connect with the neighborhood’s The neighborhood is also bustling with living initiatives. Third, we will use the services and amenities. new activity that will further promote its Mitchel HUB to connect Mott Haven growth. Make Mott Haven… Housing Plan residents to the cultural and community- Transforming Neighborhood sets forth an ambitious and aggressive building activities that grow out of the Make Mott Haven… is focused on developing strategy to preserve the neighborhood’s Roberto Clemente Plaza’s transformation stability and promoting growth. For most existing public housing resources and into the Town Square. residents and families in Mott Haven, there create new mixed-use developments is nothing more important in transforming on NYCHA-owned land. To complement Make Mott Haven… also recognizes that the neighborhood than their safety. In this goal, Make Mott Haven… is working opportunities for new open space for response, we focus our safety strategies closely with developers to establish and community interaction will come from on intervention and prevention. Make Mott preserve over 1,000 affordable apartments reclaiming streetscapes, revitalizing Haven… is building on, expanding, and for families, and an additional 169 units for underutilized space, and expanding integrating a set of discrete programs and seniors. These developments come with access to resources. We have identified strategies into a multi-layered initiative to amenities such as an expanded senior several key places for open space
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 11 transformation, including opening up of the physical space of the City. outcomes that NYCHA, residents and 146th Street, beautifying vest pocket parks partners will champion over the next five and formerly closed off NYCHA space. Transforming Mott Haven years and beyond. This will create a new passive open space The people of Mott Haven are its most at the HUB plaza at 149th Street and 3rd important asset. Central to the success Avenue. This transformation continues of all of these efforts is the recognition with installing recreational equipment and that resident empowerment, both within physical activity programming at various and outside of NYCHA developments is parks and open space areas throughout the best way to build and sustain the the neighborhood. On 138th Street for momentum required to transform Mott open space improvements, programming Haven. By engaging residents directly and beautification that seeks to deter via the reestablished Betances Residents’ crime. Make Mott Haven… also sees the Association, and through existing and value in activating these revitalized and newly-forged partnerships among new spaces into cultural havens. The community-based organizations, social community, rich in history, will utilize service agencies, educators, religious and these spaces to recognize and celebrate its cultural institutions, and city agencies, past and future. For example, our partner, Make Mott Haven… is stimulating the Casita Maria is expanding its South Bronx community for continued renewal and Cultural Trail into Mott Haven. The South revitalization in and around Mott Haven. Bronx Cultural Trail is a major effort to protect the community’s great cultural The Plan is developed by the residents heritage and use it as a force for future of Mott Haven, for the residents of Mott creative and economic development. Haven. We believe that to have genuine To celebrate the completion of the community transformation, we must planning process, Make Mott Haven… see both physical and human capital commissioned a mural, called Alphabet revitalization, and the following chapters City Shapes, painted at Patterson Houses. set forth a roadmap to get there. The Alphabet City considers the forms and Make Mott Haven… Transformation Plan shapes of NYCHA building footprints as an is dynamic and continuously evolving, and alphabet that, put together, is a language at its core is a vision and set of impactful
12 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 13 2 VISION STATEMENT & GUIDING PRINCIPLES
14 continued investment throughout Mott Haven. Make Mott Haven... envisions VISION STATEMENT fundamental renovations and repairs to the comprehensive needs of the Betances Make Mott Haven… a safe and healthy neighborhood with North buildings. The transformation of the buildings include moderate to substantial decent, affordable housing that offers quality education, in-unit rehab and a focus on water and energy efficiency, common space opportunities for economic success and positive quality upgrades and active design features, of life. façade improvements, exterior envelope sealing, infrastructure improvements, The South Bronx neighborhood of Mott Leveraging rehabilitation work at these and clearly defined public and private Haven is at the center of new development Betances properties as a catalyst for a spaces. Concentrated investment in the and investment committed to revitalizing new vision of what public housing can be, four square blocks of Betances North will the New Bronx, a comprehensive this plan offers a valuable opportunity to demonstrate that rehabilitating existing borough-wide vision spearheaded by transform Mott Haven’s housing, people residential buildings, reinventing the Bronx borough leadership and community and neighborhood by connecting what streetscape and reconnecting residents organizations. While Mott Haven remains remains an isolated and underserved area is a viable model for revitalizing the New one of the poorest communities in to greater opportunity and resources in a Bronx. Comprehensive capital investment the nation, it is also a place of nascent revitalizing New South Bronx. in the Betances North buildings will economic development, cultural activity ensure long-term integrity by bringing all and strong community ties. TRANSFORMING HOUSING buildings to a state of good repair. Make The buildings of Betances North – 500 units Mott Haven... will also address safety Centrally located within this neighborhood of public housing with 1,300 residents – is and security concerns by redesigning are four square blocks of public housing part of a four-square block area that also lighting, securing building entrances, and that are part of the New York City includes private and rental housing and installing security cameras. Construction Housing Authority’s Betances North commercial establishments. Given the of new affordable housing development Houses, which is adjacent to the active size of Betances Houses’ physical and on NYCHA-owned land that includes Betances Community Center, close to demographic footprint in the neighborhood, commercial space on the ground floor will public transportation, and a vibrant its rehabilitation is key to transforming add much needed housing and will further commercial corridor along 149th Street. this community and galvanizing reinvigorate the area.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... VISION STATEMENT & GUIDING PRINCIPLES 15 Preservation of public housing and sustain the momentum required to in the neighborhood. Make Mott Haven... building new affordable housing is transform Mott Haven. The recently will work to reduce gun violence through essential in a community where rental reconstituted Betances Residents’ people- and place-based strategies that vacancy rates remain low - at 3.2% in Association represents an important effectively change the norms of the 2011 - and lower-income households in step toward the development of more community and aspects of the physical the private market often pay up to 50% of robust and sustained resident networks environment that contribute to the problem. their incomes in rent. In this community, that can capitalize on an integrated loop Focusing on public spaces and parks with preserving permanently affordable public of enhanced access to services in and attention to safety – including lighting, housing is truly transformative. Make Mott around Mott Haven. Make Mott Haven... cameras, and streetscape redesign – will Haven... at Betances North will showcase is working with these resident networks to redefine the spaces allowing residents to how positive outcomes in a targeted address the community’s most pressing reclaim the community at all times of day. demonstration program can act to spur needs: ensuring that children and young Revitalized open space supports the goal additional improvements and benefits adults are connected to education from of improving the health of the community area-wide. The Plan seeks to create safe cradle to career; introducing innovative by providing opportunities for outdoor and secure housing conditions that trigger educational programs that increase physical activity. And new affordable increased resident pride, comfort, and consistent attendance, keep students housing developments on non-NYCHA enjoyment of their community and homes. engaged and achieving, and connect property will bring confidence to the school to the world of work; promoting community revitalization and encourage TRANSFORMING PEOPLE health programs to reduce chronic continuing investments in the community. Make Mott Haven... expects that revitalized illness, including diabetes and asthma, housing and neighborhood improvements and encouraging healthy lifestyles; and will galvanize resident engagement in supporting employment programs that community life, acting as a catalyst for connect workers to career pathways in greater participation in health, education, growth industries and improve work skills workforce development, public safety to access those pathways. and environmental activities. A key principle linking housing preservation and TRANSFORMING NEIGHBORHOOD rehabilitation to social development is the Make Mott Haven... is leveraging recognition that resident empowerment, community partners to revitalize the Mott both within and outside of NYCHA Haven community. Violence, particularly housing, is the best way to build and gun violence, remains a persistent problem
16 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... VISION STATEMENT & GUIDING PRINCIPLES GUIDING PRINCIPLES
In organizing stakeholders, undertaking visioning, developing the Transformation Plan, and ultimately implementing the plan, NYCHA is committed to six principles that will guide every aspect of the Make Mott Haven... and ensure its short-term and long-term viability.
• Preserve NYCHA’s existing public housing resources, • Have a positive, transformative impact across the and preserve and develop new affordable, mixed-use Mott Haven community projects;
• Facilitate stronger, systematic connections among • Utilize the knowledge and ensure the commitment service providers, government agencies and of community residents, leaders, organizations, and residents in different sectors; and institutions throughout the planning process and implementation; • Partner with local organizations to build their capacity and competency to meet community needs. • Prioritize community needs identified in data, surveys, resident recommendations and community forums;
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... VISION STATEMENT & GUIDING PRINCIPLES 17 3 MOTT HAVEN TODAY
18 HISTORY OF MOTT HAVEN
The Mott Haven neighborhood has gone through many European settlers in “the Bronx” and the borough is named for them. changes in its history to develop into the unique place it is now. Today, Mott Haven is a vibrant, predominantly The Bronx was also the home to two American founding fathers. In 1670 Latino community of just over 50,000 residents with an the Morris brothers, two Englishmen, purchased “West Farms” in the Bronx. extensive public transportation network connecting it to During the Revolutionary War period their midtown Manhattan in less than half an hour. descendant, Lewis Morris III, was a general in the Congressional Army. He eventually became a member of the Continental Yet it remains the poorest neighborhood Congress and signed the Declaration “I am glad Mott in one of the poorest Congressional of Independence. After the War, Morris Haven has great Districts in the nation. Despite this unsuccessfully tried to have the new fact, Mott Haven continues to attract nation’s capital located in the township History” new immigrants from diverse cultures of Morrisania, an area he established at because of its relative affordability and its West Farms, which covered the current ~Health Visioning proximity to economic opportunities and Mott Haven neighborhood and extended Participant good public transportation. to 170th Street.
Mott Haven has a long and rich history. Early American history continues In 1639 Jonas Bronck and his wife arrived with Lewis Morris III’s half-brother, in what was known as New Netherlands. Gouverneur Morris, a delegate to the The Broncks built a house on 132nd Street Constitutional Convention, who had a and Lincoln Avenue in the vicinity of what major role in drafting the United States is now Mott Haven. They were the first Constitution. Gouverneur later became
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 19 a United States Senator from New York. dome crowning the Capitol Building in In 1840, Gouverneur Morris’ son founded Washington, D.C. was cast by Janes, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, the first Fowler Kirtland & Company, an iron house of worship in the Bronx at the site foundry. The Foundry was located in the of his parents’ tomb. It is named for his vicinity of St. Mary’s Park. mother Ann. St. Ann’s Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Bridges extending over the Harlem River in 1980 and is a New York City landmark. from Manhattan brought railroads to the It continues to be used as a church by the neighborhood, contributing to expanded community. industrial and residential growth. Elevated mass transit arrived with the extension The neighborhood’s industrial history of Manhattan lines into the Bronx in the begins with the purchase from 1880s. A large number of piano factories Gouverneur Morris II, in 1828, of the were also established in Mott Haven and
southwestern section of Morrisania by produced 50% of the pianos made in the St. Ann’s Espicopal Church Jordan Mott and other investors. It was United States. Source: Historic District Council renamed Mott Haven. Mott, the inventor of the coal burning stove, developed his By 1900 East 138th Street had become iron works business on the Harlem River one of the main industrial and commercial at East 134th Street. The sewer grates districts in the Bronx. This further spurred produced by Mott’s iron works were so the growth of Mott Haven. During this durable some can still be found on the time the first tenements were built in streets of New York City. Mott went on to the southwestern section. Development build the Mott Haven Canal which reached expanded north and throughout the 138th Street. The Canal spurred the Bronx. development of manufacturing industries in the 1850s – which also brought worker In the 1880s and 1890s, upper-middle housing development to the area. class residential areas, marked by beautiful and unique brownstones, were The Mott Haven iron works industry developed along Alexander Avenue and was renowned. In 1858 the cast iron eastern parts of the neighborhood. Today, U.S. Capitol Buildings’s Cast-iron Dome Source: Architect of the Capitol
20 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY three areas within Mott Haven have Also in 1913, the Bronx Opera House was Lupe. It was also the place to see Mexican been designated Historic Districts by the built at 149th Street and Third Avenue. It films. New York City Landmarks Preservation housed the Aborn Opera Company with Commission as a result of their cultural a full calendar of the popular operas of The tradition of being a center of musical and architectural significance. the day. It also hosted performances by innovation continued in the 1970s and a spectacular array of famous performers 1980s, Joseph Saddler, known as Grand Mott Haven’s significant contribution including the Marx Brothers, Ethel Master Flash, attended Samuel Gompers to American history continued into the Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore, George High School in Mott Haven. He was one twentieth century. From 1890 through M. Cohan, Eddie Cantor, Harry Houdini, of a group of artists who invented and 1940 the Bronx was the fastest growing and Fats Waller. In the 1940s it became popularized hip hop. They first played in borough in New York City. Irish, German, the Bronx Theater and in the ‘50s through homes and school yards in Mott Haven, and Jewish immigrants populated ‘70s became a series of Latin music dance Melrose and Morrisania, then South the district in large numbers until the clubs. Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puento and Bronx clubs and then exported the sound conclusion of World War II. As housing Johnny Pacheco, performed there in the all over New York City and the world. and residential areas developed in Mott ‘50s and ‘60s. In 2013, it was renovated Haven, Melrose and areas to the north, and reopened as the Opera House Hotel, After World War II, a growing number of 149th Street became a major commercial a boutique hotel. African-Americans and Puerto Ricans, and entertainment corridor and the many of whom were displaced by urban busiest shopping district in the Bronx. The other major commercial corridor, renewal projects in Manhattan, moved 138th Street, has a vibrant cultural to Mott Haven. Soon after, federal slum Willis Avenue and 142nd Street was the history too. Pre-World War II and lasting clearance initiatives started to transform location of the studio, since demolished, into the late ‘50s, 138th Street was a big Mott Haven. Combined with urban where the six Piccirilli brothers, master center for Irish music and musicians. planning initiatives pushed through by marble artisans, carved the statue of After World War II, 138th Street became Robert Moses, both highways and public Abraham Lincoln that sits in the Lincoln the destination to hear Latin music, and housing development were introduced in Memorial in Washington, D.C. The two especially Puerto Rican music, in New Mott Haven beginning in 1950. As New iconic stone lions that grace the entrance York. In the 1940s and ’50s, the music York City enjoyed the benefits of post- to the New York Public Library on Fifth scene centered around Teatro Puerto Rico New Deal Federal urban investment, Avenue in Manhattan are also enduring which featured Latin music’s greatest public housing developments were examples of Piccirilli work made in Mott stars including Tito Puente and Cuban being built across the City, clearing out Haven. salsa star Guadalupe Yoli, known as La whole neighborhoods and redeveloping
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 21 Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Lincoln Memorial the areas with large, multi-block developments known as “towers in the park.” The New York City Housing Authority, established in 1934, built five housing developments in Mott Haven between 1950 and 1966 together totaling almost 6,000 apartments.
In the early 1970s, the Model Cities Program brought smaller scale, “vest pocket” or “infill” development into inner city neighborhoods. Mott Haven was part of this second wave of urban renewal in the City. The rehabilitated, formerly privately-owned buildings of Betances III, V, and VI – acquired by NYCHA in 1973, 1974 and 1982 – and the new development of Betances I, II, and IV in 1973, were part of the Model Cities program. Together, the six Betances public housing developments added almost 1,110 apartments to the neighborhood.
At the same time, post-World War II suburbanization and the development of moderate and middle- income housing in the north Bronx also contributed to increased vacancy rates in privately- owned apartment buildings in the South Bronx. The economic downturn and recession of the mid-1970s accelerated the disinvestment.
22 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY Bronx, including some sections of Mott increasing funding further and to finding Haven, was Mayor Koch’s Ten Year creative solutions to improving the City’s Housing Plan that was launched in 1985 public housing stock. and lasted almost fifteen years. It provided the resources to reclaim and renovate At the same time, new development has both abandoned and severely distressed, returned throughout the South Bronx. occupied, formerly privately-owned The Bronx is going through a revitalization apartment buildings the City had taken with investments in commercial, title to through tax foreclosure during residential and institutional development the ‘70s and’80s. Also during that time projects across the borough. Make Mott In New York City, this disinvestment, South Bronx Churches was organized. Haven... is the transformation plan that coupled with fire insurance policies that In the 1980s and 1990s, they went on to takes Mott Haven community-building did not require the proceeds to be used to obtain vacant City land and construct to the next level, connecting residents rebuild, resulted in waves of arson which hundreds of one- to three-family houses, to each other, the resources of Mott ravaged low- and moderate-income named the Nehemiah Homes, which sold Haven and the New Bronx to make it a communities. The often-referenced to moderate-income families. neighborhood of choice. phrase “The Bronx is Burning” – attributed to Howard Cosell during the Over the last thirty years much of the 1977 World Series at Yankee Stadium – blight that plagued Mott Haven has was emblematic of the distress suffered disappeared and given way to improved by residents as the fabric of many South affordable housing that serves a wide Bronx neighborhoods unraveled. In income band ranging from extremely low- New York City, the problems associated income to moderate-income households. with disinvestment were compounded In recent years, however, cuts to federal by the City’s near bankruptcy in 1975 – funding for public housing has left NYCHA resulting in cuts in city services, closing with little money to make the capital of fire stations, and lost tax revenue. investments needed to renovate and Despite this period of urban crisis, the maintain its developments throughout public housing in Mott Haven provided the City. Fortunately, the new mayoral stability and ensured that a community of administration has already given NYCHA residents remained in the area. some capital funds and is committed to The next step in rebuilding the South
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 23 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... CATCHMENT AREA
Mott Haven’s boundaries for the Make Mott Haven... with Weill Cornell. Its Level One Trauma Center is the third busiest in the United Initiative, starting from the north and moving clockwise, States. Hostos Community College, a are: 149th Street; St. Mary’s Park/Jackson Avenue to the bilingual Spanish/English community college, is a member of the City University east; down to 132nd Street to the south; ending at Lincoln of New York system.
Avenue/Morris Avenue to the west in the South Bronx A section of New York City’s Empowerment section of New York City. Zone is located to the south in the Port Morris area, which includes a few blocks within Mott Haven. There are New York Both 149th and 138th Streets are commercial thoroughfares, State designated Brownfield Opportunity consisting of mostly retail with 149th Street the busy commercial Areas to the south, east and west along corridor at the top of the catchment area. The neighborhood the waterfront where much of the Bronx’s is well connected to the rest of the City through three NYC industrial area is located. Metropolitan Transit Authority subway lines: 2, 5, and 6. Public housing is another important Along with a solid transportation infrastructure, Mott Haven asset in the neighborhood. There are five is home to one of the great assets in the South Bronx area, NYCHA developments within the Make St. Mary’s Park, spanning 35 acres, in which residents enjoy Mott Haven… catchment area: Ramon summer picnics and concerts and a well-equipped recreation Betances Houses, Millbrook Houses, center. Residents tend multiple community gardens across the Mitchel Houses, Mott Haven Houses, and neighborhood. Patterson Houses. The housing focus of Make Mott Haven... is the Betances IV, V, There are two major anchor institutions at the edge of Mott and VI. Haven. Lincoln Medical Center, a member of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, is a teaching hospital affiliated
24 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY Neighborhood Context MOTT HAVEN - THE BRONX Mott Haven - the Bronx Note on Data Sources
the Bronx City government and local organizations New Jersey ! ! Manhattan have gathered considerable data on
149th Street Mott Haven and the surrounding area.
Queens 2 5 ! NYCHA and its planning coordinator, ! Brooklyn LISC, analyzed their studies and surveys to build a robust understanding of
146 th St the neighborhood. In some cases, the
Morris Avenue ! geographical focus of these partners differ
rd Ave 3 Betances from the Make Mott Haven... catchment 143 rd Houses St St Mary’s area, but is inclusive and representative 6 Park of Mott Haven nonetheless. The plan will ! Willis Ave Alexander Ave always use Mott Haven-specific data when
Brook Ave available, and will clarify where different ! boundaries are used. The geographical 138 th St categories mentioned here include: St Anns Ave Lincoln Avenue ! 135 th St
132nd Street 6 • Make Mott Haven... catchment area Brook Ave
Cypress Ave Jackson Avenue population ! »At the block level, the population is 46,354 which is the most precise Bruckner Expressway population number. However, to 132nd Street find other demographic and socio- Manhattan Housing Units Population economic data, 12 Census tracts were segregated at the level of the Randalls Neighborhood 16,019 46,354 Island NYCHA Developments 6,977 16,691 Make Mott Haven... A total of 52,392 Betances Houses 918 2,028 people live within Census tracts 19, N Source:Betances New Houses York City Housing Authority data, 2014 23, 25, 27.01, 27.02, 33, 37, 39, 41, 43, NYCHA Developments 0.25 Miles 0.5 Miles 51, and 65.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 25 •Community District: for planning purposes THE SOUTH BRONX the City is divided into Community Districts or CDs »Mott Haven is part of CD 1 (pop. 91,497).
»Often, CD 1 and CD 2 are studied together (pop. 143,743), CD 2 is known as Hunts Point.
»Some partners aggregate data for the South Bronx, which is defined as CD 1 to 6 (pop. 550,000).
»Mott Haven is in School District 7 as well as in Police Precinct 40, which approximates CD1 boundaries.
Source: Complimentary of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bronx DPHO
26 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 27 MOTT HAVEN TODAY: HOUSING
Mott Haven Today: Housing NYCHA Developments in Mott Haven Rental housing is a significant asset in Mott Haven, particularly for low- income Make Mott Haven... is an investment in families. The catchment area has a total of 17,018 households, of which 95% are the public housing infrastructure of the renters and 5% are owners. Below is a chart with more details on housing stock for community. Public housing, the most the larger areas of Community Districts 1 and 2, which include both Mott Haven and affordable subsidized housing because Hunts Point. tenants pay no more than 30% of their incomes as rent, is a substantial portion of the rental housing stock in Mott HOUSING UNITS BY TYPE (MOTT HAVEN/ HUNTS POINT), DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 2 Haven. Today, the five NYCHA housing developments in Mott Haven include NYCHA NYC 6,974 housing units with a population of RESIDENTS 17,000, comprising 44% of the housing Owner Occupied 3,973 8.2% units and 36% of the population in the neighborhood. Because of the centrality Rent stabilized 18,608 38.5% of public housing to the neighborhood’s Mitchell Lama 1,179 2.4% development and the fact that the long-time residents who live in public Public Housing 16,648 34.5% housing help to sustain and support the
Other Regulated rental 1,975 4.1% community, it is essential to invest in and preserve this housing stock. The presence Non-Regulated Rental 5,938 12.3% of public housing prevented a full-scale Source: 2011 Housing & Vacancy Survey, Rent Guidelines Board abandonment of the neighborhood in the 1970s and the construction of new public housing in the 1970s and 1980s helped to revitalize the area. Public housing preservation will help to ensure that new generations of residents benefit from
28 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY the stability and security that permanently affordable housing 1,200 Section 8 vouchers in Mott Haven benefitting 3,030 provides. residents, an average household size of 2.5 persons. An additional 1,411 housing units in Mott Haven are in buildings NYCHA provides housing to families. Over three-quarters that are part of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation of the public housing units in Mott Haven are two- and three- and Development’s project-based section 8 program. bedroom apartments, and the average household size is The capital needs of the NYCHA buildings in Mott Haven are 2.43 persons. Children under 18 account for 32% of the total substantial. NYCHA’s 2011 Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) population of 17,000, and seniors 15%. NYCHA also administers estimates a total of $653 million is needed to bring these
NYCHA PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN MOTT HAVEN
MILL BROOK BETANCES I, BETANCES III, PATTERSON MILL BROOK MOTT HAVEN MITCHEL TOTAL EXTENSION II, IV V, VI 1973, 1974, YEARS COMPLETED 1950 1959 1962 1965 1965 1973 1982
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW REHAB
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 15 9 1 8 10 25 14 82
NUMBER OF STORIES 6, 13 16 16 20, 22 17, 19, 20 3, 4, 6, 12, 20 5, 6
TOTAL CURRENT UNITS 1,790 1,252 125 992 1,730 765 320 6,974
0 BEDROOM 0 24 1 0 64 33 13 135
1 BEDROOM 104 126 30 315 664 167 64 1,470
2 BEDROOM 1,123 777 32 300 541 232 99 3,104
3+ BEDROOM 563 325 62 377 461 333 144 2,265
TOTAL POPULATION 4,386 2,905 313 2,513 4,069 1,937 842 16,965
CHILDREN <18 1,334 855 84 839 1,336 602 287 5,337
ADULTS 18-61 2,418 1,596 182 1,33 2,038 989 461 9,017
SENIORS 62+ 634 454 47 341 695 346 94 2,611
Source: New York City Housing Authority, 2014
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 29 NYCHA DEVELOPMENTS AND SECTION 8 VOUCHERS IN MOTT HAVEN
R7-2 R7-1 C6-2 M2-1 R6 Land Use M1-1 C4-4 M1-4/R8A One & Two Family Buildings C4-4 M1-1 R7-1 R6 BETANCES VI Multi-Family Walk-Up Buildings C4-4 M1-4/R6A Multi-Family Elevator Buildings BETANCES V BETANCES IV Mixed ResidentialR8 and Commercial Buildings Commercial and Office Buildings M1-4/R6A BETANCES VI Industrial and Manufacturing C6-2A M1-2 Transportation and Utility R7-2 PATTERSON Public Facilities and Institutions Open Space and Outdoor Recreation M1-4/R7A BETANCES V R7-1 ParkingR7-2 Facilities BETANCES VI
Vacant Land M1-4/R7X MOTT HAVEN BETANCES IV R7-2 R8X R7-2 Zoning District BETANCES III, 9A C8-3 M1-4 BETANCES II, 9A Choice Neighborhood Initiatives Boundary M1-2 MITCHEL BETANCES I R7-2 Betances North Boundary R6 M1-4/R7A NYCHA Development
R8 M1-3/R8 M1-2 NYCHA Section 8 Vouchers
C8-3 M1-3 M1-2 MITCHEL
R7-1 BETANCES III, 18 M1-2 BETANCES II, 18
C8-3 BETANCES II, 18 BETANCES II, 13
BETANCES III, 13 MILL BROOK C6-3 M1-2/R6A M2-2 M1-5/R8A M3-1 M3-1 µ MILL BROOK C4-4D C6-3 BX MILL BROOK EXTENSION R7-2 M3-1 M1-2 M1-2 MN C4-4 QS R8
C1-9 BK R9 R7B R7-2 M1-1 Data Sources: New York City Department of City Planning - MapPLUTO Release 13v2 SI QS C4-4D New York City HousingM2-1 Authority - Leased Housing Department Tenant Data File, February 12, 2014 R7A R8A PreparedSources: Esri, By: DeLorme,Department NAVTEQ, of Research TomTom, and Intermap, Management increment Analysis P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Date:Japan, March METI, Esri11, 2014China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, and the GIS User Community C8-2
Source: New York City Housing Authority data, 2014
30 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY According to the study, the majority of the housing supply in Mott Haven consists of renter-occupied, multi-family units in structures with more than 50 units. The housing supply is aging and in need of re- investment, the study reports. A majority of the non-NYCHA multi-family properties with 10 or more units in the Mott Haven catchment area have at least one open health or safety violation (Class B or C). However, due to the low market rents in the area, renovations are not typically feasible without some form of public subsidy.
