MDG is your complete solution for affordable housing.

MDG Design & Construction is a leading affordable housing-only contracting and development firm specializing in the rehabilitation and new construction of affordable residential apartment buildings. Since 1988, MDG has completed over 980 buildings, 23,500 units, and invested over $3.9 billion in NYC's underserved communities – all affordable housing – and has completed 46 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects, totaling more than 10,000 units. Currently, MDG has over $10 billion and over 5,000 affordable housing units in predevelopment; three projects in construction with 2,000+ historic tax credit units; and three projects in design/development with 2,500+ historic tax credit units, including NYS Housing Finance Authority's first historic lease pass through deal.

MDG combines the experience of many decades of affordable housing development and construction with the nimbleness, flexibility, ease of decision making, and motivation of a tightly held owner-operated business. Michael Rooney Sr. and Nicola DeAcetis, the founders of MDG, have been and continue to be involved in every single project, along with CEO Matthew Rooney, bringing their expertise and leadership to the development team.

Because of the direct ownership and involvement of the MDG principals, we are always focused on the extreme long-term across all elements of a project, our reputation, and our relationships. As a for-profit firm with a “double bottom line,” the success of MDG is evidence that doing the right thing by our partners and our residents is also the right business decision.

MDG’s quality is unparalleled.

At MDG, we are committed to excellence at all stages of our business. From personalized service for our tenants and partners to high quality, market-rate finishes at our developments, we create homes that our residents are proud to live in.

In an ever-evolving world, we pride ourselves in conducting business with the highest degree of integrity and ethics, safeguarding our workers, and ensuring that those we work with, including subcontractors and vendors, uphold our standards. As such, we have developed and instituted state-of-the-art wage compliance monitoring programs—the strictest in the City—that are now the standard in the governmentally assisted construction industry.

MDG puts people first.

MDG was formed in 1988 by our two principals, driven by a genuine passion to create affordable housing that low-income New Yorkers would be proud to call home.

Today, whether creating homeownership opportunities or rescuing distressed buildings, the people-first philosophy inspired by our principals almost 30 years ago continues to guide MDG’s work, allowing us to successfully restore neighborhoods and improve the lives of residents.

• Open-door approach: We take care of our residents by proactively soliciting feedback and listening to their concerns to meet their needs and create homes they love.

• Partner collaboration: We put our partners’ needs first, identifying their priorities, presenting holistic solutions, preparing for any contingencies, and advising on the best course of action.

• Dedication to staff and community: We treat our staff like family by providing job opportunities, a supportive work environment, and training in the neighborhoods where we work. Through extensive community outreach, we hire locally and are a leader in hiring MWBEs for our projects.

MDG, through its affiliated companies, employs over 70 employees in asset management, accounting, development, and construction. The combined experience of these employees allows us to better advise CHA in this complex multi-site redevelopment.

Matthew Rooney is the Chief Executive Officer of MDG Design & Construction. Matthew joined MDG in 2015 and has since helped the company nearly double in size from its prior 25-year history through strategic planning with the goal of sustainable growth. He is involved in every aspect of MDG from construction to development both in the office and in the field.

Matthew received his B.S. in Finance and Marketing from the Stern School of Business at New York University with a concentration in Real Estate Finance. Matthew was driven to the affordable housing industry through the stories of displaced residents throughout New York City; he aims to preserve and create housing to maintain an economically diverse city. To date, he has overseen the closing of nearly 13,000 units working closely with lenders, government agencies, consultants, and his development team members to ensure a timely closing that meets the goals set by the development team. Additionally, Matthew has overseen construction and development costs of over $5 billion dollars.

Michael T. Rooney Sr., principal

Michael T. Rooney is the Founding Principal of MDG Design & Construction. Michael is best known for working with local community groups and building owners to find innovative ways to develop, finance, and rehabilitate residential real estate in emerging communities. Michael received his B.A. in Accounting from Pace University in 1982 and worked for Kenneth Leventhal in tax planning for New York and New Jersey real estate developers. In 1988 Michael turned his full attention to buying and developing affordable housing in New York City. His expertise in working with United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and New York State Homes and Community Renewal has made him a leader in the affordable housing industry.

Michael has been involved in the development and/or construction of over 19,000 units in over 750 buildings resulting in $1.9 billion in affordable housing development. All of these properties were in a state of disrepair when Michael became involved. Michael’s success in turning around these distressed properties is the result of his hands-on approach to working with developers, community groups, investors, building managers, and tenant organizations. With over 25 years of experience in affordable housing, Michael has become an expert in turning around distressed properties that have appeared to have no hope of being saved.

Nicola DeAcetis, principal

Nicola DeAcetis, AIA is the Principal in Charge of Design and Construction at MDG Design & Construction. In this capacity, Nicola has become highly regarded in the industry for his expertise and creativity to solve difficult construction issues saving both time and money for MDG’s clients. Nicola sees New York's most disadvantaged properties as an opportunity for hope and urban renewal. It is his goal to bring upscale design and finishes to all affordable housing developments in New York City.

