Affordable Housing Contractor Manhattan

We renovate Manhattan's affordable housing while residents keep living in it.

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Occupied-building renovation

Major renovations with residents in place.

Perennial Empire is the prime general contractor on Phase 1 of Chelsea Elliott-Fulton Houses, the largest PACT renovation in U.S. history at $1.5B. Our Harlem-based team has completed more than 3,000 units across all five NYC boroughs and holds every certification NYCHA procurement requires.

  • Occupied-unit gut and finish renovations
  • Kitchen, bath, and full-unit turnover
  • Section 3 hiring and compliance reporting
  • Prevailing wage payroll and third-party monitor experience
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The Midtown Manhattan skyline at sunset.

Perennial Empire by the numbers

$50M+

In renovations

Chelsea Elliott-Fulton Houses, Phase 1. The largest PACT renovation in U.S. history. Perennial Empire holds the prime GC contract.

90+
W2 employees All in-house, 7 active trades
Section 3
Certified Hiring and reporting handled in-house
100s
Units renovated Occupied-building renovation specialists

Harlem-based, working across all five boroughs.

How we work in occupied buildings

Renovation Without Displacement: Perennial Empire's Manhattan Standard

Every Manhattan PACT project we run is performed in occupied buildings. Residents stay in place. Our approach is built around that constraint, not bolted on after the fact.

  1. Pre-Construction Resident Coordination

    NYCHA PACT buildings in Chelsea and Harlem can carry several hundred occupied units per structure, so elevator scheduling alone needs weeks of coordination with building management before any trade crew arrives. Perennial Empire's pre-construction team works directly with the required NYCHA resident monitor to set unit-level expectations, and bakes an alternate-unit sequence into the job plan before mobilization so a single missed unit does not kill the day.

  2. Seven In-House Trades, Zero Subcontractor Gaps

    Perennial Empire self-performs painting, carpentry, drywall, ceramic tile, door installation, general construction, and glazing with named in-house crews. In Manhattan, where elevator access is rationed and hallway staging space is near zero, the ability to sequence our own trades without waiting on outside subs is what keeps schedules on track. We do not sub out our core scopes on PACT work.

  3. Phased Unit Cycling

    Our field supervisors phase unit work in cycling rotations so no single floor or building wing loses access to building services simultaneously. This approach is standard on our Chelsea Elliott-Fulton work and was refined across 1,000+ units on the PACT Manhattan Bundle. It protects resident quality of life and keeps DOB-reportable incidents at minimum.

  4. Third-Party Labor Monitor Experience

    NYCHA PACT contracts in Manhattan require third-party labor monitoring. Perennial Empire has operated under this oversight structure on multiple projects. Our payroll compliance, Section 3 reporting, and prevailing wage documentation are structured for monitor review from project kickoff, not assembled after a notice of deficiency.

  5. NYC DOB and NYCHA Approvals Already in Hand

    Perennial Empire is an approved NYCHA vendor and licensed general contractor with active standing in the NYCHA vendor portal, configured prevailing wage payroll integration, and current contractor-grade COIs on file. For Manhattan procurement, those three items determine whether subcontractor onboarding takes two weeks or two months. Active status at bid review keeps the compliance clock off the project's critical path on day one.

  6. Ready to start?

    Walk us through your Manhattan PACT project.

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Manhattan projects

$1.5B

PACT program, the largest in U.S. history. Perennial Empire is prime GC on Phase 1.

Chelsea Elliott-Fulton Houses

Perennial Empire holds the prime general contractor role for Phase 1 of Chelsea Elliott-Fulton Houses in Chelsea, Manhattan. This is Phase 1 of the largest PACT renovation in U.S. history, a $1.5 billion program covering 1,600+ units across multiple phases. Our scope on Phase 1 includes 150 gut renovations with full MEP rough and finish, carpentry, drywall, tile, and door work, all performed in occupied buildings under active NYCHA third-party labor monitoring.

Role
Prime general contractor
Program
NYCHA PACT
Borough
Manhattan (Chelsea)
Scope
150 gut renovations
Status
Ongoing

From award to punch list

How a Manhattan PACT Project Moves Through Perennial Empire

Weeks 1 to 3

Prequalification and Scope Confirmation

Perennial Empire submits its prequalification package including NYCHA vendor approval documentation, bonding capacity evidence, insurance certificates, Section 3 certification, prevailing wage compliance records, and NYC DOB license. We do not outsource this package assembly. Our operations team maintains current credentials and can turn a complete package in under five business days.

What residents experience

No resident impact at this stage.

  1. Weeks 1 to 3

    Prequalification and Scope Confirmation

    Perennial Empire submits its prequalification package including NYCHA vendor approval documentation, bonding capacity evidence, insurance certificates, Section 3 certification, prevailing wage compliance records, and NYC DOB license. We do not outsource this package assembly. Our operations team maintains current credentials and can turn a complete package in under five business days.

    Residents experience: No resident impact at this stage.

