Nellie Nieves, City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development Associate Housing Development Specialist (Retired)

 

Nellie Nieves' 35-year career, with the City of New York, started in 1984. In the late 70's - early 80's, the Department of Real Estate was renamed the Department of Housing Preservation Development in response to the rise of abandoned housing. Owners of substandard buildings, walked away from their properties by the thousands, as a result of non-payment of rents and taxes. In addition, high rates of the HIV/AID, crack cocaine epidemics contributed to a prolific abundance of burnt out buildings and vacant lots. The catch phrase at the time was "the Bronx is burning!".