Design and Construction Report staff writer
The New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust, in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), has shortlisted three design-build firms to compete for a major renovation contract at Unity Towers in Brooklyn — a key step toward modernizing the 192-unit public housing complex.
The shortlisted firms – Fifth Avenue Builders, Navillus, and Citnalta/Richards JV — were selected through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) issued earlier this year. The three teams will now prepare detailed design and construction proposals, including 30 percent design documents, through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process expected to begin in the coming months.
The selected firm will oversee a $40 million to $60 million design-build contract focused on comprehensive upgrades for more than 400 residents. Work will include renovations to kitchens and bathrooms, upgrades to electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems, heating improvements, accessibility updates, and hazardous materials abatement.
Unity Towers is the third NYCHA development to join the Trust and the third to reach the design-build procurement stage. The redevelopment effort will address all pillars identified in NYCHA’s 2019 agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The project is projected to reach financial close in 2027.
“This announcement marks a pivotal moment for the third NYCHA community to vote to join the Trust,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “We are thrilled to be advancing these qualified firms to the next stage of procurement, a critical step toward delivering healthier, safer, and revitalized homes for hundreds of Unity Towers residents.”
Vlada Kenniff, president of the Public Housing Preservation Trust, said the milestone represents “another major step in our promise to deliver comprehensive renovations under the Trust model,” adding that the selected firms are among “some of the nation’s most experienced design-build teams.”
The Trust, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022, is designed to unlock federal funding for large-scale public housing repairs and modernizations while keeping developments 100 percent public. Properties under the Trust are converted to the federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program, doubling their federal subsidy and ensuring long-term affordability for residents.
Under the model, residents vote on whether to join the Trust and help shape project priorities, design, and oversight. NYCHA continues to manage properties, while the Trust monitors compliance and accountability for improvements.
Once completed, the Unity Towers renovation is expected to significantly improve living conditions for residents through modernized infrastructure and safer, more energy-efficient homes.
Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. says the project demonstrates how the Trust model can “secure the future of these homes” by funding comprehensive renovations.