Finally, the study estimates that there is a pent-up demand for an additional 1,881 units of low-income, or affordable, housing in the neighborhood given the developments to a state of good repair, with almost 50% of this amount related to average income of residents and recent architectural, electrical and mechanical needs. However, the buildings are structurally population growth. The full housing sound. Despite these repair needs, all of the buildings remain fully occupied. market study is attached as Appendix B at the end of this Draft Plan. Housing in Mott Haven “Fixing the elevators in the A housing market study for Make Mott Haven..., to inform and support the planning process, was completed by Novogradac and Company. The study sought to determine NYCHA buildings are needed. the unmet demand for additional housing units for each income level in Mott Haven. There are many people, It coupled this analysis with an analysis of the projected growth in each income level. elderly, children, people with Novogradac also analyzed the physical and financial health of the neighborhood’s chronic asthma and other housing to understand the nature and size of the need for preservation of affordable respiratory illness living in the and low-income housing. neighborhood.”
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 31 32 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY MOTT HAVEN TODAY: PEOPLE
Mott Haven has a population of 46,354 comparison, 13% of all NYCHA residents in AGE DISTRIBUTION and it is growing. In 2010, the U.S the Mott Haven area are 65 or older. Census Bureau reported a 7% growth since 2000. The neighborhood has the Income & Poverty Rates 65+ 0-17 highest concentration of Puerto Ricans For decades Mott Haven has been one of in all of New York City. There is also a the poorest communities in America. 45% of 25-64 18-24 significant African-American, Dominican, residents from Community Districts 1 and 2 and small, but growing, Central American live in poverty. Poverty among children is population. The diversity is also one of the highest in the city, 57.9% compared NEW YORK CITY reflected in the languages spoken in the to 28.6%. Research shows that poverty can neighborhood. About 65% of Mott Haven be a barrier to children’s ability to learn and residents speak a language other than mental health stability. A quarter of residents 12% 21% English. While residents are proud of the in these neighborhoods report less than diverse local culture, they have also noted $10,000 in income. The median income for 11% that language can be a barrier. According Community Districts 1 and 2 is $20,986. More 56% to the Census, almost 35% of the residents NYCHA residents live in poverty and have a of Community Districts 1 and 2 do not lower income than non-NYCHA residents in speak English very well. MOTT HAVEN
Mott Haven residents are younger 9% than New Yorkers overall, even while 13 percent of all 30% NYCHA developments have a higher NYCHA residents in concentration of elderly residents 48% 13% compared to their neighbors. 30% of Mott the Mott Haven area Haven residents are under 18 years of age, compared to just 21% citywide. Of non- are 65 or older. NYCHA residents, only 7% are over 65; by Source: US Census 2010, New York City Housing Authority, January 2013
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 33 RACE, ETHNICITY, AND IMMIGRATION STATUS
IMMIGRATION STATUS NYC BRONX MOTT HAVEN RACE/ETHNICITY NYC BRONX MOTT HAVEN
NATIVE 62% 65% 72% WHITE NON-HISPANIC 33% 11% 2%
Born in Puerto Rico, U.S. BLACK NON-HISPANIC 23% 30% 25% Island Areas or born 4% 8% 12% abroad to American HISPANIC 29% 54% 72% parent(s)
FOREIGN BORN 38% 35% 28% ASIAN NON-HISPANIC 13% 3% 1%
Naturalized U.S. citizen 20% 16% 8% ALL OTHERS 13% 2% 0%
Not a U.S. citizen 18% 19% 21% Source: US Census Fact Finder 2010
Source: US Census, American Community Survey 2012, 3 Year Estimate
LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME NYC BRONX MOTT HAVEN & HUNTS POINT (Age 3 and older)
English only 51% 43% 35%
Language other than English 49% 57% 65%
Speak English less than “very well” 23% 26% 35%
Spanish 25% 46% 61%
Speak English less than “very well” 12% 21% 33%
Other languages 24% 11% 4%
Speak English less than “very well” 12% 5% 2%
Source: US Census 2009-2001 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates
34 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY the neighborhood. According to NYCHA MOTT HAVEN INCOME DISTRIBUTION BY NYCHA NYC BRONX & HUNTS data, 55.3% live below the poverty line HOUSEHOLDS RESIDENTS POINT even while 52% of non-disabled residents age 18 to 61 are employed. Less than $10,000 10.8% 16.3% 24.9% 31.5% $10,000 to $14,999 6.3% 9.1% 13.5% 16.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 10.9% 14.6% 17.6% 22.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.6% 11.4% 12.8% 11.5%
$35,000 to $49,999 12.1% 13.4% 12.4% 9.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 16.0% 15.5% 11.2% 4.6%
$75,000 + 34.3% 19.6% 7.5% 1.6%
Source: US Census 2009-2001 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates; New York City Housing Authority data, 2013
MOTT NYCHA RESIDENTS OTHER INCOME NYC BRONX HAVEN & IN MOTT HAVEN HUNTS POINT
CASH PUBLIC 4.3% 7.6% 11.0% 14.0% ASSISTANCE INCOME
FOOD STAMP/SNAP BENEFITS IN THE PAST 19.1% 35.0% 54.7% 12 MONTHS
Source: US Census 2009-2001 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates; *This data is not collected by NYCHA
MOTT NYCHA RESIDENTS NYC BRONX HAVEN & IN MOTT HAVEN HUNTS POINT
RATE OF POVERTY 21% 31% 45% 55%
Source: US Census 2009-2001 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 35 Education Residents 25 years and older who MOTT HAVEN & completed high school or GED and those NYC BRONX Mott Haven has low educational HUNTS POINT who completed college attainment among adults and its schools face multiple challenges. Educational Percent high school graduate or higher 79.4% 69.2% 53.6% attainment is lower than New York City as a whole for adults 25 years and older (see Percent bachelor’s degree or higher 33.7% 17.9% 7.9%
figure). It is encouraging that the number Source: US Census 2009-2001 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates; of adults with at least a high school New York City Housing Authority data, 2013 diploma or GED grew by 22% in the last decade; however, 46% of residents still CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, COMPARED NYC BRONX DISTRICT 7 lack a high school diploma or GED (versus LITERACY AND NUMERACY TO CITY 20% citywide). Enrollment of 3- and 4-year olds in 50th out of 59 58.9% 51.6% 49.5% Early Childhood Education (2011) CDs The challenges with education start early. The third-grade reading level proficiency 3rd grade students passing 49% 34.9% 27.6% 32nd out of 32 in School District 7 is the lowest of reading proficiency tests (2012) all neighborhoods in New York City; 3rd through 8th grade students passing math proficiency tests 60% 46.6% 38.5% 31ist out of 32 with only 27.6% of students achieving (2012)
proficiency, compared to 49.0% in the City Source: Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Keeping Track database overall. In addition, the math proficiency rate is the second lowest in New York their children’s education. In School absent, only a handful of Mott Haven City; only 38.5% of third to eighth graders District 7, about 73% of parents are single schools are at or below that average. passed math proficiency tests in 2012. compared to 28.6% citywide. According to the Make Mott Haven... Throughout the planning process, the Betances Household Survey, many lack of parent engagement in children’s The NYC Department of Education tracks Betances elementary school students go education was identified as one of the chronic absenteeism as a strong indicator to PS 65, where 45.7% of the kids in 2012- barriers for kids to be successful in school. that students are not on the path to 2013 were chronically absent. Similarly, parents expressed that single succeed at school. Students who miss parenting and conflicting schedules with 10% of school or more are considered Mott Haven students benefit from having school meetings were barriers that would chronically absent. While the citywide a variety of educational institutions and prevent them from staying engaged in average is 20% of students are chronically services in or near the neighborhood,
36 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN MOTT HAVEN, DISTRICT 7, BRONX ABSENTEE- ELEMENTARY ISM 1- PS 18 John Peter Zenger 38% 2- PS 43 Jonas Bronck 35% 1 3- PS 154 Jonathan D Hyatt 35% 4- PS 30 Wilton 36% 20 5- PS 65 Mother Hale Academy 46%
18 19 6- PS 49 Willis Avenue 31% 9 11 7- Young Leaders Elementary 21 24% 22 School 15 10 8- PS 179 28% 9- PS 277 26% 10- PS 25 Bilingual School 25% 11- PS 5 Port Morris 35% 6 17 16 12- Mott Haven Academy Charter 8 24% 7 4 School 13- South Bronx Charter School- 26% Inter Cultures And Arts 3 14- Academic Leadership Charter 25% 13 5 14 School 15- Bronx Charter School For 6% 2 12 Children
ABSENTEE- MIDDLE ISM 16- Academy Of Applied 32% Mathematics And Technology 17- MS 224 (Aka PS/IS 224) 43% Source: NYC Department of Ed, Progress report 2012-2013 18- South Bronx Preparatory 30% 19- MS 223 Laboratory School Of 19% Finance And Technology Chronic Adsenteeim: Students with less than 90% attendance. City average is 20.02% 20- Jhs 162 Lola Rodriguez De Tio 46% D75 (PS 168 | Absenteeism, N/A) 21- The Urban Assembly Bronx 24% CITY AVERAGE 20% Academy Of Letters 22- MS 203 39% Charter School 0-20%
21-31%
32-50%
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 37 including public, charter, and private schools, and Hostos that some programs are usually at capacity or with an endless Community College. In addition, multiple organizations provide waitlist which prevents them from participating in programs. afterschool programs, GED testing and preparation, English as The demand for resources is much higher than the programming a Second Language (ESL) instruction, and supportive services currently supplied in the neighborhood. for students. These organizations include BronxWorks, FEGS, East Side Settlement Houses, and SoBRO. There are also Employment faith-based organizations like Graffiti Ministry and St. Anns According to the 2010 Census, 49.6% of Mott Haven and Hunts Church that provide afterschool and summer school activities Point residents are in the labor market (residents age 16 or older for youth. Specialized services come through small grassroots who are working or looking for work), which is lower than the organizations like the Mexican American Students Alliance that percentage for the City or the Borough. Young adults age 18-24 assist the small, but growing, number of Mexican immigrant are especially struggling – in 2011, 42% were both out of work families. and out of school, as compared to 22% citywide, according to Barriers to Entry, a report by JobsFirst NYC, Fiscal Policy Institute Although Mott Haven has extensive educational services, there and the Community Service Society. is a tremendous need for expansion and to better connect families to resources in the neighborhood. During the Choice Not only is the rate of employment low, but wages for those Neighborhood Asset Mapping workshops, residents pointed out who do work are also low. Community members, including
EMPLOYMENT OF NYCHA RESIDENTS EMPLOYMENT STATUS Mott Haven & OF RESIDENTS 16 YEARS NYC BRONX IN THE MOTT HAVEN AREA Hunts Point AND OLDER
Employed 56.2% 50.4% 40.2% WORKING RESIDENTS PERCENT OF NON-DISABLED 18 YEARS AND OLDER RESIDENTS AGE 18 TO 61 WHO WORK Unemployed (not working but looking for 6.9% 9.0% 9.4% a job)
24% 52% Not in labor force 36.9% 40.6% 50.4%
2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates NYCHA 2013 resident data
38 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY both residents and service providers, note that low wages mean YOUTH EMPLOYMENT high poverty and that some jobseekers stop looking for work. In 18- to 24-year-olds out of school and out of work 2011 Community Districts 1 and 2, the top industries that residents are • In Mott Haven and Hunts Point – that number is 42.4 % employed in are education, health and social services; retail; and • It has the highest rate out of 55 New York neighborhoods entertainment, food and accommodation. For NYCHA residents • On average, 21.6% of New York City youth are both out in Mott Haven, the top three industries of occupation are the of school and out of work same, but with a larger plurality working in education, health care and social services.
JobsFirstNYC, Fiscal Policy Institute and Community Service Society report Barriers to Entry Jobseekers in Mott Haven receive job preparation and placement assistance from multiple providers in the vicinity. NYCHA residents benefit from two JobsPlus programs in the neighborhood that also provide financial counseling, job % OF EMPLOYED retention and mentorship services. Hostos Community College INDUSTRY OF OCCUPATION MOTT HAVEN & NYCHA RESIDENTS FOR MH & HP RESIDENTS HUNTS POINT IN MOTT HAVEN provides multiple training programs outside of its degree track RESIDENTS for free or at reduced costs. Two Workforce1 Career Centers are
Educational, health care and near Mott Haven, including one in Hostos and a second one in 29.4% 40.7% social services the nearby neighborhood of Hunts Point.
Retail trade 14.9% 12.0% Health
Arts, entertainment, food and Mott Haven residents experience higher rates of asthma, 13.7% 9.8% accommodation diabetes and other chronic conditions than the City as a whole.
Professional, scientific, and 9.0% 0.4% administrative services Diabetes: Approximately one person dies of diabetes-related causes every 90 minutes in New York City and Mott Haven suffers Other services, except public 7.2% 5.3% admin disproportionately. The City’s diabetes rate is 10%, the Bronx is 13%, and Mott Haven/Hunts Point is 17%. Two risk factors for Public Administration 2.3% 8.5% diabetes are being overweight or obese and physical inactivity; obesity in Mott Haven and Hunts Point residents is higher as
2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates well. Not only is the rate of diabetes very high, but data suggest that there are a lot of people at-risk for diabetes and/or other
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 39 chronic diseases like hypertension. MOTT HAVEN & DIABETES AND RELATED DATA NYC BRONX HUNTS POINT Surveys indicate that residents consume relatively fewer servings of fruits and DIABETES PERCENTAGE 2010-2011 10% 13% 17% vegetables, and at Make Mott Haven... OBESE OR OVERWEIGHT 56% 65% 71.4% community meetings, residents have commented that the quality of the fruits HOW MANY FRUITS OR VEGETABLES DID YOU EAT YESTERDAY? and vegetables in the local supermarkets
is poor. Residents report traveling long None 12.3% 17.4% 23.3% distances to purchase fresh produce. 1 to 4 servings 77.3% 75.6% 73.0% Asthma: The Bronx has one of the highest rates of asthma in the United States. It’s 5 or more servings 10% 7% 4% especially concerning that Mott Haven and Hunts Point residents struggle to NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Community Health Survey 2010-2011 manage this condition and face conditions that trigger attacks, frequently ending up in the hospital. Hospitalization rates and HOSPITALIZATION FOR ASTHMA BY AGE, MOTT HAVEN & emergency room visits are especially NYC BRONX RATE PER 1,000 HUNTS POINT high among children. The NYS Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative 0-14 YEARS OLD 5.15 9.26 12.65 System found that in 2011 for every 1,000 children age 0 to 14 in Mott Haven and 15-34 YEARS OLD 0.99 2.16 3.68 Hunts Point, 12.65 were hospitalized for 35 years and older 3.50 6.62 8.94 asthma.
Health insurance: About a quarter of New York State Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS), 2000-2011 (updated March 2013) South Bronx residents have private insurance, and 22%, mostly immigrants, have no insurance, while the remainder are covered through public programs.
40 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC) IN MOTT HAVEN
Health Centers in the Neighborhood
1 Bronx Care at Third Ave
2 Casa Rita (Women in Need)
Help/ PSI Harm Reduction Health 3 Center at Citywide
4 Jackson Avenue Family Residence
5 Lincoln Hospital
6 Morris Heights Health Center
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Diagnostic & 7 Treatment Center
LEGEND
FQHC
Hospital
Source: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA Data Warehouse, 2014 FQHC application in progress
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) include all organizations receiving grants under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS). FQHCs qualify for enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other benefits. Definitation source: HRSA, Research and Statistics
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 41 Mott Haven is designated a medically underserved area. There of Cornell University. Lincoln’s Level One Trauma Center is the are long waits in the Lincoln Medical Center emergency room busiest in the northeast and the third busiest in the country. yet there is unused capacity at some of the community health In addition to traditional hospital services including in-patient centers, according to discussions with partner organizations as care and emergency room facilities, Lincoln has mental health well as Lincoln Hospital and Segundo Ruiz Belvis, an affiliated services, asthma care, teen and pediatric health centers, HIV/ health clinic. In the Choice Neighborhood health asset mapping, AIDs treatment and other resources. Its affiliated primary health residents considered proximity to health centers, crowding, poor clinic, Segundo Ruiz Belvis, is adjacent to the Betances Houses quality of care, and lack of service awareness as the barriers to and has applied for status as a Federally Qualified Health Clinic. health access in Mott Haven. There are some existing healthy living resources in the Lincoln Medical Center, a New York City Health and Hospitals neighborhood. Shape Up NYC and WalkNYC, free fitness Corporation facility providing services to the community for 175 programs offered by the Parks Department, are offered at years, is located on the edge of Mott Haven. A teaching hospital, Lincoln Hospital, Betances Community Center and St. Mary’s Lincoln has an academic affiliation with Weill Medical College Recreation Center. There are also some healthy food resources
42 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY available locally. Friends of Brook Park were somewhat or very happy with did report on health insurance (N=145), grow produce in Brook Park that is sold the quality of the schools their children 17% reported private health insurance, to the community and payments can attended. The most cited challenge for 29% reported Medicaid, 10% reported be made using SNAP benefits. Lincoln parents in terms of school engagement Medicare, and 9% reported Family Health Medical Center runs a Farmers’ Market is timing or scheduling (42%); 19% report Plus. However, because of the high on its grounds. This is a short walk from language translation as a challenge. percentage of missing data, it is not clear the northern end of the Choice catchment if the difference is due to missing data or area. Health REACH works with area In terms of employment, of the 372 adults not having health insurance coverage. schools to provide nutrition education. included in the survey sample, 27% City Harvest runs a mobile food market reported full-time employment, 13% part Public safety was a significant concern on some days near St. Mary’s Park, -time, 16% retired and 10% disabled. A among respondents. Only 6% of and provides fresh fruit to the Betances quarter of adults were reported as looking respondents reported that they found Community Center. for a job, regardless of employment their neighborhood to be very safe; 19% status. When asked what kinds of reported it to be somewhat safe. Almost Betances Residents Survey education or employment services were 60% of households reported that their As part of the planning process for the most needed in the neighborhood, 38% neighborhood was somewhat unsafe Make Mott Haven... Initiative, residents cited GED preparation, 41% computer or very unsafe. The central component of NYCHA’s Betances Houses were training, 39% job readiness, 36% English of the Mott Haven Housing Plan is the interviewed to identify issues and as a Second Language (ESL), 23% 4-year transformation of Betances Houses in opportunities in the areas of education, college/university. the four blocks north of 145th Street. For economic development, health and purposes of planning, the four square housing. Key survey findings are A plurality of households – 43% – use a blocks are referred to as “Betances outlined below. To learn about survey private doctor as their primary source of North.” One part of the survey was methodology, a full report of the Betances medical care, 28% reported a health clinic analyzed separately for Betances North Community Survey is attached as an as their primary medical care, and 12% households to inform the planning Appendix at the end of the Plan. said the emergency room is their primary process. Among residents of Betances source for medical care. North (N=88), 44% reported problems On education, 78 households out of with plumbing or leaky faucets in their the 218 interviewed have children Information on health insurance apartments; 39% reported lack of heat/ younger than 18 years old. 64% of those coverage was not collected for 73 of hot water; 30% reported drafty windows, households with children said that they the 218 households. Among those that 30% reported leaks from the roof, 27% reported poor condition of appliances, and 24% reported mold.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 43 44 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY MOTT HAVEN TODAY: NEIGHBORHOOD
Mott Haven is primarily a residential neighborhood. Other public housing is a Mott Haven is served by the New York neighborhood, with three commercial mix of towers and rehabilitated tenement Police Department’s 40th Precinct, corridors: 149th Street, Third Avenue, and and walk-up buildings. The public which shares the same boundaries 138th Street. Industrial uses surround the housing is mixed with privately-owned as Community District 1. Mott Haven border. A walk through the neighborhood rental housing and single-family homes, residents continue to see more crime than starts at 149th Street, the “HUB”. some of which were built by the New York other New Yorkers. According to the New City Housing Partnership. York City Police Department, the violent There is a subway station at the Public Safety felony rate in the 40th precinct from 2008 intersection of 149th Street and Third Avenue served by three subway lines: the 2, 5 and 6. They provide ready access to Manhattan, one to three stops away. There is a new boutique hotel, the Opera House Hotel, in a renovated building on 149th Street. Nearby is St. Mary’s Park. Along St. Ann’s Avenue is the historic St. Ann’s Church, one of the oldest buildings in the neighborhood.
The neighborhood includes three small historic districts with fine, old brick buildings. Sprinkled throughout the neighborhood are pocket parks, playgrounds, and community gardens. Traditional public housing developments (towers in the park) dominate much of the southern and western sections of the Hot Spots Map of Gun Violence in Mott Haven Credit: NYCHA & Center for Court Innovation
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 45 to 2010 was more than double the rest of the City (9.9 per 1,000 people in 2008- 2010, compared to 4.6 per 1,000 citywide). The City overall experienced a reduction of major crimes and Mott Haven was no different. However, crime declined at a lower rate in the 40th Precinct than in the City or in the Bronx. In the 40th Precinct, crime dropped 23% from 2001 to 2012; in the Bronx, it declined by 25%; and in New York, it fell 31%.
Further, the fear of crime is compelling – 59% of the Make Mott Haven... Betances Household Survey respondents report feeling somewhat or very unsafe. Participants in visioning sessions and Make Mott Haven... committee members noted that territoriality among residents in the neighborhood combine to undermine trust and impair relationships. Finally, community members consistently cite poor lighting and vacant lots in disrepair as especially attractive for criminal Source: Complimentary of the New Yorkers for Parks, 2014 activity. people–4.5 times the per capita shooting concentrated around public housing The gun violence and high rate of shootings rate citywide. Hot spots of violent activity developments. are areas of equal concern in Mott Haven. are both numerous and concentrated, In 2012 four of the city’s 80 fatal shooting often in or around public housing. The Parks and Open Spaces incidents occurred in the South Bronx, map on previous page illustrates the high According to the New Yorkers for Parks a community of approximately 91,000 rate of gun violence in the neighborhood, study for Make Mott Haven..., the
46 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY neighborhood contains a variety of open space resources: large park, playgrounds, pocket parks, green spaces and community gardens. Some of these open spaces are within the public housing developments; the majority are within the wider Mott Haven neighborhood.
The jewel of Mott Haven parkland is St. Mary’s Park, which – at 35 acres – is the largest park by far in the South Bronx. It contains barbecue areas, baseball fields, basketball and handball courts, soccer fields, running tracks, playgrounds, spray showers and even Wi-Fi hot spots. It also has an indoor recreation center that includes a pool, basketball courts and recreational programming. The City Parks Foundation hosts very popular summer concerts in St. Mary’s Park through Summer Stage. Unfortunately, there St. Marys Park is much work to be done to upgrade and refurbish St. Mary’s Source: Complimentary of the New Yorkers for Parks, 2014 Park. It has aging playground equipment, crumbling walkways and bleachers, inadequate lighting, and pervasive litter.
A group of students from the Academy for Language and Technology (ALT) with the Yplan program conducted a study that reaffirmed the need for St. Mary’s Park upgrades, particularly the center’s gym. According to their Yplan report – Health and Access to Recreation Centers in Mott Haven – St. Mary’s Recreation Center is a place that residents like to visit; however, students found that the services offered were not matching the services people wanted to see at their local gym. Students recommended that more services and a variety of classes, such as an outdoor walking group, be added to the list of gym activities. The students also found that people were worried about safety around the St. Mary’s Recreation Center. Through background research, students found that there were a Crime per location around St. Mary’s Park Source: Yplan report, Center for Court Innovation
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 47 high number of crimes around the Saint are small spaces that in aggregate Mary’s Park, which also emerged through Mary’s Recreation Center in 2013. A map account for just 2.48 acres of land. Yet the Transformation Plan development, is of the location of these crimes can be these gardens are well used in some helping in the creation of the community seen above. creative ways. Some host community garden and connecting the group to health fairs, cooking demonstrations, additional resources. Recreational facilities are often located youth gardening and afterschool tutoring. in small pocket and neighborhood parks. Brook Park, home to one of these In terms of NYCHA open space usage, There are 1.1 acres of open space per 1,000 community gardens, has an expansive the New Yorkers for Parks study residents, which fails to meet the New vegetable garden and the yield is sold to highlighted some commonalities across Yorkers for Parks’ standard of 2.5 acres. the community – promoting good health all developments. Their findings state Also, as residents have noted in numerous in addition to the active use of park space. that playing was never the most common community meetings, with much open The Friends of Brook Park work with activity in play areas, but rather standing space paved over, the neighborhood hundreds of young people in afterschool and sitting (hanging out) were the most lacks green space. The New Yorkers for and summer programs on gardening and frequently observed. They also observed Parks study found that 60% of the land is healthy eating. a preponderance of male visitors, with permeable – an approximation for lawns, them outnumbering women at least trees, or natural areas – whereas the In addition to the current community 60:40 in each development. Women, standard is 70%. garden, the “Betances 15”, a group argued urban theorist William H. Whyte, formed out of the Make Mott Haven... are more likely to leave a place when The neighborhood exceeds or approaches planning process, is starting a community uncomfortable and are quicker to open space standards for active open garden at Betances Houses. According perceive public disorder, making the equal space features—such as parks that to the New Yorkers for Parks index, with presence of women a barometer of the contain play equipment, basketball the exception of a single play area in the perceived safety and welcoming nature courts, adult fitness centers, baseball Mill Brook Houses, Betances is the only of a public space. This is notable given fields and grassy areas to play. Kids run neighborhood development in which they the proliferation of play spaces across through the sprinklers in People’s Park on observed locked open spaces. It is one of all developments, and raises a number hot summer days, and caretakers flock to the early wins of the planning process to of questions: Do residents avoid play Clark Playground with their children after add beauty, appreciation and ownership because nearby City parks offer a larger school hours. for green spaces in the area through variety of activities and amenities? Does the Betances 15 initiative. Similarly, the current play equipment lack engaging Mott Haven’s many community gardens newly organized group, Friends of St. design? Do residents feel unsafe using
48 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY MAKE MOTT HAVEN LEMONADE STAND’S common open spaces? of safety encouraged by the fact that they EXHIBIT OF POTENTIAL HISTORIC SITES knew their neighbors and someone was PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: CASITA MARIA To answer New Yorker for Parks’ question always watching out. Today, they said, on safety, the greatest barrier to resident they would never allow their children to use of Mott Haven parks and open spaces play outside unsupervised as they once is fear about safety. Residents said did, due to the real and perceived dangers repeatedly in many Make Mott Haven... of neighborhood violence, and to the meetings that safety concerns reduce fact that the social network they once their use of these spaces. Yet, increased had no longer exists. Within NYCHA in use of parks and open spaces tend to particular, residents noted that a lack of make them safer. Residents suggest maintenance of the buildings and public that improved lighting, security cameras spaces exacerbates public safety issues and increased policing would decrease and also leaves many public spaces, the number of crimes and increase the which would otherwise encourage social sense of security necessary for people to and cultural interaction, underutilized. use the open spaces more often and for Residents suggested that more culturally longer amounts of time. oriented programming, which would bring community members together, Culture such as events focused on instilling Throughout Make Mott Haven... neighborhood pride, would help address workshops, residents identified the this issue. diversity of the Mott Haven community, as well as its active arts and cultural In response to this repeatedly producers, among its greatest assets. expressed desire for culturally oriented However, residents also said that public programming, Make Mott Haven... safety issues have contributed to a lack partnered with Casita Maria, an arts and of cultural and social cohesion in the culture community based organization in neighborhood. Adults that grew up in the Bronx to bring a series of multi-genre Mott Haven who now have children of culture events to Mott Haven. These their own remembered a time when they events are taking place in September and would play outside together, with a sense October 2014 to culminate the planning
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 49 BUSINESS TYPES IN MOTT HAVEN*
TRANSPORTATION & OTHER SECTORS WAREHOUSING
MANUFACTURING 8% 3% PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, & TECHNICAL SERVICES 4% RETAIL TRADE 5% 25%
WHOLESALE TRADE 5%
6% CONSTRUCTION 12% HEALTH CARE & SOCIAL ASSISTANCE 10%
ACCOMMODATION & 12% FOOD SERVICES 11%
OTHER REAL ESTATE AND RENTAL SERVICES LEASING
*Includes all businesses in zip codes 10451, 10454 & 10455 Source: US Census: http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/
50 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY process in Mott Haven. Additional details on sustainability and resident engagement in the culture activities can be found in the Community Engagement section. SIZE OF BUSINESSES IN MOTT HAVEN* Economic Development The neighborhood is surrounded by considerable business activity. The 149th Street and Third Avenue Business Improvement District to 100 OR MORE the north attracts shoppers from around the Bronx; the 138th Street 50 TO 99 commercial corridor is home to more local and small businesses; and immediately outside the catchment area are manufacturing and 20 TO 49 3% 3% industrial areas.
