U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

NYCHA needs the approval of HUD under Section 18 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 for any demolition of public housing. Read more about what HUD looks for in a Section 18 application filed by a housing authority, and how residents can get involved in HUD's review. Review the Section 18 Application NYCHA submits to HUD.

The NYCHA Board first has to approve the submission; see Review by the NYCHA Board and Testify at a NYCHA Board Meeting. 

HUD also has oversight over NYCHA's Annual Plan; NYCHA is supposed to disclose any plan to demolish housing in a plan that the public can comment on before NYCHA submits it to HUD. Understand and Comment on NYCHA's Annual Plan.

New York State Historic Preservation Office

Since 2018, NYCHA also has had the obligation to consult with the State Office of Historic Preservation for all demolition of buildings that are 50 years old or older on its campuses, whether or not they are listed or eligible for listing on the National Registry of Historic Places or designated as NYC Landmarks. See NYCHA's Historic Preservation page for a link to the contract NYCHA signed. 

Organizing Notes

If you feel that NYCHA has not meaningfully consulted with you in developing its demolition plans, it’s important to create a record of that for HUD to see. If you are opposed to the plan or want it to be changed:

• Put your criticisms of NYCHA’s plans and its process of engaging with residents in writing. That way, NYCHA will not be able to mischaracterize how you feel about the plans and the way NYCHA is consulting–or not consulting–with residents.
  
  
• Be very specific. For example, point out issues raised at earlier meetings that had no follow-up. Refer to commitments NYCHA representatives may have made but later backed away from in their conversations with residents. If there is a strategy for building preservation that NYCHA has refused to consider, document that. 
  
  
• Whenever you submit a written comment to NYCHA, include this sentence: “NYCHA is legally obligated to evaluate this comment and forward all comments to HUD under 24 CFR § 970.9(a).”

Use our checklist, 14 Approvals Potentially Required for Demolition of NYC's Public Housing, to ensure that NYCHA has followed the public review process required to obtain approval for demolition.