The Map of New York City Housing Authority’s Vladeck Houses
Situated in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Vladeck Public Houses are located on 356 Madison Street New York, NY 10002.
Completed November 25, 1940
Named after Baruch Charney Vladeck (1886-1938), Vladeck development is a 13 acre complex with 20 buildings, 6 floors each.
Observations
(The following observations were made on March 20, 2017)
Laundromats, convenient stores, parks, and a University Neighborhood High School all circle around the exterior of the Vladeck Houses. Walking through an entrance along Madison Street, you will notice NYCHA garbage bins as well as recycling bins for metal, rigid plastic, glasses, mixed paper, and cardboard. The buildings are lined up to be symmetrical to one another; the trees also seem to be aligned in a similar manner. Despite the large amount of dog feces littered across the ground, the pedestrian walk between the buildings is fairly wide and clean. Ironically, “Pet Free Zone” signs are plastered on all the buildings. Also, a noticeable amount of street lamps and surveillance cameras can be found in the Vladeck Houses.
When we were walking along the perimeter of block, we saw senior center posters hanged on fences that invited senior citizens to get involved with recreational and social events every day except for Saturdays. The poster lists out activities like exercise and dance classes, bilingual computer classes, bingo, cultural and holiday celebrations and more
Interviews
(The following interviews were made on April 21, 2017)
On April 21, 2017, we conducted interviews with two sisters, Jaime, who was 16 years old, and Kaitlen, who was 18 years old. Both of the sisters were female, Asian Americans walking into Vladeck on a mid-afternoon Friday.
Jaime and Kaitlen lived in Vladeck Houses with her father and her grandmother for almost 10 years. Although both of them are teenagers, they are not completely sure how much their family paid rent. However, they believe that the rent was in the range of $250 – $400 a month.
Jaime:
When we first interviewed Jaime, we asked her about her experiences living in NYCHA. She began by saying how she does not like living here; however, it is affordable. She describes her living situation and some instances where there were frequent issues with maintenance. First, she states that during winter nights, her family had to take cold showers because there was a lack of heat circumventing the home. Although her father reached out to the management office to inquire about this issue, they still experience the same conditions they currently face.
She then list other areas that lacks improvement in her unit. She frequently experience blackouts in her apartment whenever she uses the blowdryer to dry her hair. Another time, her refrigerator broke and it took the NYCHA staff weeks to resupply them with new equipment. Lastly, she touched upon something that was jaw dropping. She said that her bathroom window once broke, but it took NYCHA over a year to get it fixed.
After speaking with Jaime about her living situation, there seems to be a lack of internal communication between the tenants and the NYCHA management. Although Jaime’s family asked the management office over and over again to repair some of the damages, there is a delayed action. Jaime realizes that her living situation would have been more well-kept if there were increase relationship and communication between the NYCHA tenants and their staffs.
Kaitlen:
Kaitlen expressed similar concerns about the lack of maintenance in the Vladeck Houses. However, she also introduced another issue, safety, which is poorly dealt with in the housing. The lack of safety in the lobbies, elevators, and even hallways brought about cases of robberies, rapes, and even shootings, all of which is unsettling to her; yet, she feels that she cannot complain because it is the only roof that her family can afford to live under.
She begins by saying how she feels a sense of urgency to get home early because of the danger that lurks in the streets and in the lobby. There is no security in the lobby which instigates illegal and unsafe activities. Also, while her lobby door requires a key to open up, many people can easily break the lock with enough pulling force.
Another situation that makes her uncomfortable is the event of entering the elevator with another male. Her neighbor has warned her countless times to never take the elevator alone with a man and to make sure there is someone else in the elevator as well. All of these unsafe conditions keeps Kaitlen alert and remaining cautious of her surrounding at all times. She hopes for better security not only in her lobby but within her neighborhood.
News Article
The following are some news articles about changes and updates in NYCHA’s Vladeck Houses.
“New low at New York City Housing Authority as former employee Sunny Gupta is accused of shaking down destitute tenants as the price for lowering their rents”
- Sunny Gupta, a 55 year old NYCHA veteran employee, is involved with a scandal of lowering the cost of rent for tenants for monetary compensation and gifts (Tracy). As of December 27, 2013, NYCHA has terminated him for reasons unknown. However, it is clear that Gupta was receiving bribes and other bonuses. This case calls to our attention a serious issue of mismanagement that constantly arises in public housings. If NYCHA cannot better handle internal affairs and supervision over their faculties and staff, how are tenants able to live there without feeling insecure?
“New Ramp is Part of Face Life For Good Companions Senior Center”
- Back in December 2015, NYCHA finished the completion of a new ramp that leads to the Good Companions Senior Center at the Vladeck Houses (Litvak). In 2006, it was noticed that the ramp was too steep and dangerous for the elderly to use. Thus, City Council member, Rosie Mendez apportioned $965,000 to the renovation of a new ramp. In addition, new street lamps were built to bring better lighting around the ramps. These improvements in infrastructure bring hope to residents, who look forward to even greater change in the near future.
“NYCHA way behind on wheelchair accessibility 20 years after deal with federal government”
- Back in 1996, NYCHA and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development had an agreement to make 5% or 8,900 public housing apartments “fully accessible” for wheelchair tenants (Durkin and Smith). However, as of January 30, 2017, less than half the goal was accomplished; in fact, only 2,953 apartments are wheelchair friendly. With NYCHA’s 400,000 tenants, 20% are ages “62 or older” and the ones that require disability assistances are “requesting transfers to fully accessible units”. As a result, $16.65 million are apportioned to accomplishing NYCHA’s goal of having accessible wheelchair entrances. There is a high demand for wheelchair accommodated housing. Not only has the government apportioned funds towards disabled tenants, NYCHA will spend around $577,000 to improve the conditions of restrooms at the Vladeck Houses, $1.1 milllion on Astoria Houses in Queens, $11.2 million on Patterson Houses in the Bronx, and other NYCHA residencies throughout 2017.