9% Mott Haven, a neighborhood with almost 53,000 residents and a strong transportation network to attract New Yorkers from other boroughs, has 11% so much potential to increase the local economic activity. Despite the 10 TO 19 workforce and poverty struggles, the neighborhood has a tremendous 59% gap of retail stores. According to a City Planning market study, performed for Make Mott Haven..., within ½ mile of the catchment area 16% LESS THAN 5 EMPLOYEES center, retail sales (including drinking and eating places) are estimated 5 TO 9 as $301 million in 2014. On the other hand, consumer expenditures for the same year are almost $399 million, excluding $98 million expent outside of Mott Haven’s economy.
The commercial corridors, while containing a number of stores and restaurants, also suffer from many empty storefronts. Despite being one of the major Bronx shopping districts, 149th Street lacks a cohesive *Includes all businesses in zip codes 10451, 10454 & 10455 look, basic storefront maintenance, and a variety of shopping choices. Source: US Census: http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/ The Third Avenue Business Improvement District is working to develop signage guidelines to improve the commercial environment.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MOTT HAVEN TODAY 51 52 MOTT HAVEN TODAY 4 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
53 54 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Mott Haven, a neighborhood with many assets, solid best practices: cultural pride, diversity and home to a large community A. Establishing Goals and Strategies. of Hispanic and African Americans, is one of the most B. Drafting a Mott Haven Vision. challenged neighborhoods in New York City. C. Building Residents’ Capacity. D. Sharing Best Practices & Lessons Learned. Lack of resources and of social capital and actions, and a new vision for Mott Haven. civic engagement were among the main Of course, this required a meaningful barriers identified early in the Make Mott community engagement strategy to A. ESTABLISHING GOALS AND Haven... planning process. In order to identify, educate, activate, and mobilize STRATEGIES engage residents in a meaningful way it Mott Haven stakeholders. was important to overcome these barriers As mentioned earlier, to create a two- to establish trust, build relationships, Today, the Make Mott Haven... team can way relationship with stakeholders, Make develop resident capacity, as well as create state proudly that every stakeholder Mott Haven... began a neighborhood open lines of communication to develop a played an important role in the planning mobilization and awareness campaign in well-grounded plan for transforming life process; NYCHA and other neighborhood the early months of 2013. Our vision was in the neighborhood and beyond. residents, local leaders, community to actively engage community members based organizations, city agencies, and in the initiative and see which aspects The Make Mott Haven... planning process elected officials. The planning process of the Transformation Plan they would evolved to develop its own brand of engaged a remarkable number of these choose to make their own. In order to resident engagement to fit its unique stakeholders. Over 6,000 individuals, accomplish viable results we developed environment and circumstances. This was through 78 visioning and planning events, series of goals and strategies, including: challenging and difficult work, particularly helped draft a Transformation Plan that is drawing Mott Haven stakeholders in to comprehensive, meaningful, viable and 1) Help re-establish the Betances build a two-way connection model to sustainable. To develop the plan, Make Residents’ Association. collectively define new thinking, new Mott Haven... implemented the following 2) Empower residents and stakeholders
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 55 to take ownership of community issues the foundation for community planning, to inform the Make Mott Haven... while simultaneously strengthening planning process. the social fabric and fostering a more 3) Open channels of communication to supportive environment within the provide updates and gather feedback community. from stakeholders as the work of the Plan progressed. B. DRAFTING MOTT HAVEN’S VISION 4) Build partnerships with community Our approaches to empowering members while enhancing their Mott Haven stakeholders, evaluating capacity to lead initiatives to neighborhood conditions and long term obtain sustainable neighborhood opportunities took several forms from improvements. keeping the community informed, to consulting them about particular issues, Through these goals, the Make Mott to placing final decisions in their hands. Haven... team developed a unique For instance, (1) community-led working approach to facilitate community groups, committees and community partnership in Mott Haven. One challenge projects gave people the opportunity to building community engagement was to be active and deeply engage in the discovered early in the process when decision-making process; (2) feedback and the team learned about the barriers and discussion sessions were for consulting concerns that overwhelm residents with them - a mid-level engagement; (3) day-to-day. More fundamentally, the newsletters and neighborhoods activities residents from the target development, kept the community informed, a low- Betances Houses, were not organized. touch but widespread involvement. The Tenant Association had been defunct for about two years, which required Opportunities for deep involvement another layer of community organizing involved ongoing, regular meetings with before real engagement could begin. Our committees, stakeholders, partners, and commitment to invest time in community Make Mott Haven... leadership. It also organizing activities was essential to build included the participation of residents
56 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT who wanted to engage more deeply in • Develop opportunities for residents to activities, and safety. The full visioning the various aspects of the plan, which is interact especially across generations report is included as Appendix E. detailed in Section C. Building residents’ and cultures capacity for a sustainable Mott Haven • Enhance knowledge of and access to Committees below. services and businesses We convened four committees comprised of residents, organizations and city • Improve sanitation Visioning sessions government staff to meet regularly to At visioning sessions, people who live • Create a safer environment identify Mott Haven’s priority needs and/or work in Mott Haven provided and design solutions. The committees insight into the neighborhood’s most Additionally, NYCHA, LISC, and several developed a series of interventions in pressing challenges and offered guidance partners hosted mini-visioning sessions the areas of: health and environment; on effective strategies to address to discuss specific topics, such as healthy public safety; workforce, education and them. Three large visioning sessions food, Betances open spaces and housing, economic development; and housing. over the summer of 2013 drew 50 to 60 workforce development, art and culture, The committees focused on developing participants each and focused on: health safety and youth development. The outcomes and identifying the partners and environment; public safety and Make Mott Haven... team also made five and resources needed to implement housing; and workforce development presentations targeted to young people and sustain the Plan. Through the and education. The discussions at the in order to bring their voices into the committees, we were able to draw upon visioning sessions provided us with Plan. Over 100 talented young people community’ expertise and to facilitate a nuanced understanding of what is shared their interests and needs around the relationships that will be crucial to happening in the neighborhood and of healthy food access, open spaces, sports implementing the Plan and sustaining the challenges residents face. Common themes that emerged included the need to: • Build pride in the neighborhood “All elementary and high school • Support job training and encourage students should have regular access employers to hire locally • Improve programs for young people, to the latest technology! Never stop seniors, and residents with limited LEARNING” English-language proficiency
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 57 Mott Haven’s transformation. The Make Stakeholders Roundtables she would sit in the lobby for 2.5 hours to Mott Haven... team, in conjunction with Many city agencies, community listen to residents, with no framework in its committee partners, prepared data, organizations, NYCHA and other mind. This 8 session pilot started in June assembled visioning feedback, and neighborhood residents, and resident of 2014. By the 2nd week, there was a line researched best practices to guide the leaders who are part of the Make Mott out of the door of the community center. development of recommendations. Haven... planning process regrouped This solidified the idea that residents in July 2014 to finalize the roadmap to are invested in their community and are Stakeholders and Partners implementation. Different roundtables looking for other avenues of assistance. The Make Mott Haven... team met with were hosted to discuss the progress of more than 100 city agencies, community the Plan on developing health, housing, NYCHA and LISC Leadership organizations, civic groups and elected safety, culture, workforce and education NYCHA and LISC leadership guided officials. The unique opportunity of strategies. Each group identified gaps decision-making, managed partnerships, Make Mott Haven... is to bring a wide in the Plan that had to be addressed ensured that residents were represented range of groups and systems together to implement the community’s vision. throughout the planning process, and to coordinate improvements and Securing leverage and additional data and secured resources for the Transformation investments in the neighborhood. Over fine tuning interventions and outcomes, Plan. The leadership also reinforced the course of the planning process we were some of the work items as next steps. the commitment to develop a plan that met regularly with local elected officials LISC and NYCHA leadership followed-up is effective, innovative, and evidence- to provide updates, incorporate state and on each of the items and integrated the driven. city priorities, and seek opportunities changes into the Transformation Plan. for collaboration. Additionally, we convened a large and diverse group of Office Hours local partners. We reached out to small Although we had events weekly, there grassroots groups such as Friends of were always members of the community Brook Park, a group of residents that runs that wanted to continue the dialogue. a small community farm, to large social To encourage residents input and service agencies like the United Way, and opportunity to voice their concerns, to city and state government agencies. project lead and NYCHA director of See Appendix A for a list of Partners and Budget & Financial Planning Tanya Organizations. Dempsey, started weekly office hours at the Betances Community Center, where
58 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Mid-level involvement opportunities Mott Haven... Transformation Plan. LISC staff and learn about Make Mott included discussion sessions and taking Haven... progress. surveys. The Betances Needs Assessment Low-touch activities, including Survey was one of the tools identified for neighborhood events, webpage updates Though our engagement, residents also mid-level engagement. and e-blasts, and coffee hour and requested events that would benefit lemonade stands were the tools used to the community. In response, Make Betances Needs Assessment Survey keep everyone in the community up to Mott Haven hosted a job fair and youth Residents of NYCHA’s Betances Houses date about the planning process. roundtable. were surveyed in the Fall of 2012 to identify key areas and issues in the community that Neighborhood events Website and monthly newsletter were important to residents. The survey The Make Mott Haven... team hosted a On a monthly basis, those individuals focused on neighborhood conditions and series of community events in order to who were engaged in the planning resources in five areas: (1) education, (2) solicit general feedback from the Mott process received updates on the plan economic opportunity, (3) public safety, Haven community, as well as provide progress and upcoming community (4) health and health care access, and an update on the Transformation Plan’s events through our monthly newsletter. In (5) housing. The survey was designed to progress. Outreach included hosting addition, if there was any data collection supplement neighborhood data collected coffee hours and lemonade stands at or feedback needed the newsletter was a and reported by partner agencies and NYCHA developments, hosting tables good avenue to ask for information from organizations and public databases. at community events, attending NYCHA residents, local community organizations Drafts of the survey instrument were Family Day summer picnics and making and partners. The Make Mott Haven… shared with all Make Mott Haven... presentations to youth groups. Coffee website was hosted at: www.lisc.org/ committee members and their feedback hours or lemonade stands were one of nyc/programs/choice_neighborhood_ was incorporated. NYCHA finalized the Make Mott Haven’s key events for its mott_haven, and via social media at survey questions with LISC. In a two success in engaging NYCHA residents. www.facebook.com/makemotthaven and months timeframe, seven surveyors Through these events, NYCHA and other twitter handle, #makemotthaven. interviewed Betances Residents through neighborhood residents participated a door-to-door campaign. Most surveyors in, and learned about, opportunities for C. BUILDING RESIDENTS’ CAPACITY were hired locally and 57 percent of those neighborhood transformation, and how FOR A SUSTAINABLE MOTT HAVEN were NYCHA residents. Taken together, to be a part of shaping the future of Mott the survey results and the publicly Haven. At all of these events, residents One of Make Mott Haven’s goals for available data helped to inform the Make had the opportunity to meet NYCHA and community engagement is to provide
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 59 FAMILY DAY 2014 AT BETANCES HOUSES
60 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT capacity building support to Mott Haven Multiple activities brought Betances Betances RA capacity building residents. We envisioned empowering residents together to connect to each other The Make Mott Haven... team has residents not only to identify local and reconsider the value of organizing been providing technical assistance needs and opportunities, but also to themselves and playing a leadership role to the Betances Board as they engage be part of the solution and actually in the community. The events included a in the planning process. In early expand their knowledge about how to Betances Family Day picnic in the summer 2014, LISC provided support to the make an impact in Mott Haven. During and meet-and-greet coffee hours held in Board to facilitate its participation in the planning process many community the Betances Houses lobbies. The change Participatory Budgeting. This initiative, projects emerged with the potential to was dramatic. In May, four residents sponsored by City Council Speaker be sustainable and resident-led over attended the Association’s nomination Melissa Mark-Viverito in conjunction time. These include: (1) Re-establishing meeting. Through consistent outreach with local community groups, enabled the Betances Residents’ Association; and partnership with active residents, by area residents to vote on how more (2) Developing Betances Residents’ September 2013, 50 Betances residents than $1 million in City Council member Association capacity; (3) Creating a attended the nominations meeting. funds are allocated to the community. “Friends of St. Mary’s Park” group; (4) The Betances Residents’ Association Learning through Asset Mapping; (5) The Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, submitted two capital projects for the Forming a Betances Community Garden understanding the importance of resident- community vote. Although, none of the and (6) Promoting art and cultural driven change and the opportunity Make projects submitted within the Make Mott activities in the neighborhood. As part of Mott Haven... represents, attended the Haven... catchment area or the Bronx the implementation, NYCHA is planning nomination meeting in September. He received funding, residents’ increased to develop a youth council. inspired residents to step up as leaders capacity and learning experiences from and help transform the Mott Haven this process have prepared them to be Betances Residents’ Association community. In October, six enthusiastic more successful in the next round. As establishment and committed residents were elected to the Betances Residents’ Association’s Building Betances resident leadership the board. president stated, “I am much better and making resident voices central to Reconstituting the Residents’ Association prepared to be successful next year.” This Make Mott Haven... was fundamental is an immediate accomplishment of the statement and participation illustrates to the Plan. After two years of not planning process. Gaining the trust of how the planning process is creating functioning, the Make Mott Haven... team residents and encouraging them to talk stewardship and skills when it comes to was able to encourage Betances leaders to and learn from one another has been a advocating for community interests. to reestablish the Residents’ Association. major milestone.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 61 Additionally, the Betances Residents’ leadership role in the ongoing Make Mott the creation of a “Friends of St. Mary’s Association is currently receiving a Haven... planning and implementation Park” organization, an active participant number of trainings to support their process. in Make Mott Haven..., as well as a local work in the community moving forward. homeowner, formed the group. The Through these trainings and the Resident Advisory Group organization’s vision is to promote park continuing commitment of the Betances To create sustainable engagement, stewardship and community involvement Residents’ Association Board, the community leaders were identified based in the largest park located in the South Board has deepened its understanding on current or potential advocacy roles. Bronx. Friends of St. Mary’s Park is already of its purpose as an organization for Members include: tenant association contributing to Mott Haven’s wellbeing as community development planning and presidents and board members, a youth they have organized clean ups and child implementation, and each board member council president, community garden and youth activities at St. Mary’s Park and has a clear sense of their role on the board leaders, local business owners, along are also assisting with the formation of and the functions of all board positions. with politically active residents, on the “Betances 15”, which is a community community board 1, for example. These garden, with a group of residents from The Board continues to build comradery resident leaders came together not only Betances. The Make Mott Haven... team and trust with each other and with to help achieve our plan but also to build a will continue to support this organization the Betances Residents’ Association community driven coalition able to labor in its advocacy efforts and bring partner general body. The Board continues their together to accomplish mutual goals. The organizations and agencies to support Resident Advisory Group was formalized and promote the activities of the group. in May of 2014 and we met monthly to Investments in community resources like strategize our plan of action. This body parks helps to solidify community ties “One of the will serve as a resident planning and and social capital. decision making member for Make Mott best things Haven, as described in the Governance “Betances 15” section. A group of Betances residents including members of the new Betances Resident about Mott Friends of St. Mary’s Park Association is forming a community The Make Mott Haven... planning process garden called “Betances 15”. In May 2014, Haven is... Its identified important needs that will have the Make Mott Haven... team hosted an an impact on Mott Haven in the very initial meeting where NYCHA’s Greening diversity” short term. One of these needs was Initiative and Betances management
62 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT provided an overview of how the program would work on site. Other Make Mott Haven’s participants, non-NYCHA residents, attended the meeting to offer support to Betances residents. Linda Ortiz, a Mott Haven homeowner and founder of the “Friends of St. Mary’s Park”, offered technical support to find resources for the garden. Also, Marissa Morales, a member of the Betances Youth Council offered her expertise on how to start a garden. The Make Mott Haven... team is currently supporting the creation of the group and helping to identify location and resources for the launch in spring of 2015.
Art and cultural activities Throughout the visioning process, residents identified the diversity of the Mott Haven community as one of its greatest assets. However, as noted in Mott Haven Today, residents also said that public safety issues have contributed to a lack of cultural and social cohesion in the neighborhood. Residents recommended that more culturally oriented programming, such as events focused on
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MURAL AT PATTERSON HOUSES NYCHA BUILDING FOOTPRINT 63 PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: HATUEY RAMOS-FERMIN instilling neighborhood pride, would help D. SHARING BEST PRACTICES & one conversations with potential resident address this issue. In response to this LESSONS LEARNED leaders for them to emerge as the united feedback and our commitment to bring entity we now have. Today, we have a residents together, Make Mott Haven... Community comprehensive planning mobilized group of residents advocating partnered with Casita Maria (an arts is complicated, unique to each for themselves, and prepared to support and culture organization in the Bronx) to neighborhood, and requires effective the implementation of the Transformation extend the existing South Bronx Cultural partnerships with local stakeholders. Plan through a formal role in the Make Trail into Mott Haven. Our goal is to build Building on the five key goals of the Mott Haven’s governance. a positive local image by identifying planning process, we have learned the and celebrating local culture. The trail is following key lessons: Empower residents and stakeholders an important symbol of the borough’s to take ownership of community issues cultural diversity. Highlighting key Help establish the Betances Residents’ while informing the planning process moments in Mott Haven history, artistic Association One of the lessons learned from this landmarks and cultural contributions will The establishment of the Betances process is, that in order to empower enhance community pride and jointly Residents’ Association is one of the residents to take ownership in a very celebrate the greatness of Mott Haven. earliest and most sustainable wins of challenged community, residents have the planning process, yet it was the to be part of the community’s needs and As we wrap up the planning process, most rigorous process of the Make Mott solutions conversations. Our community Casita Maria is preparing a series of Haven’s community engagement work. engagement team engaged over 6,000 cultural events, including mural painting, Community building work takes time to stakeholders in Mott Haven, including a NYCHA building footprint workshop, build a platform of active residents in NYCHA and other neighborhood and hip hop performances all of which their communities. Residents would not residents, local leaders, community will be featured at a festival in October. come to Residents’ Association meetings based organizations, city agencies, and The Make Mott Haven... team has nor trust the Make Mott Haven... planning elected officials. Twelve percent of the been facilitating connections between process. They would state “another total number of engaged individuals cultural organizations and local groups planning process in the community?” were local residents who advised the in the neighborhood, such as NYCHA “Residents’ Association is too much process through more than six Make Mott community centers and resident leaders, work”, or “I have seen many of these Haven... community conversations. Many to solidify partnerships that will keep the planning processes come and go”. It took of the residents emerged as community arts and culture programming alive in an average of three meetings per week champions and assumed leadership Mott Haven. in the Betances community and one-on- positions in group activities including the
64 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Betances Residents’ Association, Friends meetings, people would learn about the Build partnerships with the community of St. Mary’s Park, Betances Community planning process and view posters with members while enhancing the capacity of Garden, and youth initiatives. ideas generated through Make Mott residents to lead initiatives for sustainable Haven... conversations. We had markers neighborhood improvements Nonetheless, these community projects and large paper for people to provide We learned that developing individual and mobilization efforts take time and feedback about the ideas they generated relationships with certain key leaders in the capacity to unfold. Due to the exceptional through the process. neighborhood was critical from the outset. time demands required for the Make It activated key people who connected other Mott Haven... Transformation Plan A lesson learned in the early process residents to the initiative. Utilizing these development, much of the grassroots and was that a reasonable number of NYCHA leaders to educate the community helped community organizing work performed residents were not really coming out to us gain trust and support for the planning in Mott Haven is blooming toward the Make Mott Haven... events. Aside from process. Early on, people had their own end of the planning process. We had to the community organizing work and perception about Make Mott Haven..., and in be tenacious to build residents capacity outreach efforts to engage stakeholders some cases it was hard to break that barrier. in the neighborhood so that community from the entire neighborhood, we Utilizing leaders to build credibility helped to initiatives can be sustained over time. needed to implement a better system break down perceptions. In many cases, once to connect with NYCHA residents. The a resident participated in one event, they Develop channels to provide updates and approach to respond to this challenge learned the value of the planning process and gather feedback from stakeholders as was hosting Coffee Hours or Lemonade the importance of having their voice heard. the work on the Make Mott Haven... Plan Stands at every NYCHA development progresses in the neighborhood. It worked well to meet people where they live rather than Another key aspect of the planning process expecting them to come to us. In fact, was to create a two-way communication through Coffee Hours we met and initially system with residents where they had an engaged 50 percent of the members opportunity to prioritize needs and hear now on the Betances Resident Board updates about the many components of and mobilized them to come together to the Transformation Plan. At the beginning rebuild it. A good number of youth and we started the process by attending seniors who are involved in Make Mott community activities identified through Haven... today were engaged through a local networks in Mott Haven. In these Coffee Hour or Lemonade Stand.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 65 5 TRANSFORMATION PLAN
Our vision is to create a safe and healthy neighborhood with decent, affordable housing that offers quality education, opportunities for economic success and positive quality of life.
66 INTRODUCTION
Make Mott Haven… will achieve the community vision through Housing, People, and Neighborhood-based goals and solutions that focus on physically redefining the neigh- borhood while equipping residents with knowledge, skills, and improved coordination of services to be most impactful. We are guided by the notion that the Plan cannot just increase services, but rather it must also build the capacity of residents to self-advocate and take advantage of opportunities. We target programs and resources that will to tear down barriers and create bridges to not only using, but genuinely benefitting from, the large array of services and opportunities for people and families in the neighborhood.
Three principles guide us to do so: • Elevating, expanding and creating new programs and initiatives that have a track record of effectiveness. • Targeting high quality resources and evidence-based models for effective service delivery. • Increasing coordination and collaboration across programs to facilitate the provision of comprehensive and deep supports for all members of a family.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... INTRODUCTION 67 MAKEMAKE MOTT MOTT HAVEN... HAVEN... MAKE MOTT HAVEN... MAKE MOTT HAVEN... TRANSFORMATION PLAN D D O O O H H ReducingO violenceReducing violence and promoting safety O O H H D and promoting safety R R O U U O H O O Reducing violence S S H and promoting safety O B B Preserving and PreservingI and I promoting public ImprovingR parksImproving and parks and promoting publicN U N housing and housing and H openH spaces open spaces a ordable housinga ordable housing S O G G G B G Preserving and I
I promoting public I Improving parks and N housing and H open spaces
E a ordable housing E G
CelebratingG MottCelebrating Mott N N Haven’sI history and TRANSFORM Haven’s history and TRANSFORM culture culture
E
Celebrating Mott N Haven’s history and TRANSFORM culture Expanding Expanding Promoting Promoting educational educational neighborhood neighborhood opportunities foropportunities for health and health and children children wellness wellness Connecting Connecting Helping seniors Helping seniors Expandingyoung adults to youngExpanding adults to Expandingto age in place to age in placePromoting educationalopportunity opportunityeconomic and economic and neighborhood opportunities for workforce workforce health and children development development wellness Connecting Helping seniors young adults to Expanding to age in place opportunity economic and workforce P E OPPdevelopmentELOEP L E P E O P L E Invest in IMPROVEImprove IMPROVE Family Neighborhodd INVEST ININVEST Catalyst IN CatalystFAMILY Link LinkNEIGHBORHOODNEIGHBORHOOD Mott Haven QualityFAMILY of Life Revitalization MOTT HAVENMOTT HAVEN QUALITYIMPROVEQUALITY REVITALIZATIONREVITALIZATION 68 Catalyst Link INVEST IN OF LIFEFAMILYOF LIFE NEIGHBORHOODMAKE MOTT HAVEN... TRANSFORMATION PLAN MOTT HAVEN QUALITY REVITALIZATION OF LIFE INSERT LARGE PHOTO
69 HOUSING PLAN
70 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING HOUSING
In early 2014, the newly-elected New York City Mayor together community needs with market conditions to preserve the current public announced HOUSING NEW YORK. In Mayor de Blasio’s housing resources and provide needed words, Housing New York is a “comprehensive plan to affordable housing in our corner of the city, Mott Haven. The City and NYCHA’s build and preserve 200,000 affordable units over the commitment to affordable housing stems from the acknowledgement that housing coming decade, to support New Yorkers with a range of is more than a dwelling structure or a incomes.” place where you live; it is a home, a place for family, schools, jobs, activities and an overall safe neighborhood.