  2. Weeks 3 to 6

    Site Survey and Unit-Level Scope Verification

    Every Manhattan NYCHA building carries condition variables that a desktop scope cannot capture. Prewar construction in neighborhoods like Chelsea or Washington Heights means original plaster walls, pipe chases that do not align with post-1970 renovation assumptions, and ceiling heights that require custom material cuts. On NYCHA stock, Perennial Empire enters every unit survey with asbestos and lead paint assumptions already priced into the base estimate, because both are present at rates that make case-by-case testing slower and more expensive than a standard allowance. Condition variances are identified and priced before contract execution, not submitted as change orders after award. A common variance type is infill framing that was added during a prior renovation cycle, which changes the scope for electrical rough-in without appearing in the original drawings.

    Residents experience: Brief scheduled access. Residents are notified in advance by building management.

  3. Week 6 onward

    Phased Mobilization by Trade

    Perennial Empire brings in our seven in-house trades in sequence. In occupied Manhattan buildings, mobilization is phased floor by floor or wing by wing to preserve elevator access and limit simultaneous disruption. Our site superintendent manages the trade sequencing calendar and reports to the labor monitor weekly.

    Residents experience: Daily construction hours are posted on each affected floor. Residents have a direct contact for concerns.

  4. Ongoing

    Labor Monitor Reporting and Compliance

    Section 3 participation rates, prevailing wage payroll records, and workforce documentation are submitted to the third-party monitor on a defined reporting cycle. Perennial Empire's payroll and HR systems are structured for this compliance load. We have not had a prevailing wage deficiency on any Manhattan PACT project.

    Residents experience: No direct resident impact. Compliance reporting happens at the project office level.

  5. Final phase

    Punch List, Inspection, and Unit Turnover

    The punch list phase on an occupied PACT renovation is the moment a procurement officer's credential file gets built. Perennial Empire coordinates the resident walkthrough with the building's NYCHA-designated resident services coordinator before requesting NYC DOB inspection, so that resident-identified items are resolved prior to official sign-off rather than appearing on a DOB correction notice. On projects requiring a DOB permit sign-off, Perennial Empire schedules the inspection within the DOB's standard 10-business-day window and manages the paperwork chain through to final Certificate of Completion. The completed unit package (resident walkthrough sign-off, DOB final, and photo documentation) is delivered to building management as a structured turnover record. That record is what makes a completed Manhattan PACT renovation a referenceable, documented credential rather than an undocumented line item on a portfolio list.

    Residents experience: Resident receives a final walkthrough invitation before unit is recorded as complete.

  • Section 3 Certified
  • Licensed General Contractor
  • NYCHA Approved Vendor
  • Prevailing Wage Compliant
  • Third-Party Labor Monitor Experienced
  • Fully Bonded
  • Fully Insured
  • NYC DOB Compliant

Frequently Asked Questions: PACT Contractor in Manhattan

Is Perennial Empire a NYCHA-approved vendor for Manhattan PACT projects?

Yes. Perennial Empire is an approved NYCHA vendor and a licensed general contractor with active work in NYCHA PACT programs in Manhattan. Our approvals include prevailing wage compliance documentation, Section 3 certification, and third-party labor monitor experience. Procurement teams can request our prequalification package through the contact page.

How does Perennial Empire manage renovation work in buildings where residents remain in place?

Perennial Empire operates exclusively in occupied residential buildings. Our methodology cycles units in phases so no floor loses building services simultaneously, resident households receive direct contact information for our site team before work begins, and our field supervisors coordinate daily schedules with building management. This approach was developed across 3,000+ units in NYC, including active Manhattan PACT work at Chelsea Elliott-Fulton Houses.

What trades does Perennial Empire self-perform on Manhattan projects?

Perennial Empire self-performs seven trades with in-house W2 crews: painting, carpentry, drywall, ceramic tile, door installation, general construction, and glazing. We do not broker these scopes to subcontractors on core PACT work.

Does Perennial Empire have experience with Section 3 compliance and prevailing wage reporting on Manhattan jobs?

Yes. Section 3 compliance and prevailing wage reporting are standard operational requirements on every PACT project Perennial Empire executes in Manhattan. Our payroll and documentation systems are structured for third-party monitor review. We have not received a prevailing wage deficiency notice on any Manhattan project.

Is Perennial Empire bonded and insured for large-scale Manhattan renovation contracts?

Perennial Empire is fully bonded with strong bonding capacity and carries workers' compensation, general liability, commercial auto, and umbrella and excess insurance. Certificates of insurance are available upon request. Specific coverage figures and bonding limits are disclosed during the prequalification process.

Where is Perennial Empire based, and how quickly can you mobilize in Manhattan?

Perennial Empire's headquarters is in Harlem at 8 W 126th St, Floor 3, New York, NY 10027. We are a Manhattan-based operation. Our crew and field supervision are based in NYC, which means mobilization to any Manhattan NYCHA PACT site does not involve travel logistics or regional lead times.

What is the scope of Perennial Empire's work at Chelsea Elliott-Fulton Houses?

Perennial Empire holds the prime general contractor role on Phase 1 of Chelsea Elliott-Fulton Houses in Chelsea, Manhattan. Phase 1 involves 150 gut renovations across occupied units. The broader Chelsea Elliott-Fulton program is the largest PACT renovation in U.S. history at a total program value of $1.5 billion. Our Phase 1 contract value is approximately $20 million and work is ongoing.

Manhattan PACT Contractor

Start the Prequalification Conversation

Perennial Empire is a NYCHA-approved vendor with active prime GC work in Manhattan. Send us a project brief or request our prequalification package and our operations team will respond within one business day.

Request Prequalification Package