Image from the Meltzer Tower PACT resident presentation.
The building design is conceptual.
The heavy machinery and soil testing recently spotted on the grounds of Meltzer Tower now have a clearer context.
Multiple residents along Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue notified EVG of workers using a soil-boring machine in the tree-heavy landscaped area west of the 20-story senior housing complex at 94 E. First St. (Photos below by Stacie Joy from Sept. 10.)
The work raised concerns that NYCHA was again considering new construction on the property. A controversial 2013 "infill" proposal, which called for leasing NYCHA green spaces and parking lots to private developers, was shelved after community opposition.
At the time of the recent testing, a few residents heard that NYCHA was conducting preliminary work in case it decided to build on the site.
Presentations to Meltzer residents from March, July, and August show that NYCHA and its private PACT partners are proposing a new building beside the existing tower.
Under the "build first" plan, residents would remain in their current apartments during construction and then move directly into the replacement building.
The new-building proposal was not part of the project initially described to the public.
In 2024, NYCHA announced that Meltzer Tower, Hernandez Houses and the Seward Park Extension would share $318.1 million in repairs through the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together program.
The Meltzer PACT website still refers generally to upgrades, apartment renovations and site improvements.
According to the new presentations, the plan would replace all 231 apartments at Meltzer Tower. Most residents would receive one-bedroom units, even if they currently live in studios. About 12 two-bedroom apartments would be available to qualifying households.
Plans also call for larger apartments and elevators, improved accessibility, individual heating and cooling controls, and a 24-hour lobby attendant.
Possible amenities include in-unit laundry, dishwashers, resident lounges, hobby rooms, a fitness center and outdoor space.
Several of those features remain subject to NYCHA and resident approval.
The project would also include at least 5,000 square feet for a community facility and indoor amenities, along with at least 5,000 square feet of outdoor amenity space.
The case for a new Meltzer Tower
The proposal for a new tower comes as the PACT team has documented extensive repair needs in the existing building. The presentations are available as PDFs under a section titled "Resources for Residents" in recaps of the resident meetings on the Meltzer PACT website.
At a May 15 resident meeting, the PACT team said Meltzer Tower has more than $80 million in projected repair needs over 20 years, with many building systems beyond their useful life. The work would include repairs or replacement of the façade, roof and windows; heating and hot-water systems; plumbing and electrical systems; ventilation equipment; kitchens, bathrooms and flooring; and building security systems.
The presentation also cited asbestos in floor tiles and textured ceilings.
According to the PACT team, renovating the existing tower would still leave some limitations unresolved. Apartments could not be enlarged, parts of the building could not be brought fully up to current accessibility standards, and residents would have to temporarily relocate within Meltzer Tower while their apartments were renovated.
A change in management
The proposal timeline shows that Meltzer Tower would convert from traditional public housing to Project-Based Section 8 under PACT next summer. Wavecrest Management would take over management of the existing building while the new tower is under construction.
The presentations state that existing residents will not be rescreened based on income, credit or criminal history. Rent would generally remain at 30% of adjusted household income, and residents would retain the right to an apartment in the replacement building.
Residents would sign new PACT Section 8 leases that renew annually and may be terminated only for good cause. They would not be charged additional fees or utility expenses greater than what they currently pay, according to the presentation.
Households considered over- or under-housed, however, would be moved into apartments deemed appropriate for their household size.
The current timeline — subject to change — calls for construction to begin in late 2027, with the building completed and residents moving into their new homes in late 2029.
Unanswered questions
The presentations do not explain what would happen to the existing Meltzer Tower or the site it occupies after residents move. It also does not say whether the site would eventually include additional housing or other uses.
The replacement building's size and final location have not been determined, and the rendering shown to residents is conceptual.
It also remains unclear how construction would affect the mature trees and green space on the western side of the property — the same area where residents observed the recent soil testing.
Other questions include which amenities will make it into the final plan, who will operate the proposed community facility and what safeguards will be available to residents if construction extends beyond 2029.
To date, meetings about the proposal have been limited to current Meltzer Tower tenants. Residents of buildings directly adjacent to the property along First Avenue and Second Street said they have not received any direct information about the proposed construction or its potential effect on their block.
While the final building footprint has not been determined, neighboring residents are concerned about what construction could mean for the existing green space.
"Many of the apartments on East Second Street look out over that park," one resident told EVG last week. "Building there would mean the destruction of the park, loss of all the trees, a minimum of one or two years of heavy construction, noise, dust, and dirt. And ultimately it would result in the loss of the cleaner air the park provides, fresh air, sunlight, and birds. In its place would be a tall building that would block out the light and air to all of the buildings surrounding the park."
A check of Department of Buildings records at the time of the soil testing found no new-building applications for the property.
The next all-resident meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24 and described as a "New Building Design Charrette." According to the presentation, residents will be asked to provide feedback on indoor and outdoor spaces and terrace programming.
The presentations shared from the spring and summer do not mention a public-review process.
The current Meltzer Tower, named after Lower East Side lawyer and community leader Max Meltzer (1908–1962), was completed in 1971.
