Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt, development partners and residents cut the ribbon on the reopening of the community, child care and senior centers at Edenwald Houses in the Bronx. The reopening marks a major milestone in the comprehensive renovation of Edenwald Houses, NYCHA's largest development in the Bronx and third-largest in the city.
The renovations, completed by Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) partners Camber Property Group, Henge Development and SAA | EVI, include upgrades to heating and cooling, electrical and mechanical systems, as well as new flooring, walls, windows and carpentry. The senior center, which had been closed for more than 20 years, has been restored, reopened and named in honor of longtime Edenwald Tenant Association President Walter J. McNeill.
"The residents of Edenwald Houses, led by Mr. McNeill, have spent years fighting for the homes and community space they deserve. Now, we are delivering. These renovated centers will give residents places to gather, access services and build community, while honoring a leader who has dedicated his life to fighting for his neighbors," said Mayor Mamdani. "This is part of our broader commitment to invest in public housing and ensure every NYCHA resident has the home and community they deserve."
"The reopening of these important community spaces for Edenwald residents has been a long time coming, and is just a small piece of the work we are doing every day to invest in NYCHA communities and build a more affordable city. Through projects like the modernization of Edenwald Houses, we can deliver high-quality, renovated homes to NYCHA residents in the Bronx and across New York City," said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. "Congratulations to the residents and the project teams who have made this day a reality!"
"NYCHA communities deserve welcoming spaces where residents of all ages can connect, grow, and thrive," said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. "The reopening of the Edenwald Senior Center - named in honor of longtime Tenant Association President Walter J. McNeill in recognition of his dedication to this community - and the revitalization of the Community Center represent an important part of the broader investment in Edenwald Houses through the PACT program, ensuring that residents benefit not only from modernized homes and buildings, but also from the community resources that enrich their daily lives. We are proud to deliver these renewed spaces in partnership with Mayor Mamdani, our development partners, and the dedicated residents who call Edenwald Houses home."
"After 25 years of fighting to bring our senior center back, I am grateful to celebrate the ribbon-cutting at Edenwald's community and senior centers-especially knowing how many of our seniors sheltered at home and suffered alone during COVID while the senior center was closed," said Walter J. McNeill, Edenwald Tenant Association President. "As the largest NYCHA development in the Bronx, Edenwald deserves a place where our seniors can gather, stay connected, and be cared for, and seeing them regain that space is the proudest moment of my 33 years as Tenant Association president. I thank Camber, the PACT Partners, management, the general contractor, and our elected officials-especially Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who contributed so much to the senior center-for making this transformation possible."
The renovated senior center will feature a commercial kitchen, event space and computer lab along with expanded social services, including meals and transportation support from Regional Aid for Interim Needs (R.A.I.N.), a Bronx-based nonprofit. The community center, operated by Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, will provide youth programming, a new storefront and improved accessibility. The Susan Wagner Day Care received a modernized outdoor play area, new flooring and plumbing, accessibility upgrades and full lead paint abatement.
These center reopenings are part of comprehensive renovations at Edenwald Houses, which serves nearly 5,000 residents across 2,035 apartments. Shaped by resident input and made possible through the PACT program, the broader modernization includes lead paint removal and mold remediation, mechanical system upgrades, heating and cooling improvements, enhanced security, new apartment interiors, free development-wide WiFi, extensive landscaping and outdoor amenities, among other investments outlined in the Edenwald Community Plan .
NYCHA and a resident review committee selected the PACT partner team in 2021. Financing closed and construction began in 2023.
Through PACT, NYCHA can access additional and more flexible federal funding to support comprehensive repairs and modernization while improving property management. The program has brought 170 NYCHA developments into predevelopment, construction or completed renovations, representing nearly $17 billion in capital repairs. NYCHA retains ownership of developments in the PACT program, and residents retain their rights, including permanent affordability and succession rights.
In his first budget, Mayor Mamdani made the largest City investment in NYCHA in recent history. His administration's housing plan, Block by Block, includes plans to address NYCHA's major capital needs, reboot the Authority as a public developer, strengthen resident voice in decision-making and support economic mobility for NYCHA residents.
"Thousands of Edenwald residents can once again connect through the newly reopened community, childcare, and senior centers, updated as part of critical infrastructure and modernization efforts across the campus. Members of the Edenwald community will benefit from this investment, as we know that shared spaces make for stronger communities. Thank you to the New York City Housing Authority, Permanent Affordability Commitment Together, the Mayor, and our leaders at City Hall for their efforts to reconnect this thriving community," said U.S. Representative George Latimer.
