NYCHA Celebrates Elliott-Chelsea Affordable Housing Opening by Zodet Negrón Close to Her Parents in NYCHA, but She Ew Construction in Manhattan’S Has Her Own Place
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First-Class U.S. Postage Paid New York, NY Permit No. 4119 NYCHA Vol. 42 No. 4 www.nyc.gov/nycha May 2012 NYCHA Celebrates Elliott-Chelsea Affordable Housing Opening By Zodet Negrón close to her parents in NYCHA, but she ew construction in Manhattan’s has her own place. NChelsea neighborhood received “I am happy to be able to stay in the great cheers from those who attended same neighborhood and have great new a ribbon-cutting ceremony on AprilJourna 3. neighbors in a nice, quiet brand-new l NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea was building that I can afford,” said Vargas, a joined by Mathew Wambua, Com- single mother of two. “When I found out missioner of the NYC Department of I had all the requirements to qualify for Housing Preservation and Development this apartment, I was thrilled.” (HPD), Marc Jahr, President of the New Ms. Vargas describes her new living York City Housing Development Cor- situation as a totally different experience Nydia Mata, a former resident of Fulton Houses, stands in her kitchen with her son, Aidyn Mieles, and poration (HDC), and representatives of from NYCHA, and she is thankful to get her niece, Olivia Rodriguez, at the new Elliott-Chelsea affordable housing complex. Artimus Construction and Citi Commu- the opportunity to be there. nity Capital for the formal ribbon-cutting Nydia Mata, also a former resident of worked hard for this and now I have my opment was funded through public and ceremony of the Elliott-Chelsea, which the Fulton Houses, shares those senti- independence.” private partnerships, and is located on has 168 units of affordable housing for ments and also is glad to call Elliott- To date, 19 former NYCHA residents land that previously was used as a park- low- to middle-income families, includ- Chelsea her new home.“I used to live have moved into the new development ing lot by NYCHA for Elliott and Chelsea ing former NYCHA residents. with my mom and my sister before, and and there are 11 more units for rent with Houses. Along with the new develop- For former NYCHA resident Discaury now I have my own space for me and NYCHA resident preference still avail- ment, there are 26 underground parking Vargas of the nearby Fulton Houses, my son,” said Ms. Mata, who does ad- able at press time. All other units have spaces available for rent at prevailing moving into the newly constructed ministrative work for a bottling company. been filled. NYCHA rates to residents of the neigh- development has been a wonderful “I am paying almost twice as much in The 22-story building is located at 401 boring developments. experience. She not only gets to remain rent, but it’s definitely worth it because I West 25th Street. The $65 million devel- continued on page 5 INSIDE NYCHA’s New Computer Labs Have THIS ISSUE a Unique Feature: WHEELS By Tischelle George standing in his way – he wants to work divide for NYCHA residents – nthony Holiday, a 19-year-old on his resume and did not have access essentially computer labs on wheels. Aresident of Washington Houses, to the technology he needs to do so. The vans travel around the city, loves construction and is looking for That is until he discovered NYCHA’s stopping in areas that have limited a job that will allow him to help build Digital Van. or no access to broadband high- in his community. But something is Digital Vans bridge the technological speed Internet continued on page 2 NEW COMPACTORS for Washington Houses » read more on page 6 NYCHA’s STARS SHINE at Annual Talent Show » read more on page 9 GREEN COMMITTEES GROW THEIR OWN: Promote Teamwork » read more on page 3 STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS: Need Help? » read more on page 7 NYCHA’s new Digital Van travels around the city to provide residents access to laptop computers, printers and wireless Internet. 2 May 2012 The Housing Authority Journal NYCHA Residents’ Voices April 6, 2012 April 8, 2012 (sent via Twitter) (sent via Twitter) Board Meetings “115 Street @ NYCHA Johnson Houses “Spring time in Lé Projects @ otice hereby is given that the New York City Housing Au- Manhattan” NYCHA Johnson Houses Manhattan” Nthority’s Board Meetings take place every other Wednes- day at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room on the 12th floor of 250 Broadway, New York, New York (unless otherwise noted). The remaining meetings for Calendar Year 2012 are as follows: May 9 July 18 September 12 November 7 May 23 August 1 September 27 November 21 June 6 August 15 October 10 December 5 June 20 August 29 October 24 December 19 July 5 Any changes to the schedule above will be posted here and on NYCHA’s website at nyc.gov/nycha to the extent practicable at a reasonable time before the meeting. Photographs taken by Russell