NOTE: The folllowing, submitted to Chelsea Community News on October 12, 2025, is published with author Viren Brahmbhatt’s permission and is meant to function as an open letter to Congressman Jerry Nadler. An architect, urban designer, and educator, Brahmbhatt is a member of Manhattan Community Board 4 and Save Chelsea, but writes here independently.

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In his recent op-ed, (Rebuilding NYCHA: Why Chelsea’s historic redevelopent must move forward), Congressman Jerry Nadler calls the demolition and redevelopment of the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea NYCHA campuses “a pivotal moment” and “a model for renewal.”

But let’s be clear: this plan doesn’t rescue public housing — it hands over irreplaceable public land to private developers, under the guise of progress.

This sets a dangerous precedent. Once we give that land away, we don’t get it back. NYCHA property becomes a playground for real estate speculation, while deeply affordable, public housing continues to disappear. Demolition is not the only — or the best — solution. The real choice isn’t between decay and destruction — it’s between continuing to starve public housing or finally treating it like the essential public good it is.

Yes, NYCHA is in deep crisis. No one disputes that. Residents have lived for decades with mold, broken elevators, unreliable heat, and dangerous conditions. The recent partial building collapse in the Bronx was a horrifying example of what disinvestment looks like. New York’s public housing needs bold, urgent action.

But demolishing it and turning it over to private developers is not a solution — it’s an irreversible step toward privatization.

The plan Nadler supports relies on the PACT-RAD program, which effectively shifts NYCHA buildings into private hands. While technically still “affordable,” RAD units are no longer true public housing. They’re managed by private landlords under different rules, weakening long-term tenant protections and opening the door to profit-driven decision-making.

Even with promises of a “100% right to return,” many residents remain skeptical — and justifiably so. Across the country, similar “revitalization” efforts have too often led to delays, displacement, and broken promises. Where residents go during multi-year demolition and construction is unclear. And once the buildings are gone, what truly guarantees their return?

Nadler touts the community engagement process. But ask many NYCHA residents — especially at the Chelsea Houses — and you’ll hear that real community voice was sidelined in favor of a pre-baked plan. This wasn’t participatory democracy; it was managed consent.

He also highlights the addition of 3,500 mixed-income units, including 875 “affordable” apartments. But affordable to whom? In Manhattan, “affordable” often means units priced for households earning $100,000 or more. These new apartments may bring investment, but they’re not going to be accessible to the very people public housing was built to serve.

The truth is, Congress has the power to fully reinvest in NYCHA — Nadler himself admits this disinvestment began federally. So why double down on private “solutions”? He should be leading the charge for full public funding, stronger tenant control, and transparent, accountable repairs.

New Yorkers deserve safe, modern, and public housing — not temporary fixes that lead to permanent loss. The Chelsea demolition plan is not a model. It’s a warning.

NOTE: The views expressed by our Guest Opinion writers are not necessarily those of Chelsea Community News. 

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