The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) unveiled a plan to lease millions of square feet of 

its property to private developers for mixed-use construction of housing and retail space. The 

plan includes converting parking spots, walkways and parks into at least 1,000 units of 

affordable housing, along with market-rate housing and commercial and retail development. 

Some of the revenue generated from the development is expected to be reinvested locally at 

the sites where the construction is taking place.
 

Sites have not yet been selected, but multiple locations will be available to developers. 

Chairman John Rhea said that Manhattan would be the most likely place to start. He predicted 

that money could start flowing into the Housing Authority by the end of 2013.
 

The split between affordable housing and commercial development has yet to be determined, 

but the goal, Mr. Rhea said, is to drive "substantial revenues" to the Housing Authority. Millions 

of dollars in tax breaks will be available to those chosen to develop on the authority's land.
 

Learn more about the initiative on the NYCHA Web site.