Manhattan, NY Citizens Housing & Planning Council (CHPC) hosted its 64th annual luncheon at the Times Sq. Marriott Marquis. The event brought together over 1,000 members of the housing and planning community to celebrate accomplishments over the past year and to honor specific trailblazers and organizations for their contributions to NYC’s housing and development efforts.
“We’re proud to convene so many incredible leaders and changemakers in the housing and planning space to celebrate their contributions to New York City,” said Howard Slatkin, executive director of CHPC. “Our annual luncheon is an opportunity to recognize these accomplishments while reflecting on what we need to do next to advance a more affordable, livable, and equitable New York.”
JoAnne Page and Stanley Richards, the former and current president and CEO of The Fortune Society, received the “Impact for Housing” award to recognize their work providing services and housing for justice-involved people. Housing insecurity exacerbates the cycle of recidivism, and stable housing is the bedrock upon which individuals can lay the foundation for their futures. Page and Richards have built and stewarded an organization that has improved thousands of lives, providing justice-involved people homes from which to reestablish their lives, compassionate support, and protection against housing discrimination.
“We are incredibly grateful for and humbled by this recognition from Citizens Housing & Planning Council,” said Page and Richards, former and current president & CEO of The Fortune Society. “The work of The Fortune Society is to set people on a path toward meaningful transformation, and our dedication to offering supportive housing for individuals with prior justice involvement is rooted in the fundamental belief that a home is the foundation from which one can build a good life. We are honored to be part of this year›s awards, along with other trailblazing individuals and organizations.»
The “Impact for Planning” award was given to Jonathan Gouveia, executive vice president for real estate development at NYCHA and lead on the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) Program, in recognition for his work driving billions of dollars of investment through the PACT program. Under Gouveia’s leadership, the Real Estate Development Department (REDD) has closed projects representing over $4.5 billion in investment, directed toward vastly improving the quality of life for over 16,000 households across the city.
“Since its inception, the NYCHA PACT Program has transformed the lives of thousands of public housing residents, providing them with improved living conditions and an enhanced quality of life,” said Gouveia. “I am proud to join the Citizens Housing and Planning Council in recognizing the successes of this program, and am grateful to work in partnership with so many across the five boroughs as we collectively preserve and invest in affordable housing that will serve generations of New Yorkers to come. I thank CHPC and greatly appreciate this honor.”
Tricia Dietz, the assistant commissioner for Housing Incentives at HPD, was recognized with the “IBO Balton Community Planner” award to commend her dedication to the mission of public service and the type of leadership needed to build the ranks of committed housing professionals within the city. Dietz has made numerous contributions to the city’s affordable housing landscape over the past decade, most notably through her work on the Inclusionary Housing program.
The “Impact for Community Investment Award” was given to BFC Partners for their work on the Bedford Union Armory. The Bedford-Union Armory development is a shining example of how thoughtful investment can transform a void at the center of a neighborhood into a thriving, mixed-use hub that benefits not just its immediate occupants but the broader community as well. Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, this development includes a 60,000 s/f recreation facility, 25,000 s/f of non-profit space occupied by 10 local partners, and 415 apartments, 250 of which are affordable for households with annual incomes not exceeding $58,000.
“We are honored that CHPC has chosen to recognize our work in transforming the Bedford-Union Armory into the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center, New York City’s first and only comprehensive health and wellness community,” said Brandon Baron, Donald Capoccia, Joseph Ferrara, Win Wharton, executive team at BFC Partners. “Since opening, the center has welcomed -- and has been welcomed by -- hundreds of thousands of visitors who experience the educational, athletic, medical and personal growth opportunities offered within its walls.”
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