Barnes, Jr., Johnson Houses These meetings are open to the public. Pre-registration at least 45 minutes before the scheduled Board Meeting is Tell us what is on required by all speakers. Comments are limited to the items on Please limit written submissions Send a snail mail to: your mind! to 250 words. NYCHA Journal the Calendar. Speaking time will be limited to three minutes. Letters to the Editor Residents’ Voices accepts The Journal reserves the right The public comment period will conclude upon all speakers be- letters, photographs, poems, 250 Broadway, 12th floor to edit all content for length, New York, NY 10007 ing heard or at the expiration of 30 minutes allotted by law for drawings – anything that allows clarity, good taste, accuracy, etc. public comment, whichever occurs first. you to express yourself! Because of space limitations, we Send a Tweet on Twitter at twitter.com/NYCHA_Housing Copies of the Calendar are available on NYCHA’s website or Please include your full name, must limit all contributors to one letter per person per issue. can be picked up at the Office of the Corporate Secretary at 250 development name, address Post a message on Facebook at and phone number. We will There are many ways to share www.facebook.com/NYCHA Broadway, 12th floor, New York, New York, no earlier than 3:00 print only your name and your thoughts with us at the Send a fax to 212-577-1358 p.m. on the Friday before the upcoming Wednesday Board Meet- development on our pages; Journal: If you have any questions, ing. Copies of the Disposition are available on NYCHA’s website we need your address and phone number for verification Send an e-mail to please send them to [email protected] or can be picked up at the Office of the Corporate Secretary no purposes only. [email protected]. earlier than 3:00 p.m. on the Thursday after the Board Meeting. Any person requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to continued from page 1 participate in the Board Meeting should contact the Office of the Corporate Secretary at (212) 306-6088 no later than five business NYCHA’s New Computer Labs Have a Unique Feature: Wheels days before the Board Meeting. For additional information, service. They include eight please visit NYCHA’s website or call (212) 306-6088. laptop computers, printers and wireless Internet access (WiFi), allowing residents to access Check out NYCHA’s Facebook page! the Internet to advance their ot a web-enabled smartphone? Now you can access NYCHA’s education and careers. The GFacebook page and bonus content in this issue by scanning WiFi allows people with their or taking a snapshot of the QR codes. The QR code for NYCHA’s own laptop computers to be Facebook page is on the right. outside the van and access the Step 1: Download a QR code scanner application Internet for free. The program from your phone’s marketplace (many of these was initiated and led by the “apps” are free to download). Step 2: Point your efforts of NYCHA’s Department phone’s camera at the QR image. of Information Technology, with the support of Citywide Programs. Operations in one van are funded by the federal 77 government’s Broadband years of Public Housing Technology Opportunities NYCHA in New York City Program, which seeks to ESTABLISHED 1970 • CIRCULATION 200,000 expand broadband access in Published monthly by the New York City Housing Authority communities across America. Department of Communications • 250 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel (212) 306-3322 • Fax (212) 577-1358 • nyc.gov/nycha Although Mr. Holiday Michael R. Bloomberg ............................................................................................... Mayor noticed the Digital Van in his John B. Rhea .........................................................................................................Chairman neighborhood before, it was Emily Youssouf….Journa ................................................................................................l Vice-Chair Margarita López .......................................................................................... Board Member not until he attended a job Washington Houses resident Anthony Holiday receives help with his resume in Victor A. Gonzalez ...................................................................................... Board Member information session hosted by NYCHA’s new Digital Van from Rosaida Rodriguez, an instructor from City College Vilma Huertas ......................................................................................Corporate Secretary of New York, one of NYCHA’s partners. Atefeh Riazi .................................................................................Acting General Manager NYCHA’s Office of Resident Lynn Godfrey ......................................................................Chief Communications Officer Sheila Stainback ...........................................................................Communications