Nicola was trained at the New York Institute of Technology and received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1980. He also studied at the American University of Rome. He received his architectural license in New York State in 1984 and is NCARB certified. Before partnering with Michael T. Rooney in 1989, Nicola worked as a Senior Project Manager at GSGSB, Inc., an architecture, engineering, and planning firm. Nicola oversaw a team of engineers, architects, and TAB 2- Development Partner Experience & Qualifications interior designers working on various multifaceted projects in the New York area and throughout the east coast ranging from Lord & Taylor in Florida, Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Restoration, Calverton National Cemetery, and Morgan Stanley’s 200,000 square foot computer center at One Pierpont Plaza, that, when it was built in 1988 ended a 50-year drought of skyscraper construction in Brooklyn.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION POSTING REQUIREMENTS  

Background

Under a law signed on December 2, 2020, the New York State Human Rights Law (HRL) was amended to require all housing providers to "disclose to all tenants and prospective tenants of their right to request reasonable modifications and accommodations if they have a
disability." This disclosure must be made in writing to all tenants within 30 days of the beginning of their tenancy or within 30 days of the provision going into effect. The law went into effect on March 2, 2021. Therefore, this notice must be sent to tenants by April 1, 2021. There do not appear to be any explicit carve-outs based on the type of housing or the number of units.

On March 25, 2021, a revised law was signed by the governor. This law repealed the amendments to the HRL and moved the notice requirement to Section 170-d of the Executive Law. This section of the Executive Law “Miscellaneous Provisions.” This statute states that “the division of Human Rights shall promulgate regulations requiring every housing provider... to provide notice to all tenants and prospective tenants, in writing, within thirty days of the effective date of their tenancy, or thirty days of the effective date of this section for current tenants, of their rights to request reasonable modifications and accommodation..."

On May 18, 2022, the Division of Human Rights (DHR) promulgated rules pursuant to Section 170-d. These regulations state that housing providers must provide written notice to all new and current tenants of their right to request reasonable modifications and accommodations for disability within 30 days of the effective date of their tenancy, or within 30 days after the effective date of Section 170-d. Such notice may be given by email, text, fax, or hardcopy, and must include the contact information of the property manager or person responsible for receiving reasonable accommodation requests. Oral disclosure does not satisfy the notice requirement. The rules also state that real estate brokers must provide written notice of this right to all prospective tenants upon first substantive contact. Finally, housing providers must post and maintain such notice at housing accommodations and on their website homepages. The DHR regulations include a sample form comprising sufficient notice.

FEHO Recommendation

HCR should inform all NYS-financed housing providers of these new notice requirements and provide them the DHR sample form, as reproduced below.

NOTICE DISCLOSING TENANTS' RIGHTS TO REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Reasonable Accommodations

The New York State Human Rights Law requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations or modifications to a building or living space to meet the needs of people with disabilities. For example, if you have a physical, mental, or medical impairment, you can ask your housing provider to make the common areas of your building accessible, or to change certain policies to meet your needs.

To request a reasonable accommodation, you should contact your property manager by calling Wavecrest Management at 718-463-1200 or by e-mailing info@twmt.net. You will need to inform your housing provider that you have a disability or health problem that interferes with your use of housing, and that your request for accommodation may be necessary to provide you equal access and opportunity to use and enjoy your housing or the amenities and services normally offered by your housing provider. A housing provider may request medical information, when necessary to support that there is a covered disability and that the need for the accommodation is disability related.

If you believe that you have been denied a reasonable accommodation for your disability, or that you were denied housing or retaliated against because you requested a reasonable accommodation, you can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights as described at the end of this notice. Specifically, if you have a physical, mental, or medical impairment, you can request:†

Permission to change the interior of your housing unit to make it accessible (however, you are required to pay for these modifications, and in the case of a rental your housing provider may require that you restore the unit to its original condition when you move out); Changes to your housing provider’s rules, policies, practices, or services; Changes to common areas of the building so you have an equal opportunity to use the building. The New York State Human Rights Law requires housing providers to pay for reasonable modifications to common use areas. Examples of reasonable modifications and accommodations that may be requested under the New York State Human Rights Law include:

• If you have a mobility impairment, your housing provider may be required to provide you with a ramp or other reasonable means to permit you to enter and exit the building.

• If your healthcare provider provides documentation that having an animal will assist with your disability, you should be permitted to have the animal in your home despite a “no pet” rule.

• If you need grab bars in your bathroom, you can request permission to install them at your own expense. If your housing was built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 and the walls need to be reinforced for grab bars, your housing provider must pay for that to be done.

• If you have an impairment that requires a parking space close to your unit, you can request your housing provider to provide you with that parking space, or place you at the top of a waiting list if no adjacent spot is available.

• If you have a visual impairment and require printed notices in an alternative format such as large print font, or need notices to be made available to you electronically, you can request that accommodation from your landlord.

Required Accessibility Standards

All buildings constructed for use after March 13, 1991, are required to meet the following standards:

• Public and common areas must be readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities;

• All doors must be sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons in wheelchairs; and

• All multi-family buildings must contain accessible passageways, fixtures, outlets, thermostats, bathrooms, and kitchens.

If you believe that your building does not meet the required accessibility standards, you can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.

How to File a Complaint

A complaint must be filed with the Division within one year of the alleged discriminatory act or in court within three years of the alleged discriminatory act. You can find more information on your rights, and on the procedures for filing a complaint, by going to www.dhr.ny.gov, or by calling 1-888-392-3644. You can obtain a complaint form on the website, or one can be e-mailed or mailed to you. You can also call or e-mail a Division regional office. The regional offices are listed on the website.