The mayor said, a plan to get ahead of NextGen NYCHA envisions safe, clean The Make Mott Haven… Plan encourages the curve, to protect neighborhoods, and connected communities that are public and private reinvestment and and build our city’s next generation of served by a 21st Century, 24/7 landlord. brings amenities and assets, including affordable housing. It’s about knitting NYCHA will reinvigorate its portfolio and a safe environment, good schools, and communities together. This is a five- aging infrastructure with sustainable commercial activity – all of which are borough, ten-year plan. It will marshal upgrades, create vibrant and activated important for existing and new families people and resources from every corner ground floors and open spaces, and that choose a home in the Mott Haven of this city behind a singular purpose: to facilitate the provision of best-in-class community. Specifically, the Make Mott make this city again a place where our social services. NYCHA is addressing Haven… Housing Plan strategy consists most vulnerable, our working people, and how it looks, operates and finances. of the following key elements: our middle class can all thrive. Together, let’s make that vision a reality.” In concert The Mayor’s and NextGen NYCHA’s (1) Transform Betances North through with the Mayor’s vision, NYCHA is taking vision is Make Mott Haven’s vision, and the major rehabilitation of 493 public up the charge with its plan for the Next we are already ahead of the curve. We housing units. Generation of NYCHA (NextGen NYCHA). have developed a plan that weaves (2) Develop additional affordable
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 71 “Necesitamos mas limpieza en los edificios City’s five-borough housing plan. • Create and maintain open spaces de housing, camaras y mas, lugares para los designed to maximize safety.
jovenes de entretenimiento” The metrics we will use to capture these outcomes include: # of units of affordable housing committed for preservation housing and mixed-use resources for programs have evolved independent of or development, # of units under the neighborhood on three NYCHA the planning process, some of them are construction, # of units rehabilitated and sites. good examples of doing while planning. greened, # and % of façade improvements Make Mott Haven... continues the work (3) Intensive effort to address the completed, % of construction completed, that the Mayor has already committed general conditions of all the public # of new open spaces that encourage which integrates health, safety, education housing developments. active use. and housing efforts into a coordinated NYCHA is the designated developer of strategy to address the needs of public these projects. Make Mott Haven… will achieve housing residents. these outcomes with the successful In addition to the affordable housing implementation of the priority projects Housing Outcomes efforts, the City of New York has detailed below. Make Mott Haven’s overall housing allocated over $100 million in funding for strategy is to preserve and promote the area’s revitalization, with activities BETANCES NORTH REHABILITATION public and affordable housing. Through such as rezoning for new mixed-use the physical housing transformation, development along the Special Harlem The “Target Area” for the physical Make Mott Haven... will also ensure River Waterfront District, reconstruction transformation of the housing and open that public housing developments are of The Hub Transit node, the new Triangle space is Betances North, which was integrated into the urban landscape and Plaza mixed-use center, extended selected because of the high need for redesign problematic open spaces. We community center hours, and violence repair and the potential for positive strive to achieve the following outcomes: prevention programming. These changes given the proximity to The investments prove that the City is deeply • Rehabilitate and green Betances Hub transit node, St. Mary’s Park and devoted to connecting residents to much North. the many community facilities located needed infrastructure improvements • Create and preserve affordable, mixed nearby. The area is bounded by 147th and and programming. While some of these use developments consistent with the 145th Streets to the North and South, and St. Ann’s and Willis Avenues to the East
72 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING and West (see Map for Betances North Land Use). M1-1 C4-4 BX C4-4 Betances North is a mixed-income, mixed- MN BETANCES VI QS use community. There is a considerable 1 BK footprint of public housing – three of the BETANCES VI SI 4 QS four blocks are predominantly or entirely 6 EAST 147 STREET 7 BETANCES V comprised of NYCHA properties with 493 4 4 4 BETANCES V 4 4 BETANCES VI 4 4 units of public housing and 24 Section 4 2 WILLIS AVENUE 2 BETANCES IV 2 2 2 8 8 vouchers distributed across 10 of the 2 BETANCES V BETANCES IV 8 113 buildings in Betances North (see BETANCES V BETANCES V map of Section 8 housing in the Mott BETANCES IV R6 BETANCES IV BETANCES VI Haven Today section, under Housing 3 1 3 in Mott Haven). The NYCHA buildings 2 6 5 BETANCES VI are a combination of low- to mid-rise EAST 145 STREET 5 BETANCES IV residential buildings, which house 7 R7-1 approximately 1,300 residents. Betances BETANCES IV 3 3 BETANCES IV
IV was built in 1973, and is comprised of BETANCES V
7 residential buildings, between 3 and 6 LandUse Zoning District One & Two Family Buildings Betances North Boundary Multi-Family Walk-Up Buildings NYCHA Development stories, with 240 units. The buildings of Multi-Family Elevator Buildings ST ANNS AVENUE NYCHA Building R7-2 µ Mixed Residential and Commercial Buildings Betances V and VI are units acquired by Commercial and Office Buildings NYCHA Non-Residential Building Industrial and Manufacturing NYCHA Section 8 Vouchers Transportation and Utility 1 - 5 NYCHA in 1974 and 1982, respectively. Public Facilities and Institutions 6 or more Data Sources: Open Space and Outdoor Recreation New York City Department of City Planning - MapPLUTO Release 13v2 Parking Facilities NewSources: York City Esri, Housing DeLorme, Authority NAVTEQ, - Leased TomTom, Housing Intermap, Department increment Tenant Data P Corp., File, February GEBCO, 12, USGS, 2014 FAO, NPS, They are between 5 and 6 stories, and PreparedNRCAN, By:GeoBase, Department IGN, of KadasterResearch NL,and ManagementOrdnance Survey, Analysis Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Vacant Land Date:swisstopo, March and12, 2014 the GIS User Community include 253 units. The 85 non-NYCHA Betances North Land Use buildings in the target blocks include single-family homes and low- to mid-rise multi-family apartment buildings with mixed-use commercial establishments. “More street lights are needed. Some of the Mott The low-rise nature of the majority of the Haven streets do not have adequate lighting for housing, both public and private, forms a relatively seamless community of private the safety of the neighborhood.”
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 73 Betances North Block, Non-Nycha Building; Single Homes and Mixed-Use Commercial
renters and homeowners living alongside public school, and St. Mary’s Park, among both ends. These gates inhibit pedestrian public housing residents. other assets – the area requires physical and vehicular traffic, producing a While Betances North boasts a bustling upgrades and reconfiguration to better block that is extremely insular and of community of mixed incomes and mixed integrate with the urban landscape and considerable safety concern. uses (see Photos: Betances Today) – support a safer community. For example, such as the recently renovated Betances the block of 146th Street between Brook Capital Need and Current Investment – Community Center, a nearby senior and St. Ann’s Avenue is currently closed Betances North Buildings center, a health clinic, a church, a K-5 off to traffic and consists of metal gates on Public Housing Assessment System
74 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING (PHAS) Scores Betances Houses saw a marked increase in its PHAS scores between 2010 and 2011, jumping from 50 to 81, and they have remained at that level through 2014 (see PHAS chart). However, the physical score is low: 28 out of 40. Overall NYCHA PHAS scores increased
from 65 in 2011 to 72 in 2013.
Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) The PNA provides important guidance for ongoing repair needs, but it is not a comprehensive or holistic plan to address transformative change for a neighborhood – including new investment and vitality from a truly mixed-use, mixed-income community. Make Mott Haven... is working to “connect the dots” between the needed repairs as identified in the PNA and physical planning that addresses the vision for change expressed by the coordinated voices of NYCHA residents, the local community, neighborhood leaders, and planning and design experts.
Current elevator rehabilitation at Betances
North Betances North Today: The buildings lining the streets in this neighborhood are NYCHA is in the process of rehabilitating a mix of type and use, as shown by these views: clockwise from top left: Public the elevators throughout the properties School on Willis Avenue; Looking N on Willis Avenue at local convenience retail; in Betances North, with a total capital S on Brook Avenue [mix of mid-rise residential and commercial building]; Side Streets with tenements, townhouses, and multi-unit buildings from different investment of $2,661,000. eras; N on St. Ann’s Avenue (Betances Community Center in foreground, PS 277 beyond); another view of a side street showing recent, low-rise infill housing. Commercial space on ground floor is intermittent.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 75 BETANCES NORTH - BLOCK FROM BROOK AVENUE TO ST. ANNS AVENUE
Existing Facades on East 146th Street
East 146th Street Transformed
76 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 77 – the resounding response is preserve, rehabilitate and upgrade the existing public housing, as well as revitalize and secure the open spaces and bring new services and amenities lacking in the immediate neighborhood.
As such, the transformation of Betances North will include: Betances North XXXXXX (1) Interior improvements, such as replacements of the kitchens and bathrooms, as well as energy, water and indoor air quality upgrades. (2) Common space upgrades and integration of active design features, such as transparent lobbies and stair NYCHA Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) for Betances North, 2011 hallways to ensure that the buildings Apartment Architectural Electrical Mechanical Years 1-5 Total relate clearly and safely to the streets Betances IV $16,684,208 $16,503,655 $1,728,845 $78,158 $34,994,867 and sidewalks. Betances V $4,069,088 $6,551,289 $125,489 $679,550 $11,425,415 Betances VI $6,499,216 $10,013,508 $1,169,849 $66,497 $17,749,070 (3) Façade improvements, such as TOTAL SITE -- $1,087,821 -- $1,134,086 $2,221,906 providing new exterior “skins” on the TOTAL BUILDINGS $27,252,511 $33,068,452 $3,024,182 $824,206 $64,169,352 older tenement buildings to seal the
building envelope, prevent heat loss Some buildings in Betances North on hot days, reducing the need for air and save on energy costs. have already benefited from the city’s conditioning. Green Initiative, receiving a “CoolRoofs” (4) Exterior envelope sealing of all treatment in 2010. This program Transforming Betances North buildings to stop water penetration and applies a layer of reflective coating to The physical needs of Betances North combat mold. buildings, absorbing 80% less heat than are significant. When residents and (5) Infrastructure improvements, such dark-colored roofs, which can lower the Mott Haven community have been as additional lighting, installation of indoor temperatures by 10-20 degrees asked – “what will it take to transform?” CCTV, roof work, and heating upgrades.
78 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING Storefronts on Brook Ave at East 146th Street (Commercial Avenue)
Before
After
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 79 Interior Improvements: Bathroom & Kitchen
(6) Clearly defining public and private water damage. • Entrance, room and closet doors. spaces, including use of shade trees • Energy efficient light fixtures, lighting • New radiators with thermostats, and plantings in the rear yards behind controls. electric panels, and 24/7 continuous the buildings, will lessen the heat sink • Energy Star appliances, and new fresh air exchanges. effect and beautify these spaces for kitchen cabinets, countertops. • Use of low VOC materials, such as residents. • Low flow toilets, such as WaterSense paint, coatings, sealants, etc. labeled models that use 20% less water • New windows. Interior Improvements than average toilets. Individual apartments will be moderately to substantially rehabilitated, which will • Bathroom fixtures, vanities, tub NYCHA is committed to providing consist of the following: surrounds and floor tile. housing for all ages, and will incorporate • Repairs and new finishes to partitions • New wood or vinyl strip flooring. universal design principles into the rehab. and ceilings, and removal of mold from Apartments will be retrofitted with easy
80 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING Exterior & Common Space Improvements: Lobby Samples
to grab levers, grab bars in appropriate night. Reconfiguring the lobby will (3) digital, IP addressable cameras. Key locations, easy access storage and provide for egress of the closest exit fobs allow for electronic access control. counter space, and reachable switches. stair to run through the lobby – so in the Electronic keys cannot be duplicated or event the elevators are down, there is still copied, and electronic tags are easily Exterior and Common Space access to the apartments above. In select modified to remove lost or stolen keys. Improvements buildings, Tenant Patrol Rooms will also Doors and hardware will be vandal- Lobby Entrances. By upgrading and provide additional security. resistant with sensors to transmit alarms redesigning lobby entrances, Make Mott to a central monitoring point in case of Haven... will integrate public and private Installing Layered Access Control. devise failure or a door kept open too spaces, creating transparent lobbies with Buildings will be secured with a three- long. Cameras will be placed at key clear vision to the elevator and lighting tier system that includes: (1) intercoms exterior and interior locations, using the that spills back out to the sidewalk at and key fobs; (2) doors and hardware; and same video system used by the NYPD.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 81 Lobby Transformation & Facade Treatment
Before
Facade Treatment: Exterior After 82 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING Upgrading heating and power. NYCHA will install combined heat and power (CHP, also known as CoGen) wherever feasible as these systems help offset operating costs and improve resiliency in the event of power grid failure. Photo, left: Treatment Cogeneration is a highly efficient form of ground plane of energy conversion and it can achieve between buildings, where shared open primary energy savings of approximately spaces can be 40%, compared to the separate purchase transformed into actively used places, of electricity from the national electricity for gardening, and grid, and a gas boiler for onsite heating. exercising, as well as passive recreation. The heating system would also be upgraded to include thermostatic controls within each apartment to improve both energy efficiency – reducing consumption Redesigning building exteriors to address rehabilitation supports physical activity significantly per square meter by as much water infiltration. Building exteriors will that starts at home. NYCHA is partnering as 15-30%, and resident’s quality of life. In be redesigned to blend in with other with the Center for Active Design to addition, each individual space (dwelling buildings in the area, and to address issues integrate the appropriate, and most units, commercial, community operations) related to water infiltration. Applying a effective, strategies to encourage active will be separately metered for the various new high-tech “skin” over a building’s living within the confines of housing commodities (gas, electricity, water). exterior will address water infiltration rehab. Based on academic research and This will allow for better monitoring and and related mold issues. This redesign best practices, the Center for Active maintenance as well as align cost with will also conserve energy by insulating Design’s guidelines provide simple consumption for all stakeholders. and sealing the building envelope against design features that promote physical moisture. activity. The focus for Betances North Replacing Roofs. Roof replacement will be on the stairs – in particular, better will address problems related to water Active Design. Health and physical activity lighting, stable grab bars, slip-resistant damage to the buildings and apartments, have been identified as key community floor finishes and bright, inviting paint including indoor leaks, mold, and focus areas through the planning process. colors will be installed. Informational and recurring repair needs. Integrating active design features into the motivational signage will also be installed
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 83 in visible locations. The messages will be safely to the streets and sidewalks and commissioning to ensure that systems culturally and age appropriate, in English provide natural lighting. are functioning properly and a plan and Spanish. NYCHA is also considering • Optimize Energy Performance – new will be set forth to rectify uncovered the use of murals or other interactive exterior “skins” on the older tenement operational inefficiencies. Overall, the features in the stair wells that encourage buildings to seal the building envelope, building life cycle improvements will their use. Plans for active design will prevent heat loss and save on energy be tracked on a yearly basis to quantify comply with Americans for Disabilities costs. energy and water usage, using industry Act (ADA) guidelines and universal standard benchmarking procedures. • Building Reuse: Maintain 100% of design strategies. Active design will Institutionalizing this process of reporting, Structure and 50% of Non-Structure be a component of the design RFP that inspection and review over the lifespan and Regional Materials – upgraded respondents will need to include in their of the building is consistent with LEED exterior envelope to stop water plan. Active Design principles are being requirements and will ensure long-term penetration and combat mold, as well considered as part of the outdoor space benefits and sustainability. NYCHA will as additional façade improvements redesign. recertify Betances North every five years. adjacent to the enhanced lobbies using “green” building materials which are Meeting Efficiency Standards through NYCHA as an agency is exploring the supplied by local/regional vendors. LEED-ND opportunity to participate in HUD’s As evidenced in the description of • Low-Emitting Materials – apartment Better Buildings Challenge. Although the transformative upgrades above, NYCHA is upgrades will ensure proper indoor air challenge is portfolio wide, the efficiency committed to improving the sustainability quality. upgrades to Betances North – both on of these buildings. Make Mott Haven… • Storm Water Management and Heat the exterior, as well as interior – are will ensure that all building upgrades Island Effect: Non-Roof – shade trees rigorous enough to meet and, in some meet the standards of LEED – ND, and and plantings in the rear yards behind cases, exceed standards of building NYCHA will pursue Stage 1 certification. the buildings. performance. Meeting these standards Many of the upgrades described above means that these buildings would be good will ensure that NYCHA will achieve this Upon completion of building candidates for an Energy Performance level of certification. Specific examples rehabilitation, and after three months of Contract, and NYCHA will be pursuing as include: operation, NYCHA will certify Betances part of the overall financing structure. • Daylight and Views – transparent North under LEED for Existing Buildings: lobbies and stairwell upgrades that Operations and Maintenance. NYCHA ensure the buildings relate clearly and will also conduct a post-retrofit building
84 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING Betances North Streetscape and Public Space The redesign of the streetscape and public space will further the following of HUD’s excellence in design elements:
(1) A compact and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood through the use of an interconnected network of sidewalks, streets and open space. (2) Opportunities for recreation and appropriate settings for community gathering spaces. (3) Defensible space and “eyes on the street” with building entrances fronting on the street and housing overlooking community areas, including clearly defined public and private
spaces, helping the community watch over itself and providing a sense of safety. (4) Landscape elements that are appropriate to each site’s soils and microclimate and provide shade trees for streets and parking.
Revitalizing East 146th Street The complex of NYCHA buildings on the two blocks bordering St. Mary’s Park were built in the early 1970s when urban design looked to develop residential plazas as a form of defensive space, creating residential enclaves, with distinct boundaries and entrances. As a consequence of these earlier plans, 146th Street between St. Ann’s and Brook Avenues is closed to vehicular traffic, and is currently a pedestrian plaza. Before and after perspective views of East 146th Street: Left shows current closed street; right shows transformed public space with re-opened street, extended lobbies, façade enhancements and upgraded streetscape. NYCHA will redesign the street to allow for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic as well as a new bicycle route that links with the Randalls Island Connector which will encourage different uses
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 85 and make it accessible to the community informal surveillance of the spaces, all as a whole. The redesign will include of which will help to improve safety. a removable barrier to open the entire Landscaping will help to beautify the street to traffic, while also giving the area and enhance residents’ experience. residents the option to close the street The plan will also work to delineate for designated purposes. The surface will public and private spaces clearly. Many be repaved, trees will line the street, and of the buildings have private courtyards benches will be placed for resident leisure. behind and between buildings creating a Doing so will increase activity on the block particular challenge for surveillance and and reconnect the area to the surrounding security. These courtyards will now be neighborhood, transforming the Betances opened to the public. North community by normalizing the
street grid and reconnecting the area to The plan also includes the redesign of a Concept #1: Dedicated play areas: Play area for children attending St. Mary’s Park. Creating more foot traffic park space, that is now on the “closed” the Betances Day Care Center: coordinate with access from the and activity on the street will also address block, into a public vest-pocket park to interior of the Day Care Center, through minor reconfiguration of this center’s layout, as needed. neighborhood safety concerns, as the include seating and tables to encourage area is currently seen as a safe haven for its use as an informal, outdoor community drug dealing. The redesign would make meeting area. Utilization of recently the space easier to patrol by residents redesigned rear yard parks will be re- and the New York City Police Department. evaluated and security improvements will An example of the redesign is provided to be developed to encourage more active the right. and consistent use of these spaces. Two concept examples are provided to the Redesigning outdoor spaces right. As shown in the Betances North design examples NYCHA is including plans Security cameras will be placed in to redesign the open spaces between strategic outdoor locations in the grounds buildings and incorporating principles of of Betances North to address safety active design. Open and active space will and security concerns on public spaces encourage pedestrian traffic through the and outdoor areas that are not easily Concept #2: Beautification of Rear Yards: For spaces shallower than regulation 30-foot yards, or where impractical for accessible rear areas, create new sight lines, and provide visible from the streets. Cameras will be yards, provide landscape improvements for visual purposes, for residents whose apartments face onto these spaces; these spaces would be gated at all times, except for maintenance.
86 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING arranged to maximize surveillance NYCHA has engaged in conversations of all outdoor spaces including the with New York City’s housing agencies street blocks surrounding Betances – Department of Housing Preservation North. and Development (HPD) and Housing Development Corporation (HDC) – to Financing discuss preliminary financing. Both Financing Public Housing HPD and HDC have indicated interest in preservation is complex. Multi- supporting Betances North rehab through layered funding sources will be financing options such as tax credits, city required to support the rehab of subsidy and bond cap. NYCHA has also Betances North. NYCHA will apply entered into a discussion with the Robin for Choice Implementation Grant Hood Foundation to provide up to $15MM funds -- $25MM of which would in gap financing during construction. support Betances North rehab. The improvements will be made as part Timeline for Betances North of an acquisition/rehab transaction NYCHA will enter into pre-development financed with tax-exempt bonds on Betances North in the fourth quarter and 4% Low Income Housing Tax of 2014, and expects construction to Credits (LIHTC) generated on both begin approximately one year later. the rehabilitation costs and the With an eighteen to twenty-four month value of the existing buildings. construction period, rehabilitation on NYCHA will dispose of the property these units will be completed by the to the tax credit partnership through fourth quarter of 2017. Rehab will occur a long-term ground lease. NYCHA with tenants in place; therefore, NYCHA will serve as developer and General will not submit a relocation plan. Partner of the tax credit partnership, and will retain the Purchase Option and Right of First Refusal to ensure the properties remain in NYCHA’s control following expiration of the tax credit compliance period.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 87 Chart: Betances North Rehab Timeline
88 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING NEW MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT ON NYCHA-OWNED LAND
NYCHA has identified three sites for mixed- use development on their underutilized land. NYCHA expects to create over three hundred new units. The mixed-use sites will provide an opportunity to build much needed community and commercial space for the community. As described in the People and Neighborhoods sections, Mott Haven has a dearth of space for the needed education, workforce, and other Site 1: Corner of 146th Street and Willis Ave services that the residents have identified as its greatest needs. The creation of • Site 2: 143rd Street between Brook Site 1 will yield over 50 affordable NYCHA-developed space allows more and Willis Avenues. apartments units, and ground floor control to direct the ground floor space to • Site 3: Corner of St. Ann’s Avenue and commercial and community space. This community needs, such as a fresh food 137th Street. site requires re-zoning from the NYC market, Resident Training Academy, and Department of City Planning (DCP) to Universal Pre-K classrooms. Based on achieve maximum affordable housing Site 1: Corner of 146th Street and Willis HUD’s excellence in design standards, development, while also remaining Avenue the planned development of these three contextual with the surrounding Site 1 is currently home to a one-story, NYCHA-owned sites will incorporate neighborhood. The current zoning is vacant building. This site development design elements and amenities that will R6, and the new zoning request is for is a part of the overall Betances North enable them to blend into and enrich the C4-4. The new zoning, C4-4, allows for rehabilitation, as it is the northeast corner neighborhood and appeal to intended a larger maximum FAR; thereby, NYCHA lot of the rehabbed block of 146th Street, market segments. will be able to increase the number of and abuts Betances VI. The rendering units developed. DCP has conceptually above shows a sample of the type of The three potential sites for development approved the rezoning, and NYCHA building that would be developed on Site are: will submit a formal rezoning proposal, 1. • Site 1: Corner of 146th Street and which will undergo the City’s Uniform Willis Avenue.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 89 Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). Site 3 will be developed as part of Next Mitchel, and Patterson. Make Mott NYCHA is working with DCP to determine Gen NYCHA’s overall City plan, and has Haven... recognizes NYCHA’s continuing if this site can undergo an accelerated been prioritized in the plan’s Phase 1 investments in these properties, which ULURP process, as ULURP typically can development. This site will be developed address pressing needs that will reinforce take up to one year. Upon completion of as-of-right, and is expected to yield 175 the structural integrity of the buildings rezoning and ULURP, NYCHA will issue a apartments units. NYCHA is currently and improve the safety and quality of development RFP. undergoing a community engagement life for residents. In total, NYCHA has process with residents to identify the type invested almost $10 million in capital Site 2: 143rd Street between Brook and of development that will be on this site. projects in Mott Haven over the past Willis Avenues Working in partnership with Community five years. Projects now in progress or Site 2 is also located in close proximity to Voices Heard, NYCHA is hosting resident planned for the next five years total $44.8 Betances Houses. Developing this vacant meetings and events with residents to gain million. This represents a ten-year capital lot will contribute to the overall Betances feedback. As a priority under NextGen investment of $54.8 million in NYCHA redevelopment, while also tackling the NYCHA, the site will be on an accelerated properties in Mott Haven. The chart on community’s need to address vacant lots. timeline (detailed in the chart). An RFQ for page 92 lists the capital improvements This site also requires a rezoning – from developer partners under the NextGen for each development that are planned R6 to R7. The new zoning will allow for 75 plan will be issued in 4Q2014, with for the next five years. housing units and 40,000 square feet of selection in the 1Q2015. Upon selection commercial space; an increase from 30 of the developer, the site will enter into While these improvements represent units under the current zoning. Similar the design phase and follow standard critical upgrades for these four to Site 1 above, DCP has conceptually development process. NYCHA expects developments, additional capital repair approved the rezoning, and NYCHA will construction completion in 4Q2017. The is needed. NYCHA is anticipating excess submit a formal rezoning proposal and timeline for Site 3 is detailed in the chart revenue from the new development on undergo ULURP. This site is adjacent to below. NYCHA land to be leveraged to address a lot owned by the City’s Department of additional rehabilitation at the four Housing Preservation and Development. REHABILITATION OF SURROUNDING developments. The anticipated timing Combing the two sites will allow for a PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS of these funds is between FY2017- total of 125 new housing units. 2018. In 2016, NYCHA will evaluate the In addition to Betances North, Mott development’s needs and develop a Site 3: Corner of St. Ann’s Avenue and Haven is home to four public housing capital plan to address the needs, with 137th Street developments – Mott Haven, Millbrook, a focus on efficiency and sustainability upgrades and in-unit repairs as possible.
90 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 91 92 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HOUSING 93 PEOPLE PLAN
94 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... PEOPLE MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION
Opportunity and connectivity are themes that reverberate or break” period when the process of dropping out begins (otherwise known throughout the entire Make Mott Haven… Transformation as the Middle School Moment). Plan. In education, we value the fundamental premise (3) High School and Beyond – college and career readiness. that all students and their families should have access to quality education and be supported by a culture of high Make Mott Haven’s education approach is fostered through partnerships achievement. among schools, parents, community organizations and the business Opportunities to be creative and explore community targeted to these priority ideas combined with connectivity and “We need areas. Education partners include – City genuine access to tools and resources are of New York: Department of Education comprehensive twin pillars for creating transformative and Department of Youth and Community neighborhood-wide change, and implicit Development. Program partners: and a better in Make Mott Haven’s education plan. BronxWorks, East Side House Settlement, support system FEGS Health and Human Services, Hostos Listening to the community, we identified Community College, Local Initiatives the areas of critical need and developed for our children Support Corporation, United Federation a cradle-to-career approach focused on of Teachers, United Way of New York City. between 5 years three key educational transition points: The plan also intersects and builds upon until 25 years old” the Housing, Workforce and Safety plans. (1) Early Childhood Education – ready by 5; reading by 8. Through these partnerships, Make (2) Middle School Exploration – “make Mott Haven… has linked evidence-
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 95 Mathematics (STEM) and career-based “We need to focus on our teenager: give curriculum, and add a comprehensive set of wrap around services – individualized them more opportunity to grow and to each student and family – through the community school model. By high school, youth will have a strong base of help them to make the right decision to educational achievement from which to build, and will be supported with continue in school!” supplemental academic support and preparation for a college or career-track. The interventions are also consistent with based interventions to each transition the Common Core State Standards, a set point. For early childhood education, of high-quality, academically rigorous interventions focus on getting toddlers standards in math and English that and young children ready to enter school outlines goals and expectations of what a through the Universal Pre-Kindergarten student should know and be able to do at program, and by fostering connections the end of each grade. through expanded learning programs and family involvement in order to achieve If we are actively motivating and reading proficiency by third grade in the engaging youth in authentic and relevant ReadNYC program, part of the national experiences at these points, then together Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. we will see the cohesive cradle-to-career When youth reach middle school, we strategy culminate in improved student continue with the strong academic achievement and strengthened family focus through contextualized learning of participation. Doing so ensures that no Science, Technology, Engineering and child is left behind – youth and their families
“Paid internship opportunities for youth.”
