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🏢 Throggs Neck Houses — A NYCHA Development in the Bronx
Overview
Throggs Neck Houses were constructed in 1953 and were designed to provide affordable housing for low-income families and individuals.1Â The apartments in Throggs Neck Houses are subsidized by the government and are intended for individuals and families with low incomes.1Â The Throggs Neck Houses were built in 1953 as one of the first low-income public housing projects in New York City and were later expanded twice.2
Location & Neighborhood
Throggs Neck (also known as Throgs Neck) is a neighborhood and peninsula in the south-eastern portion of the borough of the Bronx in New York City. It is bounded by the East River and Long Island Sound to the south and east, Westchester Creek on the west, and Baisley Avenue and the Bruckner Expressway on the north.2
The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community District 10, with the ZIP code 10465. Throggs Neck is patrolled by the 45th Precinct of the New York City Police Department.2
The neighborhood is at the northern approach to the Throgs Neck Bridge, which connects the Bronx with the neighborhood of Bay Terrace in the borough of Queens on Long Island.2
Originating from the surname “Throckmorton,” the spelling of the area has been historically variable, with a mix of spellings with one “G” or two, with the traditional spelling being with two G’s.2
The Neighborhood’s Historical Background
From 1833 to 1856, the construction of Fort Schuyler brought in laborers and craftsmen, many of whom were immigrants from Ireland, to settle in the area with their families.2
By the late 19th century, the area had developed into a fashionable but more public summer resort, which also contained large German beer gardens, to which the residents of Yorkville arrived by steamboat service up the East River.2
By 1961, with the construction of the Throggs Neck Bridge, as well as the adjacent parkways, the neighborhood lost its comparative isolation. However, Throggs Neck was largely exempt from the severe urban decay that affected much of the Bronx in the 1970s.2
In 1984, the New York Times described Throggs Neck as one of the last middle- and upper-middle-class areas in the Bronx, noting the area “seems like a well-kept suburb.”2
Physical Characteristics of the Development
The neighborhood has a diverse housing stock, including middle-class homes and up-market waterfront condominiums, as well as the Throggs Neck Houses.2 The development’s buildings are located along addresses such as Dewey Avenue and Calhoun Avenue in the 10465 ZIP code. Key addresses include 2821 Dewey Avenue, 2829 Dewey Avenue, 2831 Dewey Avenue, 505 Calhoun Avenue, 515 Calhoun Avenue, and 545 Calhoun Avenue.3
Community Role & Programs
In addition to serving as a home for many families, Throggs Neck Houses have also played an important role in the community. The development has hosted various events and programs, including a summer youth employment program, community centers, and health clinics.1
NYCHA has been working with community organizations and other stakeholders to improve the quality of life for residents and ensure that the development remains a safe and vibrant place to live.1
Challenges Over the Years
The community has had one of the largest NYCHA housing developments in its area for generations.4 Over the decades, Throggs Neck Houses have faced challenges common to many NYCHA properties — including deferred maintenance and the need for significant capital investments.
NYCHA estimates that nearly $80 billion is needed to bring properties across its portfolio into a good state of repair, with estimated 20-year capital needs of nearly $134 million for Throggs Neck Addition alone.5
Throggs Neck Addition
As part of the development’s two expansions, a separate but related property known as Throggs Neck Addition was constructed. Throggs Neck Addition is home to 631 residents in 287 apartments, and has an estimated 20-year capital need of $134 million.6
Resident Votes on the Future of Their Homes (2024–2025)
In recent years, NYCHA launched a historic resident voting initiative to allow tenants to decide the future of their developments.
