Local pols help fund upgrades for Gravesend’s Marlboro Houses

Gravesend’s Marlboro Houses – a 28-building New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) facility spanning Avenue V, Avenue X, 86th Street and Stillwell Avenue – will be receiving $3 million to put toward building improvements, thanks to two local pols.

Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz and Assemblymember William Colton, who share representation of the 1,765-unit housing complex, banded together to allocate $1.5 million each for the purchase of new stoves and refrigerators, as well as picnic and recreation area upgrades and a new basketball court.

“These funds will enable residents to receive new stoves and refrigerators, and will improve outdoor areas so that everyone who lives here enjoys a better quality of life,” said Cymbrowitz at a Thursday, March 3 press conference at the Marlboro Senior Center. “It was a pleasure to work with Assemblyman Colton for the betterment of all the people of Marlboro [and] many thanks to Governor Cuomo for directing funds toward these enhancements.”

According to Cymbrowitz’s office, the funds were made possible by a 2015 statute that allocated $100 million from JP Morgan settlement funds for a public housing modernization and improvement program for 193 NYCHA housing developments.

“With the new plans, old appliances throughout the housing facility will be upgraded, which will help improve the daily lives of many of the seniors, working families and children who live there,” added Colton. “In addition, the plan for a new basketball court is a great addition to the recreation for the residents.”

Other monetary and public safety improvements are in the works for NYCHA as well.

At the beginning of March, NYCHA announced the launch of the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) – a program started through NextGeneration NYCHA, the authority’s 10 year strategic plan— which will engage a variety of stakeholders to develop a plan that will incorporate current public safety efforts with additional initiatives to address crime, youth and community engagement, emergency response and preparedness, lease enforcement and quality-of-life issues.

“NYCHA is serious about changing how we do business at every level, including public safety,” said NYCHA Vice President for Public Safety Gerald Nelson. “Effectively tackling safety and quality-of-life issues begins with strong collaboration with public housing residents, in addition to NYPD and NYCHA leadership. Together, we can create a strong framework that best serves both residents and the larger community.”