96 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION are encompassed by strong supports and individualized attention along their entire educational trajectory. Continuity, follow through, and feedback, over the course of a young person’s education, at these strategic checkpoints will keep youth on- course and focused on high standards. As students begin to achieve, they will take increased responsibility for their own education and share their knowledge and know-how with others as peer leaders and mentors. Make Mott Haven’s vision for education will ensure youth are on par with their counterparts throughout the City and State, and can compete on a national scale.
Education Outcomes Make Mott Haven’s overall education strategy is to expand educational opportunities from cradle to career. We strive to achieve the following outcomes:
• Increased connection of children to education opportunities early. • Increased school attendance rates. YPLAN PRESENTATION TO MAKE MOTT HAVEN’S STAKEHOLDERS • Increased graduation and matriculation rates. • Increased academic rigor through STEM-based curriculum.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 97 The metrics we will use to capture these Early childhood education is an essential in office to roll out an expanded Pre-K outcomes include: # of Mott Haven part of every community – it prepares program during the 2014-2015 academic 4-year-olds enrolled in Universal Pre-K; young children for success in school year. With an expansion of Pre-K seats # of new Universal Pre-K seats; # and % and life, supports working parents, and across the City, Make Mott Haven… is of students reading on grade level by 3rd improves family well-being. High quality working with community partners to grade; attendance rates by grade; # and % early childhood education is widely educate parents and their children about of children who matriculate at each grade regarded as the single most effective the importance of this resource. United level; # and % of youth who graduate intervention to close the achievement gap Way and East Side House Settlement are from high school; # of schools in Mott for low-income and at-risk children. In taking the lead in supporting parents in Haven that have adopted a STEM-based parallel, for parents with young children, identifying programs and enrolling their curriculum. access to stable, affordable child-care is children. East Side House Settlement also critical to their ability to get and hold a applied for 125 additional Pre-K seats. Make Mott Haven… will achieve job – linking closely with the Make Mott In the launch of the Make Mott Haven… these outcomes with the successful Haven… Workforce plan. Workforce plan – including the Collective implementation of the priority Impact Network – and the Mitchel HUB, interventions detailed below. Universal Pre-K educating families about Pre-K and Universal Pre-K is the cornerstone of the supporting their applications to enroll Early Childhood Education New York City Mayor’s education agenda, will be a key resource for promoting Objective – All children are prepared and for which he secured $300 million from the employment stability through quality enter school by age five, and are reading State Legislature in his first few months childcare. Additionally, we learned from at grade-level by age eight:
• Increase number of openings and aggressive enrollment in Universal Pre-K for Mott Haven children. • Expand comprehensive, evidence- based approaches – targeting children, their families, and the community – that ensure young people are provided with the foundational skills needed for future academic success.
98 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION EARLY CHILDHOOD IN MOTT HAVEN, DISTRICT 7, BRONX PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1- PS 18 John Peter Zenger 2- PS 43 Jonas Bronck 3- PS 154 Jonathan D Hyatt 4- PS 30 Wilton 5- PS 65 Mother Hale Academy 6- PS 49 Willis Avenue 7- Young Leaders Elementary School 8- PS 179 9- PS 277 10- PS 25 Bilingual School 11- PS 5 Port Morris
12- PS 168
COMMUNITY BASED ORG.
13- Children’S Pride*
14- LSSMNY: Early Life Children’s Center 5* 15- St. Rita*
16- Mill Brook*
17- Mott Haven*
18- South Bronx Head Start I* Source: NYC Department of Ed, Progress report 2012-2013 19- Winifred Wheeler* 20- Anna Lefkowitz DCC* LEGEND 21- B’Above Early Childhood Academy 22- Betances Early Childhood Center (NYCHA)* Public Schools 23- Episcopal Social Services Head Start (Paul’S Community Based Organizations (CBOs) House)* 24- Hunts Point Ileana D. Rodriguez DCC* Head Start* 25- Hunts Point #1*
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 99 several partners that current space to United Way, with its lead community quality of children care. accommodate additional Pre-K seats was partner East Side House Settlement, is • Expand high-quality Pre-K for at-risk limited. In response, Make Mott Haven… targeting chronic absenteeism through 4 year olds using an evidence-based is connecting its development strategy monthly attendance benchmarks, curriculum that has a strong language directly to its programmatic strategies. investing in teachers’ professional component. As described in the Housing section, there capacity through coaching and strategic • Conduct kindergarten school are several new developments that will be professional development, investing readiness assessments to track success built in the neighborhood, representing in community-based capacity through in meeting school readiness goals and several thousand square feet of potential leadership coaching and designing a as a diagnostic tool for kindergarten community and commercial space. In structure for low-stress interactions with teachers. 2015, Make Mott Haven… will conduct families, focused on learning. United Way an analysis of the space constraints of is utilizing the following interventions to • Implement a coordinated Pre-K to 3rd existing programs in order to expand and do so: grade strategy that includes enhanced create opportunities for available space. • Expand home visiting opportunities transition between Pre-K and K, and Based on the results of the analysis and for high risk children and families. P-3 curriculum alignment. timing of completion of new space, Make • Effective engagement of parents • Administer diagnostic reading Mott Haven… will work with the non-profit and caregivers to foster language assessments that provide child-specific provider to match space and providers. development among 0-2 year olds in guidance for teachers. and outside the home. • Provide intensive supplemental ReadNYC • Conduct regular developmental reading assistance that is driven by the Reading on grade-level by third grade assessments that include cognitive, individual child’s reading needs and has been documented as the first, and language, and social-emotional conducted by trained professionals most critical, milestone in a child’s development in addition to physical and paraprofessionals. education, and determinant of future and sensory development. • Increase availability of intensive academic success. ReadNYC program, summer learning programs that focus part of the national Campaign for Grade- • Improve access, affordability and Level Reading, is a program operated by United Way of New York City to help Mott Haven youth achieve this milestone. The “More daycare at affordable prices so young mothers program is targeted to five elementary schools – P.S. 30, 43, 49, 154, and 179. could go to work, from 6 months to 6 years old.”
100 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION on reading for at-risk children. that links to positive experiences. nurturing school environment. It also • Reduce chronic absenteeism in Pre-K, While youth may officially terminate their strengthens the family by providing the K, and early grades. education in high school, they often drop supports for parents to engage actively in their child’s education and well-being. The Mott Haven’s ReadNYC is a comprehensive out of learning in the fifth, sixth, and community school aligns academics with program with an extensive set of seventh grades. At this impressionable physical, social and emotional health. interventions. In 2014, United Way age, youth often view schoolwork as launched the program with East Side irrelevant to their life and career goals. The City of New York has set an ambitious House Settlement, five school principals, Developing relevant learning experiences goal of 100 new community schools in and 29 community-based organizations. that captivate student interest through high poverty neighborhoods within four During the Summer of 2014, United Way real-world contexts and providing years. One way the NYC Department piloted its summer learning program for wraparound services to address factors of Education is accomplishing this is students in the five targeted schools. in their environment and lives will directly through a deepened partnership with the During the 2014-2015 academic year, address one of the most critical barriers United Way of New York City. As part of the United Way will be ramping up the to long-term economic competitiveness – a $52 million “Attendance Improvement interventions listed above, with the goal educational attainment. and Dropout Prevention” grant, the DOE of doubling 3rd grade reading proficiency is implementing community schools in by 2020. Community School Young people’s lives are multi- partnership with non-profit organizations across New York City, with an important Middle School Education dimensional, and the school in which focus on low-income neighborhoods. Objective – Engage middle school they spend the large majority of their time Mott Haven is considered one of those students to nurture their passion and must pay attention to an array of needs. neighborhoods. In 2014, to select the expand their horizons, in a supportive Community schools change the culture of schools, the DOE issued an RFP; United environment, that shapes their future education by bringing community assets Way similarly issued an RFP for non- trajectory and resources into the school and target profit partners. In September 2014, the •Expand comprehensive services that interventions that improve attendance DOE announced the first phase, and no support the range of needs for pre- and prevent dropping out. In low-income Mott Haven schools were selected. In teens and their families. communities where poverty is complex and affects the educational outcomes of 2015, DOE will announce the selection of •Match real world opportunities with children, the community school model the second phase of schools. Once the strong academics. provides the support services for youth selection occurs, United Way will match •Increase after school programming to address and solve their issues in a the appropriate non-profit partner. If
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 101 102 a Mott Haven school is not selected in launch. demonstrate to youth that academic skills the second round, Make Mott Haven… are critical to their future. The program is committed to fundraising to support Contextualized Academics introduces math, science, language and the implementation of the community The NYC Department of Education is technology concepts in the context of the school during the 2015-2016 school entertaining a proposal, supported realities of the workplace. Youth, through year. Make Mott Haven… has been in by Make Mott Haven... and the United academics and participation in workplace active discussions with both the DOE Federation of Teachers, to build out a opportunities, will be supported in the and United Way to ensure the resources Science, Technology, Engineering and pathway to college, careers and self- that have been identified and are being Mathematics (STEM)-based curriculum reliance. Three keys aspects of the developed in Mott Haven are part of the that ties directly to workforce demand. curriculum work in tandem: structure of the community school. For The curriculum is being developed in example, the NYC Department of Health collaboration with the National Industry (1) Hands-on academic rigor consistent and Mental Hygiene’s teen reproductive Certification for Teachers (N.I.C.E) with Common Core and industry health program, and the District Initiative, which supports industry credentials. Attorney’s CONCEPT curriculum for teen engagement, credentialing, curriculum (2) Coordinating teachers, parents, violence prevention, are among the many packaging, and scalability for Career students, guidance counselors and resources that Make Mott Haven... brings and Technical Education (CTE) in middle business leaders in Community to the community school. These programs schools. The principle is that schools, in Learning Teams. can be ramped up quickly and are ready partnership with business, must develop (3) Connecting to economic to support the community school upon contextualized education materials, which development systems and strategies.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 103 First, academics are the base for all future model is the engagement of teachers, competencies for well-paying careers achievement. Ensuring that middle school parents, students, guidance counselors, with room for advancement. This piece students are challenged with a rigorous and community business leaders in is particularly important in the context of curriculum is essential in their ability creating opportunities for internships, the Make Mott Haven... planning process. to compete both within and outside job shadowing, career exploration, and Among the most important inputs of the workplace. The introduction of integration of workplace academic, to a region’s prospects for economic contextualized academic material will technical, and employability skills into the success is an educated workforce with support the concept of the integration of community. This is accomplished through the academic, technical and workplace STEM careers, while promoting school Community Learning Teams. Each competencies to leverage existing local retention, expanding interest in careers, team works with participating business assets, generate new business activity and encouraging youth to complete high partners to experience the realities of the and entice companies to locate or expand school and pursue a career pathway. workplace. Teachers connect academic in the community. As will be described in The model promotes higher order instruction with applied material used the Make Mott Haven… Workforce plan, thinking skills (a trait that many parents in the workplace, parents work in teams we have identified immediate workforce expressed as a community need) and with teachers and students, and business needs through new development and are realistic workplace expectations. Most leaders develop relationships with the connecting residents to the equivalent job importantly, the model integrates community. training. However, this long-term strategy contextual academic instruction, is required to support young people on consistent with the criteria articulated Third, the absence of standardized skills the path to adulthood, and middle school in the Common Core State Standards, credentialing and lack of consistency in is the place to start. with customized career and technical the requirements of many occupations skills training and the employability hamper workers’ ability to advance Mott Haven is being promoted as the competencies viewed by the business their careers. Creating a demand-driven location for the launch of the pilot in one sector as critical for workplace success. system is predicated on the ability middle school because of the community The program would also allow students to measure and compare the current support and student need demonstrated to accumulate high school credits early workforce supply with future workforce through the Make Mott Haven... planning which will allow flexibility in their high demands consistent with economic process. As of the writing of the plan, the school schedule to take college classes development strategies. Connecting the Department of Education is developing earlier. community to a responsive workforce the curriculum and determining the system will provide learners with best approach and logistics for rollout. Second, the foundational strategy of the the requisite knowledge, skills and We anticipate that during the school
104 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION year 2014-2015, the curriculum will be neighborhood schools, possibly as early the middle schools described above, we refined, the middle school location will as 2016-2017. will assess impact after the school’s first be selected and teachers will be trained. academic year (in most cases, 2015-2016) Through the expansion of the capacity of High School Choice and develop a plan for implementation in the Bronx UFT Teacher Center, educators New York City has a unique system additional middle schools in Mott Haven. will receive training, resources and where middle school students complete support to help them gain the knowledge an application process for high school After-School Engagement and credentials necessary to train their selection – enabling them to choose As described in the safety section, there students so they are prepared for today’s which high school to attend. The process are high-risk behaviors that middle school — and tomorrow’s — workforce needs is competitive and many students in youth are engaged in – at the most extreme in the high-tech industry. Make Mott middle school are overwhelmed by is gun violence. The lack of meaningful Haven… through its extensive networks or not knowledgeable about the high afterschool activities has been identified will support the DOE in identifying and school choice process. Through the as a key missing link for neighborhood selecting the Community Learning Team. above connections into the local middle youth. Make Mott Haven’s asset mapping In Fall 2015, the pilot launch will occur, schools, high school choice will be a key identified several after school resources, and the DOE will be evaluating closely its priority. Through an education campaign, but two major barriers exist to increasing implementation. During this school year, and dedicated guidance and support the after school capacity: (1) programs students will be exposed to opportunities staff in the schools, the goal is to prepare are under-resourced to capture the full for workplace integration with the students earlier to gain admission to need, and (2) there is a lack of space for business partners – including internships, more selective and better performing expansion. To break down these barriers, job shadowing, and career exploration. In public and private high schools, as Make Mott Haven’s after school strategy its second year, the school model will be well as vocational and technical high is to advocate for additional resources evaluated on several factors, including but schools. Students will be supported in for existing programs, bring new after not limited to school retention, attendance, their research into high schools and in school programming to the community, STEM knowledge, technical skills, and the assessment of options, application and identify existing and new spaces for employability competencies. Based on completion, identification of private and these programs. First, the Make Mott the evaluation, school improvements or prep school scholarship opportunities and Haven... planning process has brought modifications will be made in the 2016- support organizations, and preparation renewed attention to the neighborhood, 2017 academic year. Upon success, Make for academic requirements of selective and funders are taking note of the Mott Haven… will work with the DOE to high schools and specialized exams. important work that is happening. As a roll out the N.I.C.E Initiative to additional While this work will be embedded into result, Make Mott Haven… will support
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 105 AFTER SCHOOL & YOUTH PROGRAMS
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
1- Mill Brook Center 2- P.S. 49 Willis Aveue School 3- Horizon Center 4- Jackson Ave Residence 5- H.S. 427 Community School for Social Justice 6- Mitchell Center 7- PS 670 Health Opportunity High School 8- Mott Haven Village Prep 9- PPNYC: Bronx Center 10- Federation Employment & Guidance Service (FEGS) 11- Boys To Men 12- x343 13- M.S. 223 The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology 14- Hostos, Lincoln Academy of Science 15- JHS 349/345 16- Willow Ave Residence 17- BronxWorks, Betances Community Center Source A & B: Department of Youth and Community 18- East Side House Settlement, Patterson Development (DYCD), as cited in NYC OpenData, Community Center January 2014 19- Mill Brook Center Source C: Community groups with youth programs, 20- Mitchel Center data collected through the Mott Haven CNI planning 21- P.S. 154 Jonathan D. Hyatt School process and community outreach 22- East Side House Settlement, Mott Haven Community Center
YOUTH EMPLOYEEMENT OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR YOUTH LEGEND 23- South Bronx Overall Economic Development 27- Friends of Brook Park Corp. (SOBRO) After School Programs 28- St. Ann’s Church 24- Bronx Works Center 29- Graffiti Ministry Youth Employee 25- Betances Community Center 30- Upbeat New York Community Groups 26- JHS 162 Lola Rodriguez de Tio (X162) 31- Mott Haven Library
106 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION non-profits to apply for new grant funding existing programs that limit their ability historical data shows, many youth in Mott to support their afterschool programs, to expand and opportunities for available Haven do not graduate or are unprepared and advocate among City agencies, space. Based on the results of the analysis for college or a career. Make Mott Haven… especially the NYC Department of Youth and timing of completion of new space, plans to reverse the downward cycle. and Community Development, to focus Make Mott Haven… will work with the While the effects of the changes we are program support in this neighborhood. non-profit provider to match space and implementing at the early education and Second, Make Mott Haven... is partnering providers. middle school level will not be seen at the with new organizations that will provide high school level for another 5-10 years, after school services. In 2014, Harlem High School Education the interventions we are planning now RBI – an active participant in the planning Objective – Prepare young adults for can have an important impact on high process – approached Make Mott Haven... college and careers school students today. to expand their successful program into Mott Haven. While they have funding for • Strengthen academic achievement College and Career Readiness the program, we are currently identifying through increased participation in As is stressed throughout the Make Mott space, within NYCHA’s existing resources, rigorous college courses and programs. Haven… education plan, we expect to to accommodate their program and • Create a college going culture through provide the tools for students to graduate expect ramp up of the program in late new programs that increase resources from high school prepared for college 2014. However, this speaks to a greater to apply to, attend and be successful in and a career. As with the other program ongoing need for more space for these college. areas, our approach for high school types of activities NYCHA is currently students is to continue to strengthen • Expand available pathways to career exploring underutilized spaces on its academic achievement while providing and college success for all youth. campuses throughout the neighborhood; wrap around supports. and in one case, is evaluating the build out of space for a day cares. Also, as High school is a time of significant For academic achievement, Make Mott described in the Housing section, there changes – as students move from Haven… is partnering with Hostos are several new developments that will be youth to adulthood. Filled with new Community College – an important built in the neighborhood, representing independence, it is also a time where anchor institution located adjacent to several thousand square feet of potential creativity and discipline often collide. the catchment area. Hostos, as part of community and commercial space. In In its best combination, these traits can the City University of New York (CUNY) 2015, Make Mott Haven… will conduct an launch young people into their future path system, offers several opportunities for analysis to identify space constraints of of success as an adult. However, as the high school students to gain exposure
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 107 4 YEAR GRADUATION RATE IN MOTT HAVEN, DISTRICT 7, BRONX HIGH SCHOOL RATE
1- International Community High 31% School 2- South Bronx Preparatory 86% 3- Foreign Language Academy Of 48% Global Studies 4- JM Rapport School For Career No data Development 5- Samuel Gompers Career And Technical Education High 30% School 6- Crotona Academy High School 45% 7- University Heights Secondary 85% School 8- Mott Haven Village Prep High 51% School 9- The Urban Assembly Bronx 87% Academy Of Letters 10- Green Dot New York Charter 100% School
High School Transfer (Crotona Academy HS)
Charter School
Source: NYC Department of Ed, Progress report 2012-2013
City average 2012: 64.7% LEGEND Source: NYC Department of Education, Cohorts of 2001 through 2008 (Classes of 2005 through 2012), Graduation Outcomes Highlights report. 90% and Above 40% -59.9%
80%-89.9% Below 40%
60%-79.9% No Data
108 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION – students need to score 75+ on the a goal of reaching all eligible students. English Language Arts Regents exam Students will also be identified at the to take most college-credit humanities Mitchel HUB and provided with support courses or 80+ on the Algebra Regents through the HUB coordinators. Guidance to take a college credit math course. counselors at the local high schools or Students will need both to qualify for a HUB coordinators will provide application four-year CUNY college. To help students and course selection support, and the reach this requirement, Hostos provides Hostos College Now liaison will help the College Focus Summer Program. navigate the student through the process Over the course of four weeks during and provide support while enrolled. The the summer, students will be sharpening education campaign to expose students to college level academics. In the CUNY their academic knowledge. At the end of to the opportunity will begin in early 2015. College Now program, high school the program, students undergo academic Accepted students will begin courses students can take classes at Hostos and testing, and passing scores qualify during the 2015-2016 academic year. earn up to 12 free credits, which in most students to take college level courses cases transfer directly into the CUNY during their senior year. Passing the tests Academic preparation is critical to ensure system. CUNY, as the nation’s leading also ensures that the student will not be that students are prepared for college. public urban university, includes eleven required to take remedial courses, once Make Mott Haven’s goal is, over the course senior colleges, seven community they enter the CUNY college system. In of five years, to see a marked improvement colleges, the Macaulay Honors College addition to this program being free of in the number of students applying to and and five graduate and professional charge, students also receive a student being accepted to community colleges schools. Hostos offers a wide range of Metrocard, snacks and lunch, and an and four-year private and public colleges. academics for high school students, Application Fee Waiver for CUNY’s online Through the academic preparation we including general psychology, expository application – a value of $65. describe above, fewer students will be writing, introduction to criminal justice required to take remedial college courses administration, and pre-calculus, among For both CUNY NOW and Hostos College and more students will be attending and others. Focus Summer Program, Make Mott succeeding in four-year colleges. While Haven…Education, through partnership the high schools are focused on the Currently, many students will not be with the Hostos College Now liaison, DOE academics, there also is a significant need immediately eligible for CUNY Now and local high schools, will introduce this to focus on the mechanics of selecting, because of the high academic requirement opportunity in schools to students, with applying and going to college. The
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 109 Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s campus visits, application completion community partner, and identify the high College Within Reach (CWR) program support (and in some cases, support school for implementation of College uses an integrated, community-based for fee waivers), among other activities. Within Reach. During that time, a formal approach – involving schools, community (2) Financial Education. The community agreement between the school and development organizations and families – partner works with parents and community-partner will be established, that raises awareness of college options, students to complete the FAFSA including identifying space within the helps students navigate and complete (Federal Application for Student Aid) school for the college office. In the spring the application and financial process, and forms. The partner also works one-on- of 2015, peer mentors will be identified, provides them with the support they need one with students to identify and apply and trained during the summer. LISC, in once they have matriculated. Currently for scholarships or other financial partnership with the community-based implemented in 11 schools through three supports. partner, will also engage with the Mitchel community partners, and evaluated by HUB coordinators to ensure that parents (3) Parental Engagement. LISC and the New School’s Center for New York City are provided with information about the partner work to engage parents at Affairs, LISC has developed a model that college for their child. Full roll-out of the locations where they receive services engages 100% of students in the college program will occur in 2015-2016 academic to communicate the benefits of college process. Four pillars of the program make year. Upon success, LISC seeks to expand and help them motivate their children. it a success: the program to additional high schools (1) Peer-to-peer and Community-based (4) Support for Matriculated Students. during the 2017-2018 academic year. Partner Involvement. Peer leaders Using a peer-to-peer approach, are trained to work with students in students are matched with a college Additionally, an existing college readiness the school to introduce their peers mentor. The mentor is assigned to a program will continue to provide to college options and support the group of students from the same high needed support and capacity in the college process. Students are trained school to help them navigate the college neighborhood. The Bronx Opportunity in a 7-week course over the summer requirements, during the summer and Network serves all of the South Bronx, by CARA: College Access Research into their first year. College mentors including Mott Haven, and is comprised and Action. Community partners are trained through CARA. CARA also of several Make Mott Haven… partners – establish a college office in the high established a partnership with 4 CUNY Bronxworks, East Side House Settlement, school and provide a comprehensive colleges, including Hostos Community FEGS Health and Human Services, Sobro, set of services to students interested College, to provide staffed mentors at among others. Each year the Bronx in applying for college – including the schools for additional support. Opportunity Network serves 105 students assessment of best college options, In the winter of 2015, LISC will select the with intensive academic support in the
110 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 111 forms of coaching, instruction, mentoring the Mitchel HUB. In the Safety plan, we several strategies to keep these parents and an online math program during implement the CURE Violence program, active and engaged, especially around the summer. The partners also identify which targets youth in this age range, academic achievement. First, Make Mott institutional barriers and opportunities for violence prevention and intervention, Haven… is partnering with the DOE to that have potential to impact the results and individualized support services to identify parents to participate on the achieved by these high-need students develop a life plan. Through these two parent councils. Through DOE’s FACE and provide wraparound services from programs, young adults that are out-of- (Family And Community Engagement) the menu of available resources that each school and out-of-work will be identified. program, Make Mott Haven... will connect organization offers. For example, FEGS In addition to the wrap around services interested parents into the councils. Health and Human Services, through its those two programs provide, youth will FACE runs elections for these councils Bronx Youth Center in the neighborhood, be referred to the following academic and provides ongoing capacity support. provides the youth with comprehensive and career programs, in partnership with Ensuring that parents have a voice in the case management. In 2015, Bronx the following agencies: NYC Department decision-making in their child’s education Opportunity Network is seeking to double of Youth and Community Development’s is critical to family and community the number of students that it serves. Young Adult Internship Program, and empowerment. Second, information NYC Department of Education’s Young on all the education programs will Opportunities for Out-of-School and Out- Adult Borough Center and Transfer be available at the Mitchel HUB, and of-Work Youth School (both located just two blocks disseminated through the Collective Make Mott Haven… will not leave any north of the catchment area). The goal Network and partner organizations – with child behind. We recognize that a number of all the work in this area is to increase several dozen organizations signed on to of students will veer off course, and academic achievement and support the information network. Coordinators may not get back on track. The result is youth on a career path to self-sufficiency at the HUB will be trained to respond youth – generally ages 16-24 – that are and wellness. to family and student’s educational both out-of-school and out-of-work. needs. The Networks will provide direct Many of these youth are in precarious Parent and Community Engagement referrals to the education provider or the situations, and Make Mott Haven… has The extensive community engagement HUB coordinator. [Information on the identified several strategies to address work that was conducted during the HUB and networks are provided in the the needs of this population. In the two-year planning process established Health section.] Make Mott Haven… is Workforce plan, we discuss access to job trusted connections and networks also working toward an easily accessible, training and workforce support services, with Mott Haven parents and families. virtual network that will be available as well as coordinated support through Make Mott Haven… has designed online and through a mobile app. The
112 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION virtual network will provide a one-click option to access all the neighborhood’s education assets, further connecting residents with community resources. Users of the on-line system will be provided with instruction on how to use the virtual network so that the full value is realized. All resource materials will be in English and Spanish. Lastly, the education strategy must be kept public and alive. Through special events – namely, learning events – education will connect into the other areas of the Transformation Plan, for example a connection to cultural events or other neighborhood-based activities.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... EDUCATION 113 114 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
A sign of a thriving community is residents who feel retention rates, the Plan seeks to help people where they are now get to where confident their lives will improve, their incomes rise, and they need to be to achieve economic their job prospects widen. stability and ultimately, advancement.