NYCHA announced that Throggs Neck Addition would be among the next developments to hold official votes, giving residents a say in the future of their homes. The voting process provided NYCHA residents with an opportunity to choose whether their development should enter the Public Housing Preservation Trust or join the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, both of which leverage alternative funding streams available from the federal government. Residents could also choose for their development to remain Section 9 housing.6
Residents of the Bronx developments began voting online on March 19 and started receiving ballots to vote by mail in the days following. In-person voting was available to residents from April 7 through April 22, with a brief pause from Friday, April 18 through Sunday, April 20 for the Easter holiday.5
Residents weighed in on the future of their homes, with residents of Throggs Neck Addition voting to remain under the traditional Section 9 model.5
Traditional Section 9 receives capital and operations subsidy from the federal government, which has disinvested in public housing in New York City and across the nation for several decades.7
The PACT Program & NYCHA’s Broader Initiative
The PACT program transitions developments from traditional Section 9 assistance to Project-Based Section 8 and unlocks funding for resident-selected PACT partners to complete comprehensive repairs and to oversee daily property management of the campus.7
Overall, 146 NYCHA developments, representing over 39,000 apartments, are in pre-development, are under construction, or have completed construction through the program. This represents over $13 billion in capital repairs for the Authority.5
The New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust is a fully public entity signed into law by New York Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022 following extensive advocacy from the Adams administration and NYCHA. The Trust is expected to unlock billions of dollars in federal funding for comprehensive renovations at NYCHA developments to improve living conditions for residents. Under the Trust, a development is kept 100 percent public and converted to the more stable, federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program, while ensuring residents always maintain their rights, including permanently affordable rent.6
Affordable Housing Crisis Context
Housing construction has not kept up with population growth in New York City. At the end of one recent year, more than 900 households in the 13th Council District, which includes Throggs Neck, ended up in homeless shelters.4
Compared to the fast-paced, chaotic borough of Manhattan, Throggs Neck sticks out as an almost suburban neighborhood. Located in the southeastern corner of the Bronx, it is made up of mostly single, free-standing homes. It can be hard to remember it exists within the boundaries of New York City until making the mile trek to the closest train station at Pelham Bay.4
Throggs Neck Houses remains a vital part of the Bronx’s affordable housing landscape. With its rich history dating back to 1953, the development has served thousands of low-income families over the decades. As residents continue to shape the future of their homes through democratic voting processes, the development stands as a testimony to the enduring importance of public housing in New York City.
A History of Throgsneck Houses: Community, Challenges, and Self-Determination
The Throgsneck Houses, a significant New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development in the southeastern Bronx, has a rich history that reflects the evolution of public housing in the city. From its post-war origins to recent debates about its future, the community has been a vital part of the Throgs Neck neighborhood.
Post-War Origins and Design
Constructed in 1953, the Throgsneck Houses were established to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals and families.1Â The development was one of the first low-income public housing projects in New York City.2Â Spanning approximately 22 acres, the complex consists of 28 low- and mid-rise apartment buildings.1Â Its design included a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, along with community centers, playgrounds, and outdoor recreational spaces to foster a community environment.1
The development was part of the massive city-wide construction boom overseen by Robert Moses, which transformed the physical landscape of New York with large public housing projects and new infrastructure like the nearby Throgs Neck Bridge (1961).34Â The neighborhood at the time was experiencing a shift, with many Italian farmers and tradesmen moving in as transit lines were extended.5
Life in Throgsneck Houses: Stability and Enduring Challenges
For decades, the Throgs Neck neighborhood remained one of the most stable in the Bronx, largely avoiding the severe disinvestment and decline that affected other parts of the borough in the mid-to-late 20th century.4Â This stability was attributed to a strong base of homeownership and active civic organizations in the surrounding area.4
However, like many NYCHA developments, the Throgsneck Houses have faced persistent challenges related to maintenance, safety, and security over the years.1Â In recent years, NYCHA has initiated efforts to address these concerns by upgrading infrastructure and improving safety measures.1Â A significant step was the completion of a $1.3 million drainage upgrade in August 2021 by the Department of Environmental Protection. This project involved building two subsurface stormwater drainage chambers to capture nearly two million gallons of stormwater annually, alleviating flooding and reducing overflows into the East River.6
Despite these issues, the development has remained an important community anchor, hosting various programs such as summer youth employment, health clinics, and community center activities.1
A Defining Vote for the Future
A pivotal moment in the history of the Throgsneck Houses occurred in the spring of 2025. Residents of the “Throgs Neck Addition” were given the power to decide the future management and funding of their homes. They were presented with three options:
- Remain under NYCHA’s traditional Section 9 public housing model.
- Join the Public Housing Preservation Trust, a new public entity created to unlock federal funding for renovations.
- Convert to the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, which uses third-party partners to manage and repair the buildings through Project-Based Section 8 funding.
After a 30-day voting period from March to April 2025, the residents of the Throgs Neck Addition voted to remain under the traditional Section 9 model.7Â The final tally showed 124 votes to stay with Section 9, 80 for the Trust, and 12 for PACT.7Â This decision means that for now, the development will not be converted to Project-Based Section 8 and will continue to rely on traditional federal funding, which has been subject to disinvestment for decades.7Â The estimated 20-year capital needs for the Throgs Neck Addition are nearly $134 million.7
The history of the Throgsneck Houses is one of a community navigating the complexities of public housing. While facing systemic challenges of underfunding and aging infrastructure, its residents have actively participated in shaping their own future, choosing a path of self-determination in a system undergoing significant change.