In the past several months, Weverit has generated building reports for 96 large residential complexes across New York City — public housing developments, co-ops, and market-rate rentals. Each report draws from the same sources: HPD violation records, 311 complaint data, Department of Buildings filings, and rent-stabilization registration history.
Here is what the grade distribution across those 96 buildings shows.
The distribution
Of the 96 buildings:
- 9 scored A (90–100)
- 25 scored A- (85–89)
- 28 scored B+ (80–84)
- 16 scored B (70–79)
- 4 scored C+ (65–69)
- 8 scored C (50–64)
- 6 scored D (40–49)
- 0 scored F
The median score is 82. The mean is 78. The absence of F grades reflects the scoring distribution in this sample rather than a conclusion that no buildings in New York City have severe conditions.
How scores are calculated
Each building receives a composite score on a 100-point scale based on public-record indicators: HPD violation counts, 311 complaint patterns, DOB filings, and rent-stabilization registration data.
The score is not a government rating, a safety certification, or a habitability determination. It is Weverit's internal comparative index built from public-record data sources. It does not account for factors not captured in public records — private maintenance contracts, unit-level conditions, management responsiveness to informal requests, or resident satisfaction.
A high score does not certify a building as problem-free. A low score does not establish that conditions are unsafe or uninhabitable. The scores are one data point among many for housing decisions.
Buildings in this analysis were selected by unit count. The sample prioritizes large residential complexes across all five boroughs. It is not random and is not representative of all NYC residential buildings.
The NYCHA finding
A common assumption holds that public housing performs poorly on housing quality metrics. In this sample, NYCHA and NYCHA-adjacent developments score consistently well.
The 27 public housing developments in the sample averaged 85.5, compared to 75.2 for the remaining 69 market-rate rentals, co-ops, and luxury buildings. The NYCHA median was 85.
Ravenswood Houses (A- 90), Brownsville Houses (A- 90), Whitman Houses (A 93), and Queensbridge Houses — one of NYC's largest public housing developments — all scored 82 or above.
This does not mean public housing is without problems. It means that on the specific data points Weverit measures, NYCHA buildings in this sample show a different profile than their reputation might suggest. Different tenant populations may also use formal complaint channels differently, which can affect how activity appears in public records.
The luxury finding
High rent does not predict a high score.
Lincoln Towers (C 56), Waterside Plaza (C 59), Gotham West (C 52), and Sky (C 54) are large Manhattan rental buildings at market or above-market rents. All scored C.
The cluster of ultra-luxury towers along and near West 57th Street scored in the middle of the distribution: One57 scored A- (87), 432 Park Avenue scored B+ (83), and 220 Central Park South scored B (79). These are among the most expensive residential addresses in the city. None scored below B, and none scored at the top of the distribution.
Hudson Yards, completed between 2019 and 2020, scored well: 15 Hudson Yards scored A- (90) and 35 Hudson Yards scored A- (85). Limited complaint history on recently completed buildings is expected.
The older affordable co-op finding
Several historically affordable co-op developments scored in the C range. Hillman Housing (C 50) and East River Housing on the Lower East Side both scored C. In Central Harlem, Riverton Houses (D 49), Lenox Terrace (D 44), and Schomburg Plaza (D 41) scored D.
One possible explanation is that repair and capital decisions in some co-op governance structures move more slowly because major work often requires board approval and shareholder assessments. Weverit's data does not establish causation; it records complaint and violation counts as they appear in public records.
Buildings in the D range
Six buildings scored D, with scores between 40 and 49.
Le Frak City (Corona, Queens): 40. A large middle-income rental complex from the 1960s.
Schomburg Plaza (East Harlem, Manhattan): 41. A 1975 co-op development.
Briar Hill (Norwood, Bronx): 42. A mid-size co-op.
Lenox Terrace (Central Harlem, Manhattan): 44. A large rental development.
The Apthorp (Upper West Side, Manhattan): 47. A 1908 individual NYC landmark building converted to luxury rentals.
Riverton Houses (Central Harlem, Manhattan): 49. A rental complex developed in 1947.
The Apthorp's D grade reflects complaint and violation patterns in the public record. It is not Weverit's assessment of the building's desirability, historical significance, or market value.
Full reports
Building reports for each property in this analysis are available in the Weverit catalog. Reports draw from HPD, 311, DOB, and DHCR data and are updated on a rolling schedule as underlying sources refresh.