Make Mott Haven…Workforce is creating and supporting programs that connect Achieving community economic stability residents to promising career pathways, is a long-term process that builds upon a “Financial to learning skills that are meaningful in neighborhood’s human capital – the skills, the workplace, and to work retention educational attainment, talents, and literacy to assistance. The Workforce strategy is creativity of the working age population. three-fold: The historical lack of educational increase (1) Facilitate career choice and career achievement in Mott Haven continues connections. today with far too many residents who generational (2) Expand job training opportunities. are unemployed, underemployed or wealth and marginally attached to the workforce. (3) Provide access to employment and While the impacts of the Make Mott benefits. sustainability.” Haven… Education Plan will ultimately result in young people prepared with the Workforce Outcomes education, skills and experience needed Make Mott Haven’s overall workforce to succeed in a career, the Make Mott development strategy is to connect Haven… Workforce Plan is bridging the residents to economic opportunity. We immediate gap in labor force participation strive to achieve the following outcomes: for disconnected youth and adults. With • Increased connection of residents to the goal of improving career preparation, local and citywide employment and skill development, employment and job economic opportunity.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE 115 • Increased opportunities for “More Daycare at affordable prices so young mothers disconnected youth to gain education could go to work” and workforce skills.
The metrics we will use to capture these outcomes include: unemployment rate; # and % of residents enrolled in college, job training, or other workforce development program; # and % completed job training or other workforce development program.
Make Mott Haven… will achieve these outcomes with the successful implementation of the priority interventions detailed below.
Bridging the Divide Objective – Facilitating career choice and career connections for community residents, workforce providers and the business community
• Fundamentally change how residents, multi-service providers and the business community interact through a collective impact network. • Increase resident’s access to information through multiple venues – from individual connections to an online web portal and referral system.
116 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE Collective Impact Network to Mott Haven’s residents, and connect outreach to Mott Haven residents through While there is a recognition from employers with a skilled workforce. They this network of community partners. residents, multi-service agencies, and will discuss challenges and replicate SBS will also utilize its centers to hold the business community that Mott Haven best practices through a partner learning recruitment events for job and training has a multitude of programs and services community; improve outreach and share opportunities. Combining the connections that aim to support the workforce information on services to residents; of both REES and SBS ensures there is development goals, few programs in develop measurable referral systems; cross-sector representation. Make Mott the community are able to effectively and attract more investment in Mott Haven will identify resident leaders to coordinate with each other to target their Haven for economic and workforce represent the community voice on the efforts on the ground. The result is often development. The goal is to streamline Network. Several residents have emerged disparate programs that achieve results services, remove duplication, and add as leaders in this area through the but do not serve to support an integrated capacity to fill identified gaps in training planning process, and Make Mott Haven community-based strategy that connects and service delivery. will support them in their participation in residents to a comprehensive set of the Network. targeted and timely opportunities. The NYCHA and the NYC Department of Small workforce and business Collective Impact Business Services (SBS) will co-lead the Make Mott Haven… staffs the Network will do just that. Collective Impact Network. NYCHA, Network, and also brings the extensive building on its Resident Economic relationships with residents that have The Collective Impact Network’s charge Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) actively participated in the Make Mott is to carry out strategies to place local Zone Model, has established a place- Haven... Planning Process. Through residents in growing job opportunities. based network of economic opportunity Network resident leaders, information By developing a Network of residents, service providers in the South Bronx. dissemination at the Mitchel HUB government agencies, multi-service These providers are partnering with REES (described below) and via a web-based providers and the business community, to execute outcome-focused projects referral system and portal, residents this leadership group aims to provide that support residents in increasing will be supported to take advantage tailored training and placement services their income and assets. SBS attracts of workforce programs and also give and brings its network of business and feedback to the Network on barriers “Ways to implement and nurture economic development leaders, who will they experience in using the services. cradle to career initiatives for youth facilitate the connection between trained This will be the first time that residents, working in tandem with colleges and residents and available employment. providers and businesses come together employers” SBS coordinates WorkForce 1 centers to to collaborate regularly and marshal their
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE 117 resources for greater impact to ensure opportunities and residents gain access In 2015, by leveraging the collective there is no “wrong door” in Mott Haven. to all neighborhood services. resources of the Network, Make Mott The result is a more streamlined delivery Haven… will identify the permanent host system. Web Portal and Referral System for the portal and staff designated for Many residents, of working age, are very keeping information updated. This web- NYCHA is currently developing the savvy with technology, and Make Mott based referral system will feed into the agreement with SBS to co-lead the Haven seeks to access as many residents Make Mott Haven… HUB portal and app, Network. In the fourth quarter of 2014, as possible to disseminate information. which is an interactive online system that NYCHA and SBS will engage with For many programs, individuals do not includes resources for education, health partners who have expressed interest in have to go to a physical location to learn and wellness, cultural activities, and other participating in the Network through the about a program or a job opportunity. neighborhood resources. Choice Neighborhood Planning process, Residents expressed the need to have determine gaps in partner relationships immediate and current access to the Mitchel HUB and conduct outreach. In early 2015, information they seek. To respond, the While virtual access to information is NYCHA and SBS will host the Collective Network will develop an online platform important, we recognize that many Impact Network kick-off meeting, where that links to available workforce programs residents will need support to navigate partners will begin to develop the and job opportunities. Mott Haven through the opportunities to determine common agenda for working together providers are currently utilizing REES’ what best fits their individual needs. The and to design the formal referral system. web-based referral system. With support Mitchel HUB serves several purposes, Over the course of its first year, the from Citi Community Development, REES with the main goal of supporting resident Network will create a learning community is further enhancing this system to allow connectivity and opportunity to access of residents, providers, and businesses, for resident e-service options, cross programs and resources through personal and implement immediate opportunities referrals between partners, a consistent touch points. At the HUB, residents – from for cross-collaboration that are identified. feedback loop, and outcome sharing – youth to seniors – can access referrals REES is currently implementing a similar which together support the alignment and information about all the available partner learning community in another of individual organizational activities, education, workforce, health, safety and NYC neighborhood, and has the model facilitate complementary services, and other quality of life improvements of the to scale in Mott Haven. The Network reduce duplicative services. Building Make Mott Haven… Transformation Plan. will also build the web portal and from system’s baseline of information The Mitchel HUB is fully described in referral system – where providers share and functionality, NYCHA will initially the Make Mott Haven… Health Plan. For program resources, businesses share job host the web portal under REES’s system. workforce services, residents will gain
118 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE detailed information on available training programs that match the varied skill is also a primary vehicle for preparing and job opportunities. Residents can sets and interests of community residents for Section 3 jobs. Funded by also access HUB Coordinators, who are residents. the Robin Hood Foundation, the NRTA is a trained in all the neighborhood resources collaboration among NYCHA and many of and help residents identify services they Resident Training Academy the premier training providers in New York are eligible to receive. For example, NYCHA’s Resident Training Academy City. NRTA is designed not only to prepare coordinators will walk residents through (NRTA) provides employment-linked trainees for entry-level employment, but the web portal, and educate them on how training opportunities and job placement also to assist in developing career plans to apply for online jobs. Akin to coaches, assistance to NYCHA residents citywide that will lead to promotion and increased the coordinators will support individual in the construction, pest control, wages. Since launching the program in residents over time. HUB Coordinators maintenance, and janitorial fields. REES 2010, over 1000 NYCHA residents have also provide recommendations for family works with successful graduates of completed training through the NRTA supports; for example, a parent who the academy to provide job placement with 89% of graduates obtaining jobs seeks employment and early childhood assistance by focusing on career paths. with NYCHA, NYCHA vendors and other education resources – such as Pre-K – Past graduates have worked with REES private employers. for their child. Service providers and to obtain jobs at NYCHA in positions businesses will have a centralized venue such as Caretakers and Pest Control Currently, NRTA providers are in Brooklyn to announce new programs, and recruit Technicians, and with NYCHA contractors based on the training tracks offered. In trainees or new employees. The HUB will and affordable housing developers in order to increase participation from the serve as an active community space with the various construction trades. NRTA Bronx, NYCHA is planning to expand the relevant, intergenerational programming and activities that connect residents to services and build community.
Building Human Resources “Más oportunidades Objective – Expanding job training opportunities that connect strong career de trabajo para los paths with employment demand: contratistas del area” • Substantial increase in the number, type, and offering of workforce training
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE 119 NRTA to a site that will serve residents Haven community. We seek to train 200 Market-Driven Skills Training from the Bronx and Upper Manhattan Mott Haven residents through the NRTA With more than 50% of the population not closer to home. Connecting to the Make and other Zone Partner programs during in the workforce, it is imperative to have Mott Haven… Housing Plan and new this time. Recruitment is ongoing, with accurate information on the barriers to development strategy, NYCHA will attract Mott Haven residents accessing slots employment. SBS has developed a tool quality provider(s) to a new ground in multiple NRTA cycles throughout the to conduct a market study to identify the floor community space of one of the program year. Upon completion of the new existing skills through a series of resident new developments where they can offer Bronx site for expanded training under the assessments. This targeted strategy will training as part of the NRTA umbrella. Academy, we expect the capacity to serve appropriately measure the job training The training offered will be designed to approximately 250 residents per year. needs of residents based on current and increase capacity locally within existing Based on the current results of the NRTA, emerging employment opportunities. training tracks and/or expand to new tracks we seek to achieve 85% job placement Make Mott Haven… will utilize this that reflect recognized growth sectors. rate and strong job retention rates after assessment to determine opportunities We expect construction will be completed two years. Trainings offered at the center for resident training that matches in late 2017. Between 2015-2017, Make will be sector focused and connected to resident’s skills and workforce demand, Mott Haven… will provide transportation key City employment intermediaries, as through both the existing network stipends for current NYCHA residents well as NYCHA. and new resources. SBS is beginning to NRTA and other REES Zone Partner the assessment, and it is expected to programs that are outside of the Mott be completed by early 2015, at which
120 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE point Make Mott Haven… will begin to term employment and comprehensive low-income individuals and recipients of implement recommendations which benefits that form the basis for economic government assistance. will also be used to inform and develop stability trainings to be offered at the new Bronx As described in the Make Mott Haven… site of the NRTA. • Hold contractors responsible for their Housing Plan, NYCHA is planning major obligation to provide employment renovation of Betances Houses, ongoing Make Mott Haven… will leverage three opportunities, through Section 3, to capital repairs to the four other NYCHA key community-based partners – Hostos NYCHA residents developments in the neighborhood, and Community College, BronxWorks, and three new housing developments on • Expand access to jobs that match FEGS Health and Human Services – to NYCHA property. This work will result resident skill sets with clear career ensure that training is aligned with the in a significant number of workforce and trajectory, while also supporting demand identified in the SBS report. construction opportunities for NYCHA financial literacy and asset building These three partners currently provide residents. NYCHA will guarantee that training in growing occupations, and • Ensure the hardest to reach youth Section 3 preferences are structured have the capacity to develop and/or are engaged and provided with through the new construction efforts connect to training opportunities that are opportunities that build on their that will be underway. As per Section not currently available in the community. passion and expand their skills 3 guidelines, NYCHA will ensure that BronxWorks provides occupational • Encourage local business 30% of the aggregate number of new training in healthcare, customer service development and entrepreneurship hires are Section 3 residents. In order and hospitality. FEGS recently designed to meet and exceed this goal, NYCHA a new training for EMT positions, which Section 3 will add an additional measure requiring is operating out of its Mott Haven Bronx Connecting NYCHA residents to contractors to expend at least 15% of their Youth Center. Through its Division for opportunities created through the labor cost on resident hires for contracts Continuing Education and Workforce Make Mott Haven… Transformation exceeding $500,000. NYCHA will leverage Development, Hostos has myriad job Plan is a critical goal. NYCHA has an its existing infrastructure to monitor the training programs for individuals not extensive process to achieve Section contracts to ensure compliance is met; served by the traditional instruction of the 3 requirements and compliance, and contractors will be held to all the contract college. ensure that employment and contracting obligations, including Section 3 and opportunities generated by certain other hiring requirements. NYCHA will Achieving Economic Stability Federal funding are directed to its work with SBS and other local business Objective – Providing direct access to long- residents, particularly low- and very- development service providers to ensure
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE 121 local Mott Haven Section 3 businesses support, rent-based and other financial enhancement that is provided through are connected to NYCHA’s Section 3 incentives that “make work pay,” and the NYC Department of Consumer business concern registry and aware community based activities that support Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment of procurement opportunities available a culture of work. JobsPlus has three (OFE) and Credit Where Credit is Due. through Make Mott Haven... Outcomes components: OFE-trained counselors provide on-site of these efforts will be reported to (1) Participants are connected with on- financial counseling, focusing on issues the community as part of Make Mott site employment-related services such like debt, credit, savings, budgeting, Haven… and to HUD on an annual basis. as job search assistance, GED courses, and financial literacy. In 2013, through Additionally, with the major economic and vocational training, among others. a partnership with lead agency FEGS housing development occurring in and (2) Public housing residents are offered Health and Human Services, Start Small, around Mott Haven, Make Mott Haven... rent-based work incentives, such Think Big, Inc., and East Side House will work with the employers to develop as a temporary rent freeze when a Settlement, a Jobs-Plus site was opened agreements for hiring of NYCHA trained resident begins working. Incentives at the MillBrook Community Center. The residents. Residents will also be provided help residents take full advantage of partnership leverages FEGS’ experience with notification of Section 3 opportunities current federal rules that may allow in workforce development and East through the following venues: postings increased earnings to be disregarded Side House’s expertise in educational at the developments, link in web portal in calculating rent levels. programming and connection to referral system, notification through community resources. Start Small, Think (3) Program staff recruit, train and the Collective Impact Network and its Big provides financial literacy counseling. supervise a small cadre of residents provider and business partners, and Funding for the Millbrook site is part of as ‘community coaches’ who conduct referrals through the HUB Coordinators. the three year program expansion funded community outreach and coordinate NYCHA will also recommend trained by New York City. The BronxWorks site is neighbor-to-neighbor work supports. residents through the NRTA directly to funded by the Federal Social Innovation the contracting entities. Fund and other private funders. Both sites Two JobsPlus centers operate in Mott serve a critical workforce function in the JobsPlus Haven, and each serve over 600 people community and are primary connection JobsPlus is an evidence-based model annually. Since 2011, BronxWorks points for residents seeking employment that improves the level of earnings and JobsPlus center has supported Betances and advancement services throughout employment among residents of public residents as well as residents of Moore their career trajectory. When implemented housing. The program saturates targeted House and East 152nd St. and Courtland. well, the Jobs-Plus model has proven to developments with job and career This site also has a financial capability increase earnings among public housing
122 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE residents by 16 percent over a sustained such as JobsPlus or through the Network the Mott Haven community with locally- period. Attracting proven models, like referral system. Make Mott Haven… has based partners. Many LISC AmeriCorps Jobs-Plus, to public housing communities identified three additional resources that members serve the communities in is a key component of REES’ overall Zone are targeted specifically to out-of-school which they live. By offering members the Model. We believe this is a resource and out-of-work, and will expand the opportunity to serve in communities on that needs to continue to be funded in programs over the next two years. the cusp of positive change, together we order to achieve the Make Mott Haven… expand the pool of neighborhood leaders workforce goals. In 2015, Make Mott First, the NYC Department of Youth and with the skills and drive to effect long-term Haven… will join with these community- Community Development is partnering change in their communities. LISC will based partners to advocate for continued with Make Mott Haven... to expand its work with Make Mott Haven… to secure funding, and identify opportunities to Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP). slots for this population of youth. In early leverage funding to continue support of YAIP offers 14 weeks of paid orientation, 2015, LISC will identify the community- these centers. training and work followed by 9 months based partners who will host members. of follow-up services and assistance for Members would begin their year- Opportunities for Out-of-School and Out- placement in permanent jobs, training long service in September 2015. Upon of-Work Youth programs and educational opportunities. success, LISC will identify opportunities As demonstrated by the data, one of the During Fall 2014 and Winter 2015, Make for expansion and continuation. greatest challenges is to better support Mott Haven… will identify organizations youth in education and workforce and private employers, including those In line with LISC’s AmeriCorps program, development. Mott Haven has one of the described in Make Mott Haven… Economic Make Mott Haven… will also leverage highest percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds Development section, with capacity to national service as a strategy for in the City who are both out of school and host interns. In 2015, DYCD will increase generating economic opportunity for out of work. The workforce strategy for the number of youth that are served in young adults through Green City Force these youth is to provide more effective Mott Haven through the YAIP program, (GCF), an AmeriCorps program that pathways to connect to careers through and maintain these opportunities for the engages young people from low-income mentor relationships, internships, next five years. backgrounds in national service related to and training programs. The Mitchel the environment. NYCHA has connected HUB Coordinators will identify these Second, Local Initiatives Support over 200 residents aged 18-24 to clean disconnected youth, and support their Corporation (LISC) is partnering with energy and academic training through connections to the various workforce Make Mott Haven... to explore the GCF since 2009. 80% of graduates have opportunities described in this plan – deployment of AmeriCorps members in gone on to careers and college. GCF
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE 123 “Need more diversity of job opportunities and training”
works closely with REES, in addition to NYCHA’s planned development activities. on-going career support and guidance – NYCHA’s Energy Finance & Sustainability, Lastly, through REES, Make Mott alumni earn $35,000 a year on average Gardening and Greening programs, to Haven… will expand the number of and over 84% of graduates are working create training experiences that build youth that participate in Year Up. Year Up and/or in college within six months. Make skills among young participants, while provides yearlong training and corporate Mott Haven… will identify eligible youth meeting the Authority’s sustainability internships for youth 18-24, with a high through the Collective Impact Network, goals. Through additional support, school diploma or GED, interested in Mitchel HUB and other networks, and NYCHA can increase the number of Mott professional careers in Business and support them in their application to Year Haven NYCHA Youth served through GCF, Technology. While earning a stipend of Up during the Fall 2014, with the first while incurring a measurable impact on $260 per week, youth will spend 5 months cohort of youth entering the spring 2015 energy savings through service-learning learning in-demand technical, business class. Make Mott Haven… will provide projects aimed at Mott Haven NYCHA and professional skills, and then work in continued support for disconnected developments. Mott Haven GCF graduates a 6 month corporate internship with a youth for fall and spring classes over the will also be prepared and connected to Fortune 500 company. Upon completion next five years. relevant opportunities generated through they will belong to a community with
124 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE Business Incubation and Entrepreneurship State Empire Development Corp. SoBRO will be raised and bridges will be built to Support will be working in partnership with Make the residents. This will help bring down Make Mott Haven... workforce partner, Mott Haven to identify the community’s the invisible, but real, walls that keep SoBRO, currently houses business business development needs. It will NYCHA residents from utilizing economic incubator space in the Mott Haven tailor education courses and offer them development resources in the community neighborhood. The space houses twenty- on-site at Betances to NYCHA residents and keep those resources from reaching three businesses including construction who want to start businesses or formalize NYCHA residents. companies, electrical contractors, and and scale up the ones they have. As technology start-ups. There are a few those new businesses launch, they may Workforce Development Partners spaces available in the incubator but be good candidates for moving into the Our partners cut across multiple sectors there is growing demand for more, and SoBRO business incubator. – residents, government agencies, multi- new types of, space. For example, a service providers, and the business group of restaurant owners is looking Another resource for the business and labor community. Partners leading for a warehouse space that can be community and aspiring business people direct interventions include: NYCHA’s made into a food cooperative for them is SoBRO’s business mentoring program. Resident Economic Empowerment and to purchase food for their restaurants. This work is funded by the New York City’s Sustainability (REES), NYC Department of SoBRO is looking for a location and for Small Business Services, the Federal Small Business Services, NYC Department food businesses who want to rent space Minority Business Development Agency of Youth and Community Development, in the coop to sell to the local restaurants. and Empire State EDC. It has enabled NYC Human Resources Administration, Launching and running this coop will a number of small, new businesses in BronxWorks, FEGS Health and Human also provide employment opportunities the community to build capacity. More Services, East Side House Settlement, that can be filled through the Collective seasoned business owners and managers SoBRO and Local Initiatives Support Impact Network. work with newer owners and managers to Corporation. show them what it takes to run successful The entrepreneurship program, providing businesses. This is another program support for Bronx start-up businesses SoBRO will work to involve Mott Haven and residents who want to start their residents in as part of Make Mott Haven. own businesses, is another component of the important economic development By bringing information sessions, training work SoBRO performs in the community. programs and mentoring on-site to This work is funded by the New York NYCHA, the visibility of these programs
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... WORKFORCE 125 126 To accomplish this work NYCHA will for HEALTH the first time enlist the partnership support of the City’s accomplished Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to The goal of the Make Mott Haven... Health initiatives is to focus attention and resources on a partic- ular NYC community with a high density transform the neighborhood of Mott Haven from a chronic of NYCHA housing. The comprehensive health objectives of Make Mott Haven... disease hotspot into a community where residents and are as follows: public and private partners work in close collaboration to (1) Reduce Mott Haven’s diabetes & reduce health disparities and ensure resources to support obesity rates over the next 5 years by in- healthy living are within reach of all residents. creasing health knowledge and chang- ing the environment to make healthier choices the easier choices. The health data presented in previous (2) Increase physical activity through sections are clear – Mott Haven’s chronic active design and fitness programming. “Farmers disease rates are high, even when com- (3) Promote access to healthy food op- pared with other low income neighbor- tions. market for hoods. Fortunately, the community is not without an extensive base of health (4) Contribute to efforts to lower asth- healthier assets to leverage in pursuit of the goal. ma rates and hospitalizations. Health care system assets such as a dy- (5) Improve connectivity and service co- namic public hospital and several feder- ordination between local health provid- options.” ally-qualified health centers join other ers and residents, and support seniors neighborhood-based resources including aging in place. parks, recreation centers and an increas- ing number of healthy food access initia- Health Outcomes tives to lay the foundation for a dramatic As a result of the strategic expansion of reframing of the community’s health. evidence-based programs, the introduc- tion of new strategies and intense efforts
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HEALTH 127 to integrate and align a diverse set of in- ing well informed about chronic disease “Try to get local terrelated initiatives, Make Mott Haven... prevention; # and % of NYCHA residents supermarkets involved in will drive positive health outcomes that who have a place where they regularly will improve the overall quality of life and go, other than an emergency room, when providing and promoting directly support efforts to improve educa- they are sick or in need of advice about tion and employment opportunities and their heath; # and % that report fruit and healthy choices” safety in the community. vegetable consumption and physical ac- tivity. Health outcomes that will result from the objectives and support the overall health Make Mott Haven... will produce these goal are as follows: outcomes with the successful implemen- • Reduced diabetes, asthma and obesity tation of the priority interventions detailed rates. below. DOHMH will be the lead imple- • Increase in open space and participa- mentation partner. A list of additional tion in free and low cost fitness pro- partners leading or supporting key health gramming. plan components can be found at the end of the section. • Expansion in number of local retail es- tablishments offering healthy food op- Aggressive Diabetes Prevention tions and increased utilization of farm- Objective - Reduce Mott Haven’s diabetes ers markets. & obesity rates over the next 5 years by in- • Increased access to continuous and creasing health knowledge and changing preventive health care. the environment to make healthier choic- es the easier choices: The metrics we will use to capture these • Significantly expand and increase par- outcomes include: # and % of residents ticipation in the Diabetes Prevention with diabetes; # and % of residents with Program. asthma; # and % of residents with health • Work with community partners to pi- insurance; # and % of NYCHA residents en- lot a local public information campaign rolled in disease management programs; emphasizing diabetes prevention and # and % of NYCHA residents reporting be- management.
128 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HEALTH Mott Haven, and the adjacent community of Hunts Point have the highest diabetes rates in New York City. Make Mott Haven... will launch a major coordinated effort to scale up the National Diabetes Preven- tion Program (DPP) to reach hundreds of Mott Haven residents at risk of develop- ing the disease. DPP, one of several ev- idence-based health programs that will be implemented through Make Mott Ha- ven..., is a lifestyle change program that has been found to reduce the risk of devel- oping the disease by over 50%.
