An Important Victory for Our Community — QRS Extended to 2069
Today, we are proud to share transformational news for many members of our community.
After years of advocacy, the existing Quasi Rent Stabilization (QRS) agreement has been extended through 2069. The current 2.5% cap on annual increases will remain in place for over 400 apartments — not just through 2030, but to the end of Marina Towers / Lefrak’s current ground lease with Battery Park City Authority (BPCA). The extension applies to residents already covered by the QRS agreement (generally those who have been Gateway residents since 2009).
This did not begin in a conference room this year. The groundwork was laid long ago.
Many of you remember the 2020 negotiations, which were quite challenging. In seeking to extend the 2020 QRS agreement, we faced an uphill battle with the building owner, and even supportive elected officials were candid about how difficult the path would be. The Gateway Tenants Association organized a community rally, mobilizing residents to demonstrate publicly how deeply this issue mattered. We met repeatedly with leadership at the Battery Park City Authority and with elected officials. We conducted research, gathered tenant data, prepared detailed arguments, and stayed engaged — even as the odds seemed long.
Since then, we have continued that work quietly and persistently. We met with BPCA leadership again and again. We shared data. We communicated tenant priorities. We reinforced why long-term stability is not just helpful — it is essential for our community. We pushed for permanence, not just another short extension.
We are extremely appreciative of the support of the Battery Park City Authority and its leadership, especially CEO Raju Mann, in reaching this agreement. Negotiations of this magnitude require engagement from multiple parties, and we are appreciative of all our elected officials who have supported us over many years. But it is important to be clear: this outcome is the result of years of consistent, organized advocacy by our Gateway Tenants Association. We planted the seeds for this extension, and we stayed at the table until it became reality.
Going into this process, we were not certain any extension could be achieved. Securing an extension to 2069 at the existing 2.5% cap is a major accomplishment. It removes a looming expiration date, provides long-term predictability for over 400 households, and strengthens the stability of our broader community.
Just as important, this victory sharpens our focus. With QRS protections secured for the long term, we can now dedicate our full energy to advancing protections and improvements for market-rate tenants. Our attention and advocacy will be strong, unified, and strategic.
This is what collective, sustained engagement looks like. It is rarely dramatic. It is often behind the scenes. And it works.
We invite all residents to join us at our Annual Meeting on March 4, where we will share additional details about the QRS extension and outline our advocacy priorities for market-rate tenants in the months ahead. Your participation matters and your voice strengthens our community.
There will be more to share in the coming weeks. For now, this is a moment to recognize how far we have come — and what organized residents, working together through the Gateway Tenants Association, can achieve.
On behalf of the Gateway Tenants Association,
The GTA Board of Directors
Upcoming: GTA Annual Meeting – Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – 7:00 pm – via Zoom
We invite all residents to join us at our Annual Meeting on March 4, where we will share additional details about the QRS extension and outline our advocacy priorities for market-rate tenants in the months ahead. Your participation matters, and your voice strengthens our community.