J.P. Morgan Chase: Updating the perception of public housing

Public housing gets a bad rap. But that wasn’t always the case. When New York City’s Williamsburg Houses—the city’s second-ever public housing development—were built more than 85 years ago, people were excited to live there. Then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt even attended the property’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Resident Testimony: Williamsburg Houses

Hear first hand from one of our residents at Williamsburg Houses, Ms. Sidney Washington, about her experience.

A Gift from Zeta Sorority in St. Croix, USVI

On June 3rd, members of the Zeta Sorority visited the Walter I. M. Hodge Pavilion in the US Virgin Islands to make a generous book donation to residents. The elementary-, middle-, and high school-aged kids of Hodge Pavilion received many new and classic young adult and children's books. Through HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, there is a complete rehabilitation ongoing at Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion, upgrading 248 units of housing and transforming the lives of residents.

Thanks to the Zeta Sorority for encouraging early reading for kids and check out these photos to see residents posing with their new books.

MDG Hosts NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate Students at Williamsburg Houses

On April 14, graduate students from the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate came to visit our site Williamsburg Houses, where we are preserving the 1,621-unit public housing complex in Brooklyn in partnership with Wavecrest Management and NYCHA. Jonathan Cruz and John Larounis led students through the site and shared more information on the rehabilitation process; specific property improvements, including energy and sustainability advancements and security upgrades; Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) transactions; and the community-based social service support the property will provide residents and the community.
It was a great opportunity for students to get out of the classroom, see the impact of NYCHA’s PACT program firsthand, and see the concepts they are learning about brought to life.

Winter Wonderland

Celebrating with the communities we serve is a quintessential part of our work and brings us closer to our residents.

Check out pictures from our 2023 Holiday Toy Drive at Williamsburg Houses.

Community Groundbreaking Event in St. Croix, USVI

On June 24, 2022, MDG and partners gathered at the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion in St. Croix to celebrate an important step in affordable housing in the US Virgin Islands.

Click on the photo above and jump to minute 41 to listen to principal Michael Rooney’s inspiring words on community and social impact.

A Visit from Marley Dias

16-year-old author and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks Marley Dias visited Ocean Bay Bayside to speak with residents and read a segment from her book, Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!

Vital Brookdale: A Place to Call Home

The Foundling's newest supportive housing development, Vital Brookdale, provides a space for our community to live independently - often for the very first time. Serving two populations that often struggle to achieve stability - young people aging out of foster care and adults with developmental disabilities - the complex provides unique amenities and supports for residents to succeed. Watch and learn more!

MDG Partners With The New York Foundling

In November 2022, we celebrated the completion of Vital Brookdale, a new, mixed-use building with 160 high-quality, affordable units and over 25,000 square feet of health-focused community space in Brownsville.

In partnership with The Foundling, 36 units have been set aside for supportive housing — 10 apartments for youth aging out of foster care and 26 apartments for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Holy Thursday Food Distribution

In partnership with Catholic Charities of the Archdioceses of New York and Wavecrest Management, we hosted a community food distribution event at Betances Houses in the Bronx.

400 boxes of food containing 1600 meals were distributed to NYCHA residents in need, as well as additional personal care supplies, household items, and pet supplies.

Annual Holiday Toy Drive

Each December, an Annual Toy Distribution Event is held at Betances Houses, in which children ages 0-18 are able to select a gift of their choice. In addition to the toy giveaway, the event also includes hot chocolate and cookies, a DJ with holiday music, and fresh fruits and vegetables for local residents.

Fall Festival at Ocean Bay

In Fall 2021, residents of Ocean Bay Bayside gathered to enjoy seasonal activities, including pumpkin picking and hay rides.

Heart of the City Baseball Initiative

RDC Development hosted a kick-off event for their Heart of the City Baseball Initiative, a series of programs that introduce baseball to NYCHA youth as a tool to encourage exercise, teamwork, and healthy habits.

RDC partnered with NYCHA, the Major League Baseball Players Trust, HDMH, Rawlings, and Williamsburg Athletics League to bring children from NYCHA housing in all 5 boroughs to Steinberg Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

NYCHA 2.0: The Success of Ocean Bay Apartments

Ocean Bay Apartments was NYCHA’s first development to undergo Section 8 conversion through HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD). As part of NYCHA 2.0, the Authority’s long-term strategic plan, 140,000 residents in 62,000 apartments will receive major upgrades through RAD over the next 10 years.

“Colors of My City” Mural at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center

As part of a larger initiative involving our supportive housing development Vital Brookdale to enhance community spaces through art and foster unity, a mural titled “Colors of My City” was unveiled on the side of Brookdale Hospital Medical Center.

“This artwork, created by artist Layqa Nuna Yawar, is a tribute to the local community, encapsulating its spirit and rich cultural narratives,” from PIX11.

Celebrating Our Seniors

In conjunction with the completion of Kingsley House in August, we held a celebratory lunch for all our residents to enjoy the new outdoor patio and receive fun giveaways, including new TVs, gardening tools, a printer, and other goodies.

Fort Greene Revitalization

In partnership with local organizations and elected officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, we celebrated the groundbreaking of Hanson Place Community Plaza in April 2022. The project will stimulate economic growth and revitalize the Fort Greene neighborhood through the creation of 104 quality, affordable homes and 22,000 square feet of community space. 

Back to School at Betances Houses

In September 2021, a carnival-themed family day event was held for the residents of Betances Houses in the Bronx. 300 backpacks filled with school supplies for students – with notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, coloring pencils, sharpeners, and erasers – were distributed to prepare low-income students for the upcoming school year.

Bronx Rising Initiative was also on-site providing Covid-19 vaccines for anyone 12 years old and up.

The New Betances: Renaissance in the South Bronx

It is common knowledge that NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) faces immense financial obstacles in rehabilitating its 300+ buildings throughout NYC. New and bold ideas are needed. The RAD program (or PACT) is one such program. It has demonstrated that synergy between the public and private sector can bring amazing results. At Betances, in the South Bronx, RDC Development turned around the property in just 2 years. RLG MEDIA documented the change.

Residents of Betances Houses Visit Ocean Bay Bayside

On Saturday, June 16, 2018, a “Welcome to Summer” event was hosted at Ocean Bay with approximately 150 Betances residents who arrived on Coach buses, sponsored by the development team. The event was held in order to reassure residents and address any concerns with a look at the real product, and it was a success, as measured by surveys given to Betances residents upon leaving Ocean Bay, indicating an overwhelming majority left feeling confident and excited about the process of rehabilitating their units and buildings.

Harlem Globetrotters at Ocean Bay

The Harlem Globetrotters basketball team joined adults and children at Ocean Bay for a fun day on the courts.

Ocean Bay Fall

RDC Development hosted a Kick Off To Fall event with residents at Ocean Bay, celebrating the opening of brand new basketball courts for the community to stay active and practice teamwork.