The Spanish language translation of the DPP’s 16 core lesson curriculum has re- cently been finalized, offering a dynamic opportunity to operate multiple Spanish language groups in a community with na- tionally-recognized health disparities. The National Institutes of Health-funded His- panic Community Health Study surveyed Hispanics in four cities and found that Bronx residents have the highest levels of diabetes and asthma nationwide. Make Mott Haven... partners YMCA and Health People (which emphasizes the engage- ment of community residents as lifestyle coaches) will lead DPP group classes at community-based sites such as communi- ty centers and health clinics.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HEALTH 129 In conjunction with the DPP program ational, cultural, and commercial resourc- Mott Haven. Walking trails are recognized targeting specific community residents, es across the South Bronx. Community by the Centers for Disease Control as an Make Mott Haven... will convene com- residents repeatedly stated that opportu- evidence-based intervention to promote munity partners to develop and pilot a nities for physical activity are limited, and physical activity. MMH is working with new public information campaign to raise 62% of Betances residents surveyed re- the NYC Economic Development Corpo- awareness throughout Mott Haven of ported no participation in physical activity ration to establish a greenway connecting pre-diabetes and the benefits of preven- within the past 30 days. As outlined in the the 149th Street commercial HUB to Ran- tion for both those at risk of developing Housing section, Make Mott Haven... will dalls Island, a 330 acre recreational area the disease and those already diagnosed. activate two spaces in Betances North to that is currently inaccessible for Mott Ha- An estimated 1 in 3 community residents promote physical activity among children ven residents. is pre-diabetic. Obesity and diabetes pre- and adults. Interior space rehabilitated vention will also be advanced through the or built as part of Make Mott Haven... will Make Mott Haven... has also engaged physical activity and healthy food efforts also include active design elements such community partner Casita Maria to ex- detailed below. as stairwell lighting upgrades and signage pand the South Bronx Cultural Trail to Mott to encourage the use of stairs. Haven with resident-driven murals to con- Active Mott Haven nect all five NYCHA developments and St. Objective - Increase physical activity Interior and exterior improvements within Mary’s Park. Five cultural and historical through active design and fitness pro- the development will be complemented landmarks in Mott Haven will be highlight- gramming: by two community infrastructure proj- ed for the trail and will receive a physical • Implement active design elements ects to promote walking and biking across marker in 2015. Make Mott Haven... will such as greening, lighting and security enhancements. • Utilize street and sidewalk marked “We need to support community gardeners and trails to promote walking and biking. • Promote fitness classes, walking revitalize empty lots with the help of the youth. groups, and additional free physical fit- ness activities. We need a farm where we can grow vegetables & Make Mott Haven... will incorporate active fruits in St. Marys Park” living design to promote physical activity and increase connectivity to other recre-
130 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HEALTH develop opportunities for programming to promote affordable and accessible and continued celebration of these sites, healthy food options including farmers and will also promote physical activity in- markets and other produce-based retail frastructure within St. Mary’s Park such as options. the track and adult fitness equipment. Access to healthy food was consistently Finally, in collaboration with the NYC De- identified as a major priority by residents partment of Parks and Recreation, Make throughout the Make Mott Haven... plan- Mott Haven... will expand participation ning process. Community members re- in the community’s free Shape Up NYC ported that access to quality, affordable classes. Currently offered at Betances fresh produce and other healthy options Community Center and St. Mary’s Recre- in the neighborhood is extremely limit- ation Center, Make Mott Haven... will iden- ed. This is a major factor underlying the tify additional locations to accommodate community’s low consumption of fruits new classes and promote the opportuni- and vegetables and high rates of nutri- ty to participate through the Mitchel HUB tion-based chronic disease. and HUB online portal. The HUB will also help promote senior walking groups led Make Mott Haven... will establish com- by neighborhood senior center providers. munity partnerships to coordinate and connect strategies to improve access to Healthy Food Within Reach and utilization of fresh produce and other Objective - Promote access to healthy healthy food options. Young people re- food options by increasing participation siding in the target developments will be in Shop Healthy NYC and supporting res- recruited to administer the Department of ident leaders working on related healthy Health’s Shop Healthy program. They will food access strategies: conduct a comprehensive scan of the re- • Train and field local youth to encour- tail food environment focusing on “bode- age food retailers to expand access to gas” or small grocery stores. DOHMH and healthy food options. the Shop Healthy interns will record and • Actively engage resident leaders and measure the availability of healthy foods community and senior centers in efforts and beverages within each store. Once
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HEALTH 131 assessed, food retailers, suppliers, and and local partners such as operators of Make Mott Haven... will leverage the con- distributors will be encouraged to offer community, senior, and child care cen- tributions of property management, res- and promote healthy options. Make Mott ters. This work will also be supported by idents, and community partners to dra- Haven... expects to increase the number CDC grants recently awarded to DOHMH matically upgrade indoor environmental of bodegas participating in Shop Healthy and the Institute for Family Health. Make health in the five public housing develop- NYC by 50 stores per year. Mott Haven... staff will ensure that related ments. This begins with indoor air qual- healthy food access projects are coordinat- ity. All new buildings created as part of Make Mott Haven... will work to expand ed and integrated, and that resources are Make Mott Haven... implementation will access to affordable, healthy food across specifically leveraged to support chronic be established as smoke-free buildings the spectrum of retail food. We will col- disease prevention among residents. (impacting an estimated 200 units). Exist- laborate with a new supermarket opening ing developments will become a priority along the edge of the catchment area to Ensuring Healthy Homes focus for a NYCHA project that works with promote the availability of fresh produce Objective - Contribute to efforts to lower resident leaders and property manage- and other healthy food. Make Mott Ha- asthma rates and hospitalizations by re- ment to reduce exposure to secondhand ven... will engage partners with exper- ducing exposure to secondhand smoke smoke and promote the availability of ces- tise conducting culturally-relevant cook- and promoting other healthy housing in- sation resources for smokers interested in ing demonstrations that highlight how terventions: quitting. DOHMH and the NYC Coalition to make traditional and non-traditional for a Smoke-Free City are key partners for meals more nutritious. Make Mott Hav- • Establish smoke-free policy in newly this work. en... will also work with community resi- constructed buildings and work with dents and partners to increase utilization residents and property managers of ex- As previously described, the comprehen- of the neighborhood’s two farmers mar- isting buildings to reduce secondhand sive housing upgrades at Betances will kets, both of which accept Health Bucks, smoke exposure and promote cessa- address deteriorating housing conditions a NYC incentive program to promote ac- tion supports. that impact health such as leaks, excess cess for New Yorkers purchasing food with • Prioritize work orders for mold reme- moisture, and lack of adequate ventilation. SNAP-funded electronic benefit transfer diation and pest control. Across Mott Haven developments, work cards. orders for mold remediation, pest control, • Partner with a.i.r. Bronx home visiting and other healthy housing areas will be program to target services to children All healthy food access initiatives will be prioritized, particularly for residents with with asthma. sustained by the active engagement of asthma and other chronic respiratory con- community leaders (including gardeners) ditions beginning in 2015.
132 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HEALTH Annual asthma hospitalizations in Mott local health providers to expand access HUB information coordinators will facili- Haven are consistently double the rate to health care information. tate community partnerships and also as- seen citywide for children. Lincoln Hospi- • Facilitate strategic partnerships be- sist in the coordination of health services tal is developing a.i.r.Bronx modeled after tween health care providers and other to residents. They will host quarterly calls a.i.r.Harlem, an evidence-based program key community stakeholders. with five key health care providers (Belvis, to help asthmatic children manage their Lincoln, Morris Heights, Bronx Care, and • Support and integrate efforts to help disease. The program utilizes includes Jackson Ave Family Residence) to support promote healthy aging in place for se- home visits, education, environmental effective resident referrals and follow-up. niors. mitigation, legal support, and school- The information coordinators will also based programs to transform disease out- be tasked with developing deeper rela- comes for impacted families. In Harlem Discussed in previous sections of the plan, tionships between health care providers, positive outcomes included reduced asth- the proposed HUB at Mitchel Houses will public health experts, community-based ma symptoms (such as wheezing, chest promote connectivity, access and oppor- organizations and other stakeholders to tightening, and sleep disturbances), a tunity for Mott Haven residents who of- support the full spectrum of Make Mott 64% reduction in emergency room visits, ten have services within reach that can Haven... health initiatives. The coordina- and 14% reduction in school absenteeism. be difficult to coordinate. The health care tors and navigators will work closely so Make Mott Haven... will work to ensure needs of residents are central to the focus that information is communicated in a this program reaches impacted children in of the Mitchel HUB. Two resident outreach timely way. Community health informa- Mott Haven public housing developments navigators and two information coordina- tion will also be prominent in the online and will also leverage program resourc- tors will staff the HUB. The locally-hired HUB portal and app. es to bring information to adult residents resident outreach navigators will provide that suffer from asthma. home visits to residents and work with in- HUB staff will work with New York dividuals and family members to develop State-funded Exchange Navigators, such Facilitating Community Connections a plan based on their needs. Navigators as BronxWorks, to promote access to Objective - Improve connectivity and ser- will use the plan as a roadmap to connect health insurance coverage by integrating vice coordination between local health residents to appropriate health coverage, outreach and enrollment in the New York providers and residents to provide high prevention, intervention and treatment – State Health Exchange. Finally, the HUB quality, clinically appropriate services that including healthy food and active living will connect residents to information on emphasize prevention: resources described in previous sections; eligibility for and enrollment in public • Create Health Services HUB walk-in and qualifying health care, medical care, benefits and other services administered center for South Bronx residents and and mental health services. by the NYC Human Resources Administra-
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HEALTH 133 tion. This includes Adult Protective Ser- • Active Living Every Day – behavior we will broker these relationships. vices, cash assistance and SNAP benefits, change program that helps participants With the large senior and aging popula- and medical coverage and assistance in- overcome barriers to physical activity tion in Betances Houses, we are seeing cluding Long Term Care. and make positive changes that im- a naturally occurring retirement commu- prove health and well-being. nity, referred to as a NORC. Make Mott HUB staff will be trained in the full breadth • Healthy IDEAS – identifying depres- Haven… seeks to support this population of HRA benefits and eligibility require- sion and providing empowering activ- to remain in their residence. Through the ments. Links to HRA benefits and appli- ities for seniors. NORC, Make Mott Haven… will establish cations will also be provided on the web supportive service programs that provide • Stay Active and Independent for Life portal referral system. services to the elderly that allow them to (SAIL) – an ongoing class that meets maintain their independence and forestall three times per week for one hour, and Make Mott Haven... will also have target- unnecessary hospital and nursing stays. includes warm-up, aerobics, balance ed services for seniors, and will serve as The NORC will include case management activities, strengthening, and stretching a physical home for several key services services, wellness classes and health care exercises. designed to promote healthy aging in management, as well as the wellness pro- place. Make Mott Haven... will work with DFTA expects to roll out these programs grams described above. The NORC will senior service providers and the the NYC in 2015. All seniors in Mott Haven will include an in-reach component that in- Department for the Aging (DFTA), which have access. Make Mott Haven... HUB Co- cludes home visits. Home visits include has committed to expanding their port- ordinators will identify seniors and sup- assessing the seniors’ activities of daily folio of evidence-based programming in port their participation in the program. We living, engaging with the senior and fami- Mott Haven senior centers. DFTA currently will also work with other partners, such ly members to ensure needed services are contracts six neighborhood centers in the as West Side Federation for Senior and put in place and that there is a notification Mott Haven area. In connection with Make Supportive Housing who currently serve system, helping to access public benefits Mott Haven’s overall health and wellness seniors, to ensure that these opportuni- and programs through Make Mott Hav- strategies, DFTA will increase programs ties are shared with seniors throughout en..., and advocating with service provid- based on the community’s most pressing the community. DFTA will also integrate ers to ensure all needed services are in needs. These programs include: its Intergenerational Program, which is a place and remain in place. BronxWorks • Active Choices – a physical activity collaborative effort between high schools would be the lead partner for the NORC. program that helps individuals incorpo- and senior centers to provide companion- Make Mott Haven… will work with DFTA rate preferred activities into their daily ship and mentoring. Through Make Mott to identify resources for the NORC imple- lives. Haven’s connections with local schools, mentation.
134 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... HEALTH As described in the Make Mott Haven… Housing and Neighborhood plans, senior housing is an important component of the physical transformation. NYCHA will be including universal design features in the rehabilitation of Betances Houses North. The West Side Fed- eration for Senior and Supportive Housing (WSFSSH) is developing an additional 169 units of affordable housing for seniors, in its Tres Puentes building. Tres Puentes is connected to Borinquen Court, another senior housing building. In this development, WSFSSH has a senior center that provides services and programs to its residents and those in the surrounding NYCHA developments. Tres Puentes will include additional community space, where the expansion of DFTA and other programs will occur. It also has ground floor space, which WSFSSH is contemplating locating a geriatric health center. Access to these affordable housing resources is particularly import- ant for the aging population in Mott Haven.
Health Partners NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, NYC Department for the Aging, NYC Eco- nomic Development Corporation, NYC Coalition for a Smoke-Free City, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Diagnostic and Treatment Center (pending application for Federally Qualified Health Center designation), Lincoln Medical Center, Health and Hospitals Corporation, Health Peo- ple, Bronx Health REACH/Institute for Family Health, YMCA, Friends of St. Mary’s Park, BronxWorks, West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, New York Academy of Medicine, and Casita Maria.
“There is not much access to healthy food in the neighborhood.” 135 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
136 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... NEIGHBORHOOD 137 SAFETY
An individual’s perceived or real identification with feelings explanations why some residents will not travel to another part of the neighborhood of safety directly defines how they interact with their space for an education or workforce training and community. program. We acknowledge that without a safe environment, residents will not step out beyond their comfort zone- Residents of Mott Haven are fearful prohibiting them from achieving their full of crime in their neighborhood and potential and as a result, the community development, and it affects how they will not be transformed. participate in the available community resources. Similarly, it is difficult to attract In response, we focus our Safety plan new investment into a neighborhood that on intervention and prevention. Make is plagued by high crime. It was through Mott Haven… will build on, expand, the extensive community visioning over and integrate a set of discrete programs the course of the Choice Neighborhood and strategies to reduce violence in planning process that allowed Make the neighborhood into a multi-layered Mott Haven… to better understand the initiative, relying on the collective impact safety and security issues that residents of resident engagement, infrastructure face on a day-to-day basis, and how improvements, agency connectedness, local organizations and businesses are and early intervention programs to ensure impacted. Unsecure areas, dark pathways, its success. concern about drug or gun activity – “We need to have these are all reasons that residents cited Partners include New York Police when asked why they do not use available more cameras for Department, NYPD 40th and 44th open space for physical activity. Turf Precincts, NYPD Police Service Area 7, wars, gang activity, unsafe streets – were our safety.” U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern
138 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... SAFETY interventions detailed below.
Intervention Objective – Reduce the most pervasive and pressing safety issue in Mott Haven: gun violence:
• Expand evidence-based program that aggressively interrupts gun violence at its core. • Create safer living environments by removing tenants that have repeated gun violations.
District of New York, Bronx District • Reduction in gun-related crimes. CURE Violence Attorney’s Office, South Bronx Save • Reduction in nuisance and quality of CURE Violence is an evidence-based Our Streets (SOS), Center for Court life crimes. community intervention model that works Innovation’s Bronx Community Solutions, • Safer and more secure environment to reverse the spread of violence by using and Osborne Association. by upgrading parks and open spaces. the methods and strategies associated with disease control – detection and Safety Outcomes The metrics we will use to capture these interruption, identifying individuals Make Mott Haven’s overall safety strategy outcomes include: # and % decrease in involved in transmission, and changing is to reduce violence and promote safety. gun-related crimes; # and % decrease in social norms in the communities where Improved safety is the foundation crime rate; # and % of NYCHA residents violence occurs. Implementation and for community transformation, and who report feeling somewhat or very outcome evaluations have shown greatly impacts all of the other areas of safe. the model to be effective in reducing the Transformation Plan. Many of the shootings and killings by 16%-34% outcomes we articulate in other sections Make Mott Haven… will achieve directly attributable to the model, and up are impacted positively by achieving the these outcomes with the successful to 73% reduction in shootings and killings following safety outcomes: implementation of the priority overall.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... SAFETY 139 In Mott Haven, the program is being led (3) Community Mobilization: young people through this work. The by South Bronx Save Our Streets (SOS) Community partners and residents are expansion also includes additional wrap- and Center for Court Innovation. The activated to spread the anti-violence around, community based preventive model employs five key elements: message. SOS organizes street fairs, services, such as job training, mental concerts, “speak outs,” and barbeques health and legal services. Make Mott (1) Outreach: Outreach workers and that advance one simple idea: “Our Haven… will ensure the expansion efforts Violence Interrupters are sent into the community is moving past gun align with the resources developed as part community to engage men and women violence.” of overall Transformation Plan, especially who are at risk of perpetrating or being (4) Faith-based Leaders: Faith-based in the areas of Education, Workforce victimized by violence. The staff, who leaders are encouraged to preach Development, and Health. Roll out of the all have intimate knowledge of life against gun violence from their pulpits, expanded program will begin in late 2014. on the streets, serve as the outreach attend vigils, counsel people who are The City’s expansions will also provide workers, mentors and peer counselors potentially involved in gun violence, an important opportunity for Make Mott by offering advice and guidance and refer high-risk individuals to the Haven… to be integrated into a larger on how to respond to conflicts program. community improvement strategy, and part of a community learning practice without violence. Using positive peer (5) Use of Data: Data is used to with other neighborhoods throughout the pressure, the goal is to redirect high- effectively target neighborhood hot City that are experiencing similar issues. risk individuals towards school or spots, and most common times of day employment, and help them think and for shootings, so that SOS staff can Strategy for Repeat Offenders behave differently about violence. plan accordingly. NYCHA’s commitment to affordable (2) Public Education: SOS staff and housing stems from the acknowledgement community volunteers distribute palm On August 13, 2014, NYC Mayor de that housing is more than a dwelling cards and posters with messages Blasio announced the expansion of CURE structure or a place where you live; it that promote peace and alternatives Violence. Mott Haven is identified as one is a home, a place for family, schools, to violence. Businesses have signs in of the key neighborhoods. Building off the jobs, activities and an overall safe their windows counting the number momentum of the Bronx Save Our Streets neighborhood. However, crime within of days since the last shooting in the (SOS) and Center for Court Innovation’s NYCHA housing developments is far too neighborhood. Blogs, texts, and e-mail current CURE Violence program, as prevalent and it is troubling for many blasts keep the community updated. well as the Make Mott Haven... planning residents to feel safe at home. NYCHA efforts, we will be able to reach more is exploring a pilot program to remove
140 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... SAFETY tenants that have two or more offences The Safe Spaces Initiative is designed as (3) Responding to eyesores and related to illegal gun possession. a robust, multi-disciplinary partnership disrepair: Responding to community between a host of city agencies and eyesores such as graffiti and litter Prevention community-based organizations. supports the transformation of public Objective – Utilize multi-dimensional Initial planning has been led by the spaces. approaches to deterring crime: Center for Court Innovation and its (4) Supporting natural surveillance: • Significantly alter the physical Bronx Community Solutions project, in Improving opportunities for surveillance landscape to create a safer environment. collaboration with U.S. Attorney’s Office can help community members and law • Expand educational programs that for the Southern District of New York, enforcement monitor public spaces support young people on a path away Bronx District Attorney’s Office, New – through natural surveillance like from criminal or negative behavior. York Police Department, LISC and Bronx increased visibility and street lighting. Health Reach. Positive street activity also promotes a form of neighborhood watch that can Safe Spaces Initiative Four goals define the Safe Spaces help prevent crime. The Safe Spaces Initiative is a pilot Initiative: program that targets an area of high crime (1) Increasing functionality: Public Make Mott Haven… has identified 138th and disorder, working to transform it into spaces are healthiest when theyare Street between Alexander and Cypress a safe and attractive community space. used for positive activity. The Avenues as the pilot for the Safe Spaces The Initiative builds on cutting-edge addition of seating, play spaces, and Initiative. Four areas of intervention have criminal justice place-based research and other opportunities for physical and been identified: redesign and repurpose theory, which draws attention to smaller, recreational activity can promote of fenced-in green spaces and plazas specific places such as street corners, use that increases functionality. This on NYCHA property, beautify local buildings, particular blocks or sidewalks functionality also helps provide natural businesses along the commercial corridor, within a neighborhood where crime is surveillance in high crime areas. found in the greatest concentration. By improve lighting and other surveillance (2) Promoting ownership: Creating addressing the needs of specific urban mechanisms near high-crime buildings, a sense of ownership and pride in places, place theory suggests that and promote and coordinate programming public space promotes the health crime cannot be merely displaced but within existing community gardens (such and safety of the space. Strategies to ameliorated, and that the positive effects as St. Luke’s Park). Based on available engender ownership include creating of targeted change on specific places will resources, Make Mott Haven… will work or supporting community gardens and spread to neighboring areas. with CCI to implement the interventions. public art or redesigning area fences. In 2015, designs for park repurposing will
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... SAFETY 141 be created in conjunction with resident key fobs; doors and hardware; and Housing Plan. feedback. Make Mott Haven… will utilize digital, IP addressable cameras. business leaders from the Collective • Increasing lighting, visibility and Creating Opportunities Necessary to Impact Network to activate a commercial activity in stairwells. Create Empowered Positive Teens corridor beautification process. These As discussed in the Make Mott Haven… • Adding Tenant Patrol Rooms in select physical upgrades will begin in late 2015. Education plan, youth in middle school buildings. Make Mott Haven..., through our cultural are entering their informative years where activities and health programs, will they are particularly impressionable. ensure that those programs are targeted In the surrounding neighborhood, Make It is at this point that youth begin on a to this area. Mott Haven… is trajectory toward college and career. • Revitalizing East 146th Street to However, many youth at this age also are Upgrades to NYCHA Open Spaces reconnect it to the community by influenced by other factors, some that The built environment, in and around opening up the street, adding trees, can lead them down a detrimental path. NYCHA, was cited regularly by residents benches and better lighting, and Through the Bronx District Attorney’s as driving public safety concerns. repaving the surface. C.O.N.C.E.P.T. (Creating Opportunities NYCHA is taking the opportunity, • Opening up formerly closed rear Necessary to Create Empowered Positive through the redevelopment of Betances courtyards, with added security, to Teens) Program, youth in middle school North, to redesign the indoor and encourage pedestrian traffic, create are being educated on the negative outdoor physical space to address these new sight lines and provide informal effects of gangs, gun violence, and drugs, concerns. The redesign is consistent with surveillance. and providing tools to get on the pathway CPTED (Community Planning Through • Redeveloping a closed block into to success. Environmental Design) principles. a public vest-pocket park to include seating and tables. C.O.N.C.E.P.T is a twelve-week program Within Betances North, Make Mott for middle-school students. It includes • Installing security cameras in strategic Haven… is: classroom instruction, academic outdoor locations in the grounds. • Creating transparent lobbies with enrichment, and diverse-learning clear vision to the elevator and lighting Together, these enhancements will activities taught by certified criminal that spills back onto the sidewalk at have a significant impact on how safe justice professionals. Since antisocial night. residents feel about in their home and behavior often acts as a precursor to neighborhood. The details of the redesign • Installing layered access control that crime, the focal point of this curriculum is are provided in the Make Mott Haven… is a three-tier system of intercoms and prevention, providing life skills to students
142 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... SAFETY who need assistance in avoiding delinquent behavior. Instructors teach and encourage students to demonstrate skills of leadership: to attain and reinforce positive relationships, to focus on the problem and not the person, to be proactive, and to lead by example. In addition, parent and educator workshops are offered to reinforce what the students learn during the Program. Topics covered during adult workshops are based on the needs of the individual school and/or community. Make Mott Haven… is bringing this curriculum to the local community schools. In 2015, through partnership with the community school model, Make Mott Haven… will ensure that this curriculum is part of the school’s toolbox of resources. During the Summer of 2015, Make Mott Haven… will begin planning with the Bronx District Attorney and additional middle schools to implement the curriculum.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... SAFETY 143 144 NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT The Make Mott Haven… Housing Plan sets forth an ambitious space that supports expansion of resources, amenities, and programs and aggressive strategy to preserve the neighborhood’s that have been identified through the Transformation Planning process. existing public housing resources and create new mixed-use The metrics we will use to capture these outcomes include: # of units of affordable developments on NYCHA-owned land. To compliment this housing committed for development; # work, and bring additional affordable housing resources to of units under construction; # of units rehabilitated and greened; and # of units the neighborhood, Make Mott Haven… is working closely completed. with developers to generate additional units and amenities. Make Mott Haven… will achieve these outcomes with the successful completion of the following developments detailed below. Make Mott Haven... is focused on and around Mott Haven. supporting the following types of new Neighborhood Housing Development Affordable Housing for Seniors development: Outcomes Objective – Increase affordable housing • Affordable Housing for Seniors Make Mott Haven’s overall housing resources for the growing aging • Affordable Housing for Families strategy is to preserve and develop new population: affordable housing resources. We strive to Our development partners include: West achieve the following outcomes: Side Federation for Senior and Supportive • Develop 169 additional units of • Create and preserve affordable Housing, Common Ground, SoBRO, affordable senior housing that includes housing in Mott Haven consistent with and Workforce Housing Group. In total, an expanded senior center, and the City’s five-borough housing plan. over 1,200 new affordable units will be commercial, retail and community • Develop new mixed-use projects that developed within the next five years in amenities. include commercial and community
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT 145 With a significant aging population in The site, where Borinquen Court is Federally Qualified Health Center to site Mott Haven and the Bronx, the need for located, is presently underdeveloped and there. The additional ground floor space affordable housing for seniors is critical. has excess zoning rights. The area was will be the location of the expanded senior The West Side Federation for Senior and recently subject to an overall rezoning community center. The new development Supportive Housing (WSFSSH), a non- to incentivize both residential and will function as a “4th wing” to Borinquen profit affordable housing developer and commercial private sector development. Court – this will facilitate operating service provider, is helping to lead the WSFSSH has developed a plan for 169 efficiencies and tie together the residents charge with 314 units in the catchment units of affordable senior housing on the and services of both buildings. Because area. As a strategic partner of Make Mott site. The vision for new development is to the existing residential units on site Haven…, WSFSSH has been actively physically and symbolically bridge three serve exclusively senior and/or disabled engaged as a member of the Housing cohorts within Mott Haven: WSFSSH’s households requiring on-site services, Tres Committee, and has helped to engage current residents, future residents of Puentes will serve a related demographic: their senior residents to participate in the the new building, and the broader senior and disabled households without planning process. community–naming the development children, and possibly a set-aside of units “Tres Puentes.” Because the site offers 200 for senior households with children. In 2011, WSFSSH purchased a 1.8 acre feet of undeveloped 3rd Avenue frontage Residents of the new units will benefit from property at 285 E. 138th Street in the and direct proximity to the 6 train, and it the range of on-site services currently on Bronx, which contained an occupied, HUD- is one of the very few developable sites offer, in addition to programs through the subsidized, 145-unit affordable senior within the catchment area, it presents a Borinquen Court senior center which will housing project known as Borinquen unique opportunity to kick-start the type be open to the residents of Millbrook and Court. Borinquen Court is located adjacent of community revitalization envisioned by the wider neighborhood as well. to NYCHA’s Millbrook senior development. the planning process. That building is now undergoing more The project will cost approximately $29 than $10 million of capital improvements, WSFSSH will build an approximately million to build, financed by the following including $1 million of soil and 50,000 square foot, six-story, 169-unit sources: $6.3 million in tax-exempt bond groundwater cleanup and reconfiguration building. The site will be anchored by financing from the New York City Housing of ground floor public spaces to better ground level commercial space on the Development Corporation (HDC); $11.1 serve the residents and other seniors frontage to 3rd Avenue, creating a retail million in equity from 4% LIHTCs; $4.4 in the community. Renovations will be continuation of the HUB from 149th million in Brownfield Tax Credit equity; completed by the 4th quarter 2014. Street. On the ground level space on 138th $3.7 million in soft debt financing from the Street, WSFSSH is seeking to identify a HPD Supportive Housing Loan Program;
146 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT $2.7 million in deferred developer fee; and $1 million in grant funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank.
For funding the building operations and program services, WSFSSH has been selected by NYCHA for a project-based Section 8 contract. WSFSSH will set aside 20 percent of the new units for current NYCHA seniors desiring a move to a more supportive environment and/ or seniors on NYCHA’s housing waiting list. Preliminary plans to support seniors to move to the new development include: rental subsidy and moving allowance. Each resident would be connected to a social worker that would provide resources to help in the move and develop an individual plan for ongoing supports. WSFSSH will begin to implement the plan during lease up process that will start during construction, approximately 4th quarter of 2016. The abbreviated timeline for Tres Puentes project completion is provided below.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT 147 Affordable Housing for Families La Central - Large Scale Affordable Housing encouraged to contribute to maintaining Objective - Develop new mixed-use and Community Economic Development their environment. The goal is to house projects that include commercial and with Unique Community Assets very vulnerable people and reintegrate community space and support expansion Adjacent to Triangle Plaza Hub, and one them back into the community by providing of resources, amenities, and programs: block from Roberto Clemente Plaza, the support services that enable them to mixed-use development, La Central, live independently and with dignity. •Preserve and develop over 1,000 will rise. The $345 million project will be Comunilife, another non-profit supportive additional units of affordable housing. developed, on vacant City-owned land housing developer and owner, will be •Increase neighborhood amenities bordered by Brook Avenue, 149th Street, providing the intensive case management through additional commercial and and Bergen Avenue extending up to 153rd for residents of the building. In addition to retail businesses, and programs for Street, by a consortium of for-profit and the abovementioned features, there will youth. non-profit affordable housing developers. be 24 hour security.
