Chelsea NYCHA tenants take fight over teardown plan to DSA

What happened

Tenants opposed to the city's plan to demolish and rebuild the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses, two NYCHA complexes in Chelsea, have joined the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Gothamist reported on 11/11/2026 that they argue the redevelopment amounts to privatization of public housing and goes against Mayor Zohran Mamdani's socialist principles. On the Saturday after publication, three tenant activists planned to attend a DSA convention where members will decide whether to formally oppose the plan.

Under the plan, private developers would build mixed-income housing on the NYCHA property in exchange for replacing roughly 2,000 public housing units. The project costs $1.2 billion and could serve as a model for rebuilding other NYCHA complexes. Mamdani and other DSA members in his administration say the buildings are in such bad condition that tearing them down is cheaper than renovating them. The plan was in the works across two prior mayoral administrations.

City officials have promised current tenants new apartments under private management, with rent staying at 30% of income. The developments would move from the federal Section 9 public housing program to project-based Section 8. The city has not yet closed on the deal with the developers. In the first phase, two buildings are designated for demolition, including the Chelsea Addition senior building. More than two dozen families are refusing to move, including a large group of seniors who fear they will not outlive the redevelopment.

Cea Weaver, who leads the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, said the activists do not represent all residents and that many tenants want the project to move forward. City officials, including Weaver, have offered to meet with opposing tenants. Fulton Houses tenant Jackie Lara, who has lived there for 24 years, said she joined DSA hoping to get a meeting with Mamdani.