"The reopening of the Edenwald Community and Senior Centers is more than just the opening of its doors," said New York State Assembly Speaker Cark E. Heastie. "This day marks a significant moment in history for the residents of this development, bringing hopes and aspirations to life. As renovations continue across the development, we will witness the power of public-private partnerships that assist everyday New Yorkers in navigating the affordable housing market. Edenwald, a landmark in the Northeast Bronx, will continue to undergo modernization, system upgrades, and more. This investment is a win for residents, the community, and the city. I would like to express my gratitude to my partners in government who helped move this project forward, Mayor Mamdani, Senator Bailey, and Councilman Riley, and a special thank you to Edenwald Tenant Association President, Walter McNeill for his unwavering dedication to his community and beyond."
"Reopening Edenwald's Community and Senior Centers is a long overdue investment in the health, safety, and dignity of NYCHA residents," said Senator Jamaal T. Bailey. "Providing Bronxites access to essential senior services, youth programming, social services, and modernized living spaces is necessary in the success of our neighbors. There have been far too many delays in this infrastructure but by completing these repairs we are providing necessary and basic community amenities. I thank Mayor Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt, my colleagues in government, and community leaders taking action to revitalize NYCHA developments across our city and ensure working families have resources."
"The long-awaited reopening of the Edenwald Community Senior Center and Community Center marks a significant milestone for our Northeast Bronx community and our Edenwald Houses residents who have visited these centers for generations," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "For so many in our borough, community centers are the most accessible places to exercise, learn new skills, build community, relieve stress, and participate in programs that support long‑term success. With the completed renovations, made possible in part by invaluable resident input, these centers are now fully modernized, featuring amenities that will enhance the experiences of both our youth and older adults while honoring the legacy of our late great Tenant Association President, Walter J. McNeil. Thank you to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg, New York City Housing Authority CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt, Permanent Affordability Commitment Together partners Camber Property Group, Henge Development, and SAA | EVI, R.A.I.N. Homecare, Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, and the Edenwald Tenant Association, who all played a pivotal role in the completion of these projects."
"Congratulations to Edenwald Houses on the reopening and renovation of our local senior center and community center. These spaces help meet our most basic needs while bringing neighbors together. These are places where residents can access support, build meaningful connections, and strengthen the bonds that make our community thrive. Whether you're a teenager, or a seenager, I am excited to welcome you back! Thank you to all the community partners who made this happen," said Council Member Kevin C. Riley.
"The $8.1 million renovations to the Edenwald Community and Senior Centers are an important component of the larger $783 million PACT modernization of the development, extending investment beyond residents' apartments to the community spaces that bring people together," said NYCHA Executive Vice President and Chief Real Estate Officer Heather Beck. "Through our partnership with Edenwald residents, we were able to prioritize the repairs to these community spaces and bring the Senior Center back online after decades of obsolescence. We thank the Mamdani administration; our PACT partners at Camber Property Group, Henge Development, and SAA | EVI; and most importantly the Edenwald Tenant Association and community, for their ongoing trust and partnership in making this vision a reality."
"The newly renovated Edenwald Senior Center will offer a community space for residents to receive vital services and gather with other residents of the Edenwald Houses," said Rick Gropper, Founding Principal at Camber Property Group. "Spaces like these are crucial gathering spaces for senior residents, creating a place to connect with neighbors and gain access to on-site programming and resources that drastically improve the resident experience. Thank you to Mayor Mamdani and our partners for helping to revitalize this gathering space for the seniors of the Edenwald community."
"The transformation of Edenwald has always been about more than renovating apartments. It's about meaningfully improving residents' quality of life and ensuring they have access to the services and resources they need within their own community," said Ayanna Oliver-Taylor, founder and principal of Henge Development. "After more than two decades, reopening the senior center restores an important part of community life at Edenwald and responds directly to a need residents identified throughout the planning process. Mr. McNeil's leadership and advocacy have been instrumental throughout this process, and naming the center in his honor is a fitting recognition of his decades of service and commitment to the Edenwald community."
"Completing the substantial renovations at Edenwald is our starting point, our everyday mission and goal will be to support our residents by bringing resources and opportunities that allow them to thrive," said Ernst Valery of EVI Equity.
"We couldn't be more excited for this major milestone to be realized and celebrated. A great moment for the community and residents of Edenwald," said David Alexander of SAA.
"Older adults centers are crucial for providing meals, critical services, and social connection for us as we age and keeping older New Yorkers in the communities they built." said Allison Nickerson, Executive Director at LiveOn NY. "We're thrilled to see that this center is available for the community again after 25 years, and applaud the city for using everything in its toolbox to ensure that the affordable housing and community spaces we need to age in dignity will be available to us all."