Common Ground, a non-profit supportive The other five buildings will have Additional housing is being developed housing developer and one of the partners residential apartments for a mix of in, and around, the catchment area to in La Central, has been an active participant incomes ranging from 30% of AMI up to support a mixed-income, mixed-use in Make Mott Haven… community 100% of AMI. Fifty-six of the apartments thriving community. The Transformation engagement activities, including hosting will be up to 40% AMI, 140 apartments up Plan anticipates the development of over the first community-wide visioning to 50% AMI, 220 up to 60% AMI, 381 up to a thousand new units of low- and mixed- session. It will be developing the 160 80% AMI and 85 up to 100% AMI reflecting income housing in Mott Haven including units of supportive housing in the project. the income mix of the wider community. on the 149th Street commercial corridor. Forty-eight apartments will be affordable Residents of Community Board 1, covering The development of these apartments will for people with incomes up to 30% of Mott Haven and Melrose, will have help diversify the income mix of residents the area median income, another 48 preference for 50% of the apartments in in the community while supplying a apartments will be for people with up to the complex. SoBRO will be assisting with substantial number of the affordable 30% AMI living with HIV/AIDS and the rest the application process and will provide apartments the Mott Haven CNI Housing of the apartments will house low-income long weekday hours and weekend hours Market Study identified as being so crucial households up to 60% of AMI. to make it easy for community residents, for Mott Haven. including homeless people, to apply. There will be on-site property management and a building director. Residents will be Within the five buildings will be a day care
148 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT center run by the PHYLS Academy and 45,000 sq. ft. of retail space. The development will be partnering with SoBRO to select retail tenants. The developers are seeking to secure retail services that are compatible with the retail in the HUB and will provide signage that is contextual.
The community facilities will be unique for the Bronx and incorporate amenities that are not often combined with residential units. They include an observatory housing a telescope that will be used by students at Bronx High School of Science. It will be operated remotely by the Bronx Science teachers and the feed will be broadcast citywide to all New York City public schools. There will also be a branch of Bronx Net, the local community access news broadcasting service of the Bronx, located at La Central. “Music Has No Boundaries”, a non-profit recording studio, will occupy part of one of the community spaces.
La Central Rendering Credit: Architects FX Fowle
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT 149 All of the buildings in the La Central program. The Y will charge on a sliding distressed properties by stabilizing complex are being designed for energy scale so the entire community can afford them as affordable housing. 539-41 East efficiency and resiliency. The goal is to use its facilities. 147th Street is comprised of two, old efficient use of water and power and law tenements, built in 1898, that were disposal of waste. The buildings will have The buildings will be designed with active substantially deteriorated and required diverse power sources including battery design and will include an open courtyard considerable upgrade; including but not back-up for resiliency and solar panels to promote physical activity. There limited to a new roof, new windows, new in addition to standard electrical source. will be a skate park for skateboarding. plumbing, electric, heating systems, as The goal is to draw less on existing city The developers are having exploratory well as approximately 50% of the beams resources by building in reduced energy conversations to bring Citibike to the replaced. At the time of acquisition, demand by using Energy Star electricity neighborhood. The buildings will have only half of the units were occupied; saving appliances and constructing high bicycle storage rooms. In partnership with therefore, upgrading these deteriorating efficiency building envelopes that include GROW NYC, one of the buildings will have buildings will bring much needed energy recovery ventilation and non- a green roof with an urban demonstration affordable housing units back online. The façade penetrating cooling systems. There farm and classes to teach adults and youth units will be available for families whose will be water savings of 45% through how to grow healthy food. incomes do not exceed 80% of AMI. The installation of water efficient appliances development costs exceed $4.75 million, and low flow fixtures in all apartments, There are HOME funds in the project so with financing provided through a first and commercial and community spaces. there will be both community hiring and mortgage by Community Preservation The Development will comply with the minority and women’s business enterprise Corporation (CPC), NYC Department of NYC Department of Housing Preservation hiring. There are Section 3 requirements Housing Preservation and Development and Development’s Green standards. for the supportive housing construction (HPD), and developer equity. The project so La Central will work closely with the is currently in construction and expects to
La Central will also have amenities that Collective Impact Network to employ Mott be fully leased by the end of 2014. promote active living and healthy eating. Haven and NYCHA residents. The centerpiece is a new YMCA, with Senda Apartments 50,000 square feet, two pools and a gym 539-41 East 147th Street Project SoBRO, an economic development and and the array of YMCA programming. Workforce Housing Group (WHG) is planning organization that focuses on the It will house a wellness center and, in redeveloping 22 units at 539-41 East 147th South Bronx, plans to construct a six-story partnership with Montefiore Medical Street. WHG focuses on repositioning building with 36 mixed-income residential Center, will have a diabetes prevention severely physical and financially apartments on Brook Avenue. The project,
150 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT to be built on three long-vacant lots donated by a church, will also include community space, roof recreation, laundry facilities and storage space. The apartments will be marketed to individuals and families earning a mix of incomes – 20% for families at 50% of AMI; 56% at 60% AMI; and 20% at 80% AMI. Project financing will consist of debt through a conventional mortgage lender and equity from the sale of federal low income housing tax credits administered by HPD. SoBRO also has an application for $1 million in capital funding before the Bronx Borough President’s office.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT 151 152 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, has been to create workforce development opportunities, and a better quality of championing the recent economic investment in the Bronx life, out of the economic development as the “New Bronx.” And it is, indeed, the New Bronx. happening in the community.
First, Make Mott Haven… will marshal, for Mott Haven residents, the jobs, internships, The extensive scope of this investment density residential neighborhood with its training and other employment-related is revitalizing the entire borough and five NYCHA developments and subsidized opportunities that grow out of the contributing to its renaissance. In his and rent-regulated affordable housing construction and operation of buildings 2013 annual report Ruben Diaz notes that was built or renovated over the last and open spaces that are planned and that since 2009 there has been over twenty-five years to address the severe underway in Mott Haven. For example, $5.7 billion in total Bronx development. affordable housing shortage. Affordable employers and prospective employers In 2013 alone, there was $894 million housing was also built in the surrounding will be invited to join the Collective Impact spent on new development comprised neighborhoods, that when combined Network and participate in initiatives of $601 million in residential, $171 with the housing in Mott Haven, has that improve employer/prospective million in institutional and $121 million in increased the demand for stores selling employee matches. Make Mott Haven… commercial development. groceries, clothing, medication and other will enter into MOUs with developers to basic consumer goods and services. With meet and, whenever possible, exceed The vision for Make Mott Haven… the new mixed-income housing, and its their Section 3 employment targets and Economic Development is to bring this commercial, open space and community employment targets that are components economic investment into Mott Haven, amenities, to be developed within of subsided housing and commercial to connect the residents of Mott Haven to Mott Haven over the next five years as and community space development. this New Bronx workforce development described in Make Mott Haven… Housing Through NYCHA’s Resident Training creating engine and to improve their and Neighborhood Plan, the demand for Academy (NRTA), residents will be quality of life through increasing the goods and services will continue to grow. provided with employment-linked and quantity, variety and quality of commercial tailored training opportunities and job and community amenities within easy Make Mott Haven… Economic placement assistance to fill construction reach of home. Mott Haven is a high Development will use three key strategies
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 153 and permanent positions as they attain the following outcomes: • Create or improve open space that become available. All of the workforce • The continued transformation of brings the Mott Haven community development strategies in Make Mott empty or underutilized lots into new, together and facilitates the sharing of Haven…Workforce Development will be multi-use bricks and mortar. culture and the arts – that connects used to Make Mott Haven... residents a • Through the Collective Impact the economic development outcomes prepared, and easily deployed, workforce Network, increase the quantity and to the Make Mott Haven…Open Space at the ready to power the New Bronx quality of internships that teach youth place-making outcomes. economic engine. about the workplace and the variety of • Provide a wider variety of retail available careers. establishments, including a full- Second, Make Mott Haven… will • Increase the quantity and quality service supermarket that will provide leverage the Plan’s health initiatives and of Section 3 and other mandated fresh fruits and vegetables and other connections to facilitate residents’ use employment that provides families healthy food to the community, and of the planned full-service supermarket, with financial stability and prevents will facilitate the achievement of Make YMCA, health centers and programs, and homelessness. Mott Haven’s Health outcomes through active living resources to be housed in the economic development. bricks and mortar being created by Make • Identify jobs with career pathways, • Make the HUB a neighborhood Mott Haven’s economic development created by the development boom, center and a destination for meeting partners. provide employment-tailored training to enable Mott Haven residents to with friends and neighbors, shopping, learning, and using recreational Third, Make Mott Haven… will use the move up the ladder of opportunity facilities that connects the Health, Open Mitchel HUB to connect Mott Haven particularly in the construction and Space and Economic Development residents to the cultural and community- housing maintenance and operations strategies to enhance Mott Haven as a building activities that grow out of the industries and connect them to those neighborhood of choice and a source Roberto Clemente Plaza’s transformation jobs. of pride for its residents. into the Town Square. • Increase the overall safety of the neighborhood that comes from Outcomes converting empty and blighted The Pilot – La Central Make Mott Haven’s overall Economic properties into productive, inviting The La Central development with its very Development strategy is to create spaces – that incorporates the Make large, anticipated economic development community assets, economic vitality and Mott Haven…Safety place-based impact, as described in detail in Make economic opportunity. We will aim to outcomes. Mott Haven…Neighborhood Housing
154 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Development, presents an example the HUB and within Mott Haven itself, much more accessible to Mott Haven of how Make Mott Haven… Economic for commercial and community facility residents. This is an example of how Development will leverage workforce development, is the property NYCHA the combination of strategies, in this opportunities and the development of owns, including parcels within or near case Housing, Workforce and Economic commercial and community amenities Betances Houses and other land in the Development, build on each other and for Mott Haven residents. After La Central neighborhood. As part of Make Mott reinforce each other to transform the goes through the urban land use review Haven…Housing, NYCHA proposes to community. Additionally, an Architecture process, Make Mott Haven… will have the develop three of these vacant properties Studio from the University of Michigan opportunity in 2015 to enter into MOUs as mixed-income housing and, as part is evaluating the Make Mott Haven... with the developers to provide training, of the Make Mott Haven…Economic catchment area – particularly the internship and employment opportunities Development, develop commercial and environs of Mott Haven, Patterson, and for Mott Haven residents to comply with community facility space on the ground Mitchel Houses – to identify locations La Central’s Section 3 and other mandated floors of each of these developments. for new housing and community, retail and contractual community hiring targets. NYCHA is exploring the feasibility of and employment spaces. The Studio will It will also be an opening to recruit the creating an NRTA site in one of these develop design concepts for each of the developers, as current and prospective ground floors to make this highly spaces. employers, to participate in the Collective successful training and placement model Impact Network, to create a continued pipeline of work and opportunity for residents after the construction period. The Collective Impact Network will also serve to connect to other development projects these employers undertake in other communities. The goal is to be constantly matching the developers’ employment needs with a ready and trained Mott Haven work force.
NYCHA Commercial and Community Facilities Development The primary source of land, apart from
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 155 The HUB – 149th Street/Third Avenue serves as the western border and the great strides in returning to a vibrant, Commercial Corridor and Business subway stop closest to the two anchor bustling commercial corridor. Improvement District institutions, Hostos Community College and Lincoln Medical Center. The 149th Triangle Plaza Hub Economic development in Mott Haven Street and Third Avenue subway stop, Bergen Avenue and 149th Street is the is most concentrated in the continuing served by the 2 and 5 lines, is in the heart site for the Triangle Plaza Hub, a $35 revitalization of the 149th Street/Third of the HUB. Both, just a few short stops million project that will include a Fine Avenue Commercial Corridor long known to Manhattan. On average, more than Fare supermarket, a new, expanded as the “HUB”. The HUB is served by two 200,000 pedestrians passed through the campus for Metropolitan College, a major subway stations. The 149th Street heart of the HUB, at 149th Street and Third Boston Market, and a variety of other and Grand Concourse station, which Avenue, each day. The HUB is making restaurants and stores. The project, being
INSERT PHOTO
Rendering Credit: Triangle Plaza Equities [Need to obtain permission to use.]
Triangle Plaza Hub Credit: Triangle Plaza Equities
156 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT an affiliate of Perkins Eastman Architects, PC developed by Triangle Equities, is being 2013 and is underway. SoBRO and all of green amid the commercial bustle, built on two vacant pieces of land that the workforce development partners will and will create an island of tranquility were formerly an underutilized municipal be working to place Mott Haven residents for the more than 200,000 people per parking lot. It is being developed in in construction and permanent jobs day who traverse the HUB. The plaza, partnership with the New York City created by Triangle Plaza Hub. The federal situated where the 149th Street and Third Economic Development Corporation, the funding in the project comes with Section Avenue commercial corridors meet, was Empire State Development Corp. and 3 employment requirements that the first reconfigured in 2008 by the NYC other partners. developers can meet by participating in Department of Transportation. It is where the Collective Impact Network. Through the Third Avenue-149th Street subway The supermarket is coming to the HUB the Collective Impact Network, SoBRO’s station and three major bus routes under the auspices of the City’s Food employment placement programs, and intersect. Retail Expansion to Support Health NYCHA’s REES, NRTA and Jobs Plus (FRESH) program. Metropolitan College is programs, Make Mott Haven... Economic As part of the New York City Plaza Program, a non-profit undergraduate and graduate Development will work to enter into MOUs the Department of Transportation now program geared to adults, many of whom with developers to ensure Mott Haven plans to invest $12.7 million to expand are employed full-time. The move to residents are hired for these positions. the plaza space, reroute traffic and install Triangle Plaza will convert the College’s bicycle lanes, enhance landscaping, Bronx Extension Center into a full branch The full service FRESH supermarket, in and build a fountain and seating. These campus serving 350 students. addition to creating jobs, will be a great, bicycle lanes will connect to the Randalls new resource for Mott Haven to obtain Island Connector bicycle lane, which is Triangle Plaza is expected to create fresh fruits and vegetables and other described in the Health and Open Space over 150 construction jobs and roughly nutritious ingredients. This will help to sections of the Transformation Plan. The 200 permanent jobs, primarily for local improve diets and contribute to better plaza, based on a town square concept, residents. The project is being financed health and discussed in more detail in the will include outdoor seating, a fountain using loans, New Markets Tax Credits, Health section of this Plan. that also can be shut off and used as private equity and philanthropic funds. a stage, planters, a kiosk, and public The development will attain a minimum of Roberto Clemente Plaza – The New Town art. SoBRO will maintain the plaza and LEED Silver Certification by incorporating Square program activities and events, which green building and energy efficiency. The new town square, Roberto Clemente may include cultural events involving Plaza, will serve as a community meeting music and dance, holiday events, food The project broke ground in September place, an oasis of flowing water and or craft markets, and art installations and
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 157 158 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT exhibits. Garrison Architects have created the design for the plaza in the following renderings.
Upgrading “The Hub” Commercial Corridor SoBRO has several programs designed to attract businesses and economic opportunity to the area in and around Mott Haven with a focus on the HUB. The BID is working to develop signage guidelines to improve the commercial environment and bring some cohesiveness to the visual experience for pedestrians. SoBRO is seeking grant funding from the City’s Small Business Services to continue to organize merchants, enhance the quality and diversity of locally offered merchandise, and to attract national and other retailers and new businesses. SoBRO has also applied for a New York State Main Streets program grant to upgrade business facades and make improvements to the streetscape. SoBRO will leverage all of these efforts to cultivate a sense of place and create an attractive, welcoming destination for much untapped foot traffic. If secured, the grants will continue to fund initiatives that strengthen the local Business Improvement District and coordinate with the transformation of Roberto Clemente Plaza into the community’s town square. Make Mott Haven…. will work with SoBRO and Casita Maria to involve Mott Haven residents in the cultural and arts community-building activities being Roberto Clemente Plaza Rendering developed for Roberto Clemente Plaza. Credit: Garrison Architects
All of this economic and place-based development is making the HUB into a shopping, culture and employment filled destination uniting Mott Haven, Melrose and the Lower Grand Concourse into an economically vibrant gateway to the South Bronx.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 159 160 OPEN SPACES, PARKS AND CULTURE
There is not enough open space in Mott Haven to in aggregate account for just 2.48 acres of land. The full report can be found in accommodate the needs of the neighborhood. This is the Appendix C. opening statement of the comprehensive open space study Make Mott Haven… recognizes that conducted by Make Mott Haven’s partner, New Yorkers for opportunities for new space will come from reclaiming streetscapes, revitalizing Parks (NY4P). underutilized space, and expanding access to resources. Throughout the NY4P used its Open Space Index, a plan, several sections identify and “More youth technical tool that accounts for qualitative describe these opportunities, such as the factors, to determine open space following: activities that resources and equity in the Mott Haven • Housing Plan: opening up 146th neighborhood, compared to the rest of Street, revitalizing and beautifying vest attract our youth: the City. While Mott Haven exceeds or pocket parks and formerly closed off approaches open space standards for NYCHA space. more sports, most active open space features, the • Economic Development: new passive recreational facilities are often located in open space at The HUB plaza at 149th music and cultural small parks. The average Mott Haven park Street and 3rd Avenue. (excluding St. Mary’s Park) measures only • Health: installing recreational opportunities” 1.3 acres. With over 46,000 residents in the equipment and activating physical neighborhood, there are more residents activity programming at various parks than can be adequately accommodated and open space areas throughout the by existing active open space. The same neighborhood. is true for the amount of passive and total • Safety: targeting 138th Street for open open space. The neighborhood’s many space improvements, programming community gardens are small spaces that
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... OPEN SPACES, PARKS & CULTURE 161 162 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... OPEN SPACES, PARKS & CULTURE and beautification that seeks to deter implementation of the priority of a high density urban area– will serve crime. interventions detailed below. as a community meeting space with Make Mott Haven… also sees the value inviting seating, a fountain, bike lanes in activating these revitalized and Open Space and Parks and green space. new spaces into cultural havens. The As mentioned throughout the Plan, community, rich in history, will utilize Open Space and Park revitalization is a Health these spaces to recognize and celebrate key component of Housing, Economic • Randalls Island Connector, greenway its past and future. Development, Health and Safety. Below and bike lane from 149th Street to the provides a summary of the connections. waterfront and Randalls Island, which Outcomes is a 330 acre recreational area that is Make Mott Haven’s overall open space Housing currently inaccessible to Mott Haven strategy is to create inviting and Betances North transformation will residents include significant streetscape and public accessible spaces where the community • Expansion of the South Bronx Cultural space improvement, which include: can feel safe and actively participate. We Trail, which is a walking trail that • Redesign of 146th Street to include strive to achieve the following outcomes: highlights Mott Haven’s many historical trees lining the street and benches assets (detailed further below) • Create and maintain open spaces placed for resident leisure. • Expansion of outdoor recreational designed to maximize safety. • Opening NYCHA rear yard, in between activities, such as Shape Up NYC Betances Houses, as a play area for • Encourage active use of parks. classes children. • Reopening of closed block into a vest The metrics we will use to capture these Safety pocket park to include seating and outcomes include: # of new open spaces, • Targeting 138th Street for the Safe Spaces tables. # of park space opened or reconfigured for Initiative, which includes increasing active use, # of additional street lighting, Economic Development functionality of the corridors open spaces crime rate for parks, # and % of residents • Roberto Clemente Plaza revitalization by removing fences, adding seating, who report feeling somewhat or very safe – creating a town square in the middle play spaces, and other opportunities for in the parks.
Make Mott Haven… will achieve “…how about making the people of the these outcomes with the successful community the “key players” in the artwork?”
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... OPEN SPACES, PARKS & CULTURE 163 physical and recreational activity – all with celebrate the community’s assets. During creative and economic development. the goal of providing natural surveillance the planning process, our cultural partner Through community workshops, up and deterring crime. – Casita Maria – conducted outreach to five markers in Mott Haven will be to residents to ascertain the types of designated on the trail. On October 7th, 2014, NYC Mayor cultural activities that they would like in de Blasio, NYC Department of Parks the neighborhood. The responses ranged Second, Make Mott Haven… and Recreation Commissioner, NYC from the following: commissioned a mural, called Alphabet Department of Environmental Protection • Celebrate success stories of NYCHA City Shapes, painted at Patterson Commissioner and several other residents. Houses. Alphabet City Shapes Labis an partners launched the Community Parks original, collaborative artwork developed • Improve the image and perception of Initiative – a multi-faceted program to by Elizabeth Hamby in conjunction with public housing. invest in under-resourced public parks in her project, Alphabet City. This project neighborhoods with higher-than-average • Bring back family movies and theaters. invites participants to consider the city concentrations of poverty. Make Mott • Celebrate the HUB, known as the itself as a drawing, and engages them Haven… is pleased that Ranaqua Park in “Broadway of the Bronx”. to draw the patterns of everyday urban the catchment area is slated for resources • Celebrate hip hop places and pioneers in the first phase of the initiative. Make • Programming that gives youth a voice Mott Haven… will continue to work with and teaches skills. Department of Parks and Recreation and deepen our partnership with the • Celebrate parks and landmark Department of Environmental Protection districts. to bring additional resources and support Given this feedback, Make Mott Haven… to our Open Space strategy described has developed a set of cultural activities, above. with our partner Casita Maria, that culminates with the completion of the Culture Make Mott Haven... planning process. Residents throughout Mott Haven have First, Casita Maria is expanding its South said many times that they have a strong Bronx Cultural Trail into Mott Haven. The sense of pride in their community. Make South Bronx Cultural Trail is a major effort Mott Haven… seeks to build on that to to protect the community’s great culture develop opportunities where residents heritage and use it as a motor for future can share common experiences and
164 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... OPEN SPACES, PARKS & CULTURE MAKE MOTT HAVEN MURAL AT PATTERSON HOUSES NYCHA BUILDING FOOTPRINT PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: HATUEY RAMOS-FERMIN experience. Alphabet City considers the forms and shapes of NYCHA building footprints as an alphabet that, put together, is a langage of the physical space of the City.
Third, we are hosting a three-week writing and performance series that guide youth in the creation of original works and a means to express their own voice. The final pieces developed by these young artists will be showcased at the performance on October 17th, CINEMUSICA CITY!
Fourth and finally, Make Mott Haven... is supporting CINEMUSICA CITY!, a celebration of the cultural legacy of historic concert halls and movie theaters as well as a look into the future generation of talented Bronx youth. Select closed theaters and public sites, such as Teatro Puerto Rico, The Jackson Theater, Opera House, Willis Playhouse and Clark (or People’s) Park handball courts will be used to project film clips of renowned musicians’ past performances. Along with reanimating long-forgotten South Bronx sites with larger-than- life projections of vintage footage of pioneering Bronx artists, the festival culminates in a night at the movies with Latin Music and Hip Hop films and live performances by the emerging Bronx teen artists at the Betances Community Center. Events such as these bond the community together and support a culture of cohesion. Make Mott Haven… will continue to partner with Casita Maria, as well as additional local cultural organizations, to provide similar community-driven events over the next five years. We will also utilize these gatherings to share information and resources about Make Mott Haven… programming and services.
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... OPEN SPACES, PARKS & CULTURE 165 6 GOVERNANCE
166 GOVERNANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
Overview of Organizational Structure, Group is responsible for the following: program-level outcomes. Communication, and Accountability • Other key responsibilities NYCHA, as implementation staff, • Fiscal management of the grant. include: coordinating transparent coordinate and manage lead agencies • Working closely with city agencies communication between all partners/ and city partner(s) and manage contracts to provide access to city resources; stakeholders; administering the with service providers (as applicable). to facilitate cooperation across city grant; preparing plans; obtaining HUD Lead agencies and city partners manage departments to promote the Make approvals; facilitating resident and and coordinate service providers and Mott Haven... revitalization effort; to community engagement; coordinating their contracts (as applicable). Service coordinate public investments with lead agencies and key partners; ensuring providers are accountable to lead Choice plans; and to make data available implementation of people, housing, agencies, city partners (if applicable), and for reporting and evaluation. and neighborhood plans; promoting the Steering Committee. The Steering • Ensuring all stakeholders understand participation of disadvantaged Committee is accountable to the residents’ the neighborhood change process. businesses and workers; and collecting associations and other stakeholders in the data for evaluation. catchment area. The Steering Committee • Working with stakeholders to develop will include the Resident Advisory a model that is self-sustaining i.e. Resident Advisory Group (RAG) Group and organizations such as LISC, fundraising. directly managed by CP&D, project United Way of New York City, New York • Managing effective communication managed by Implementation Group Restoration Project, New Yorkers for system that results in stakeholders • Set monthly meeting that includes Parks, FEGS Health and Human Services, knowing how they can contribute to the all resident association presidents, the Hostos Community College, and Lincoln planning and implementation process. youth council, and the seniors’ council. Hospital. The residents’ associations are • Ensuring that stakeholders exhibit • Meet monthly: accountable to all of the NYCHA residents measureable ownership, buy-in, and in the catchment area. investment in the revitalization effort. » to get an update on the planning and implementation effort; • Managing effective structure(s) to hold Implementation Group Roles and stakeholders accountable for shared » to provide technical assistance/ Responsibilities population-level outcomes and for training so that the RAG can make The Make Mott Haven... Implementation informed decisions with other key
MAKE MOTT HAVEN... GOVERNANCE & IMPLEMENTATION 167 Make Mott Haven Implementation (NYCHA Office) partners about population and program level outcomes; Director Sr. Assistant Director Project Managers Administrative Staff » to review outcomes for Make Mott Haven...; » to discuss the quality of program delivery by service providers; Housing People Neighborhood Fundraising (501c3, Education City of New York (OMB/ Data » to discuss service providers’ (Dev/CPD) (CP&D) (CP&D) NY4NYCHA) Partner Mayor’s Office) (Research) progress made towards program-level outcomes; » to make decisions about three proposed levels of resident engagement (level 1: deep involvement, Service Providers level 2: mid-level involvement, level 3: low touch activities); Steering Commitee » to ensure that the resident association Resident Advisory Group boards and youth and senior councils Community Based Local Other Betances, Youth Seniors’ Organizations/ Business Stakeholders are communicating well with residents Millbrook, Mitchel, Council Council Anchor Institutions Owners about the revitalization effort; and Mott Haven, » to ensure that resident’s and Patterson RA Presidents needs, concerns, and praises are communicated directly to implementation entity staff.
Betances RA Millbrook RA Mitchel RA Mott Haven RA Patterson RA
General General General General General Body Body Body Body Body
All NYCHA residents in Make Mott Haven Catchment Area
168 MAKE MOTT HAVEN... GOVERNANCE & IMPLEMENTATION 7 APPENDIX
Files are attached
Appendix A: List of Partners Appendix F: NYCHA Existing Conditions Report Appendix B: Housing Market Study Appendix G: Sources Appendix C: New Yorkers for Parks Open Space Study Appendix D: Betances Household Survey Results Appendix E: Community Visioning Report
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