Maria Guzman, a 71-year-old resident of Harborview Terrace Houses in Manhattan, was surprised when a passerby—Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Holdings—offered to help her with her garden. Little did she know, this brief encounter would lead to a donation of nearly $4 million to redesign 33,000 square feet of outdoor space at her public housing complex.
This chance meeting kicked off an impressive renovation project, creating new amenities like a large playground, outdoor gym, basketball courts, and even pickleball courts—all completed remarkably quickly compared to typical public projects. A public-private partnership model was implemented, streamlining the process by allowing a nonprofit, the Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF), to manage the project funded by private donors.
Resident input was heavily prioritized, with numerous community meetings held to gather feedback on designs and colors. Notably, local residents even used virtual reality glasses to visualize the plans. The completed renovations coincided with the development’s 50th anniversary and have significantly improved morale among tenants, with Guzman highlighting how children now flock to the newly created spaces.
This initiative not only aims to enhance the living environment but also to serve as a model for future collaborations between private donors and public housing projects, particularly for those underfunded developments that still rely on federal support. Ackman expressed hope that this example would inspire others to invest in similar community improvements across New York City.
