NYC Rezoning Tracker

2024

Soho/NoHo

Advance Clean Curbs pilot with local partners

Community Resources

DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION (DSNY)

In Progress

• In 2020, DSNY created the Clean Curbs program for the collection of commercial waste from containers in the roadway or at the curbside, eliminating the storage, setout and collection of commercial waste in bags on the sidewalk.

• DSNY will work with the SoHo Broadway Initiative, local businesses, residents and other stakeholders to advance a pilot of this approach in the SoHo/NoHo area. DSNY will explore the feasibility of providing funding or other support for pilots of this initiative in FY2022 or future fiscal years. DSNY will also work with these stakeholders to explore similar approaches for residential waste storage, setout and collection.

TBD

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in all five boroughs have installed containerized storage as part of the Clean Curbs program. In 2023, DSNY worked with the SoHo Broadway Initiative to install a Clean Curb container on Prince Street between Broadway and Crosby Street. In 2024, DSNY worked with The NoHo BID to install Clean Curbs refuse storage at West 4th and Mercer Street, as well as at Broadway and West Houston Street. DSNY is working with all BIDs citywide to ensure that they are in compliance with containerization mandates.

2024

Soho/NoHo

Conduct targeted enforcement before implementation of Commercial Waste Zones

Community Resources

DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION (DSNY)

In Progress

• In advance of the implementation of the Commercial Waste Zones program in Community Board 2 (the “Manhattan Southwest” zone), DSNY and its partner agencies will conduct targeted enforcement of existing laws and regulations concerning commercial waste operations, including regarding waste storage, setout and collection requirements as well as street and sidewalk cleaning regulations.

2022 Start

While DSNY has not performed targeted enforcement specifically within the SoHo/NoHo area, Citywide enforcement efforts are ongoing. DSNY plans to focus on targeted outreach and education in advance of the CWZ roll-out in Community District 2.

2024

Soho/NoHo

Implement Commercial Waste Zones in Community District 2 as expeditiously as possible.

Community Resources

DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION (DSNY)

In Progress

• The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is currently working to implement Local Law 199 of 2019, which creates Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) for the collection of waste from businesses and other commercial establishments.

• The SoHo/NoHo district is a mixed-use area that will benefit greatly from the implementation of this program, which will provide high-quality, low-cost waste collection services for businesses while protecting public safety, improving quality of life and advancing the City’s zero waste goals. The CWZ program will divide the city into 20 zones, each served by up to three carters selected through a competitive process. Five citywide contracts will also be awarded for the collection of containerized waste and compactors. This approach will reduce truck traffic associated with commercial waste collection by 50 percent, eliminating millions of heavy-duty truck miles from NYC streets every year, while strengthening service standards and allowing for customer choice.

• Under rules published in 2020, DSNY designated the entirety of Manhattan Community Board 2 as one of 20 zones under this program. DSNY will work with local businesses, residents and elected officials to implement this program expeditiously in this zone (the “Manhattan Southwest” zone) and to maximize the overall benefits of this program with regard to public safety and quality of life for area residents.

2022 Start

In January 2024, DSNY announced Citywide contract awards, as well as contract awards for 20 Commercial Waste Zones. The first zone, Queens Central, began roll-out on September 3, 2024, and will be fully operational by January 2, 2025. DSNY will continue rolling out subsequent zones, including Manhattan Southwest, as new rules are published.

2024

Soho/NoHo

Ensure future applicants requiring the approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) have access to LPC staff and informational resources

Community Resources

LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION (LPC)

Completed

More than 80 percent of the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan area is within New York City-designated historic districts. As the City agency responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings and sites, the LPC will have to review and approve any change to buildings within these areas, including alteration, reconstruction, demolition, or new construction, pursuant to the requirements of the City’s Landmarks Law.



While the zoning will be updated, LPC’s jurisdiction remains unchanged, and any development and enlargement will continue to be subject to future review and approval by the LPC in accordance with the New York City Landmarks Law.



To ensure that future applicants have access to LPC staff and informational resources to consider potential work in the rezoning area and understand LPC processes and requirements, LPC will establish a monthly “open office hours” for business and property owners in the rezoning area.

2021-2022

More than 80 percent of the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan area is within New York City-designated historic districts. As the City agency responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings and sites, LPC will review and approve any changes to buildings within these areas, including alteration, reconstruction, demolition, or new construction, pursuant to the requirements of the City’s Landmarks Law. While the zoning will be updated, LPC’s jurisdiction remains unchanged, and any development and enlargement will continue to be subject to future review and approval by the LPC in accordance with the New York City Landmarks Law. Between 2021 and 2022 (during the first year of the rezoning), LPC hosted monthly "open office hours" for business and property owners in SoHo/NoHo to ensure that applicants had access to LPC staff and informational resources to consider potential work in the rezoning area and understand LPC processes and requirements. Although this POA has now expired, LPC remains engaged in the review and approval process in SoHo/NoHo.

