Community Land Stewardship

Acquires land and property, such as the 248 Arlington site and a multifamily building in East New York, to lease land while maintaining long-term community control and permanently affordable housing. This includes rehabbing buildings and transitioning them into resident-controlled structures like HDFC cooperatives.

Leads citywide advocacy campaigns to end New York City’s tax lien sale system, secure a moratorium, and establish a publicly accountable land bank through legislation including Local Laws 56, 62, and 65 of 2026, while advocating for the Community Land Act and Public Land for Public Good.

Organized resident-led advocacy in the Jewel Streets that contributed to the city’s announcement of a detailed infrastructure plan and commitment of $150 million for upgrades, including sewer and green drainage systems.

Developed bylaws, established a dues-paying general membership structure, elected a board of directors, and co-led community workshops to ensure resident input on neighborhood planning and resilience.

Leads community-based planning initiatives, such as in the Jewel Streets area, to advocate for sewer infrastructure, green drainage systems, and transfer of city-owned land to community control, grounded in principles of racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Conducts research on landlords, speculators, and property violations to support tenant organizing, performs physical surveys of vacant public lots, and partners on door-to-door community surveys to inform planning and collective ownership strategies.

Supports tenants in organizing tenant associations to improve living conditions and pursue building ownership, building collective power through democratic engagement and resident-led action.

Enables residents and workers in East New York and Brownsville to become voting members who elect board members and participate in strategic decision-making, fostering democratic community governance.

Engages in stewardship of the built, social, and natural environment through community organizing, education, and democratic control of land, including infrastructure advocacy and environmental monitoring.

Provides construction monitoring, plan and cost analysis, and technical assistance for residential rehabilitation projects, including multifamily buildings damaged by Hurricane Sandy under the Build it Back program.

Develops and preserves affordable housing by creating homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households through citywide partnerships, including participation in a city-administered lottery to select qualified buyers.

Administers the NRNYC Home Repair Program and other initiatives that provide affordable, low-interest, and forgivable loans to repair homes damaged by disasters or deterioration, completing repairs in over 501 homes in neighborhoods like Far Rockaway, Queens.

Partners with HUD-approved counseling agencies to provide financial literacy training, mortgage product guidance, and downpayment assistance to first-time homebuyers, and distributes a homeowner manual to support new homeowners.

Oversees the stabilization, management, and rehabilitation planning of tax-foreclosed and distressed properties to support safe, affordable housing and prevent blight in New York City.

Coordinates the acquisition, demolition, rehabilitation, and resale of homes substantially damaged by Hurricane Sandy, including managing repair work for multifamily buildings through city-administered programs.

Acquires, rehabilitates, and sells vacant, foreclosed, or abandoned 1- to 4-family homes to low- and moderate-income households through programs like ACA and REO, with compliance to federal, state, and local regulations. Over 160 homes have been sold through these efforts.

Acquired a 24-acre parcel near North Hill in 1987 and initiated acquisition of a 2.5-acre parcel from the Fishers Island School District, with voter approval, to expand housing and community infrastructure.

Owns and operates 37 properties, including 23 rental homes or apartments and 12 owner-occupied homes, providing affordable housing to year-round residents of Fishers Island. Properties are located at Winthrop Drive, Peters Way, and the Ferry Freight Building #209, with ongoing development and renovation projects to expand housing capacity.