2024

Soho/NoHo

Continue proactive tenant outreach targeted for SoHo/NoHo and surrounding neighborhoods

Housing

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT UNIT (PEU)

Completed

• Since October 2021, Tenant Support Unit (TSU) specialists have conducted outreach to 13 buildings in the rezoning area, reaching over 180 households. TSU, part of the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU), uses a data-driven approach to engage tenants and provide assistance to those who may be at risk of displacement or experiencing harassment. Specialists conduct outreach through phone, text and door-to-door canvassing, to proactively inform tenants of their rights, identify any housing-related issues and connect them with a range of resources, such as emergency repairs and HRA’s free legal assistance. TSU will continue outreach efforts in the rezoning area this week, with a focus on providing additional language access resources

TBD

No additional outreach in 2024.

2024

Soho/NoHo

Expand the Storefront Startup program to activate vacant storefronts in the SoHo/NoHo area in the near term

Economic Development

DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES (SBS)

In Progress

In early 2021, SBS launched Storefront Startup, a program which pairs small businesses without a physical location to vacant storefronts at no cost to the business owner. The program connects artists and entrepreneurs, especially those from low to moderate-income neighborhoods, women, or entrepreneurs of color, temporary rent-free storefronts to help them launch and grow. An expansion of the program will open up the vibrant artistic legacy and resources of SoHo and NoHo to diverse artists and entrepreneurs citywide, while activating and enlivening storefronts and streetscapes in the SoHo and NoHo areas.

2022 Start

SBS has provided neighborhood development grant opportunities to activate and revitalize the SoHo/NoHo commercial corridors, which includes the Small BID grant that the NoHo NY BID received in FY24.





SBS will continue to assess and explore the appropriate resources to deploy in the area.

2024

Bay Street

Combat Zombie Homes

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

The impact of the foreclosure crisis is still being felt across the city as homeowners, many of
whom are victims of discriminatory lending practices, are forced to relocate, leaving behind socalled
“zombie” homes, which are defined as vacant, physically distressed one- to four family
homes with delinquent mortgages.
In 2016, the New York State Legislature passed the Zombie Property and Foreclosure Prevention
Act (“Zombie Law”) to address the problems posed by vacant small homes in foreclosure. The
Zombie Law requires banks and other mortgage holders to identify and report to the State all
vacant and delinquent properties for which they hold the mortgage note, secure and maintain
these properties so that they are not public health and safety hazards, and submit penalties if
they fail to maintain the properties.
HPD launched the Zombie Homes Initiative in 2017, with a grant from the Local Initiatives
Support Corporation, to aid in the implementation and enforcement of the Zombie Law.
Through the initiative, HPD has created a citywide database of zombie homes, surveyed more
than 500 likely zombie homes, partnered with the NYC Law Department to enforce Zombie Law
penalties, and connected at-risk homeowners with foreclosure prevention resources.

Through June 2021

Following the passage of the State’s Zombie Property and Foreclosure Act (or “Zombie Law”), HPD launched its Zombie Homes Initiative in 2017 with grant funding from the Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) to aid in the enforcement of the Zombie Law in New York City. Through this initiative, HPD tracks properties in jeopardy, conducts surveys to ensures banks and servicers maintain the zombie properties in their portfolios, and collaborates with the NYC Law Department to hold banks and servicers who let their zombie homes fall into disrepair accountable. To date, HPD created an innovative data model to identify zombie homes, conducted over 1,500 external surveys across the City, and collected approximately $870,000 from 35 lawsuits, with 100+ cases still pending. HPD is also developing an acquisition program, whereby HPD or a non-profit partner will acquire portfolios of zombie homes from mortgage holders, rehabilitate the properties, and resell them as affordable homeownership opportunities.

2024

East New York

Launch an ENY Homeowner Helpdesk to connect homeowners to free financial and legal counseling

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD will establish a dedicated Homeowner Helpdesk in the community with financial and legal counselors to help homeowners modify mortgages, prevent foreclosures, access home repair, DEP water relief programs, and weatherization loans, and address scams such as deed thefts and other issues.
Outreach will be conducted through a combination of mailings, door knocking, phone calls, and the staffing of help desks in various locations......

Timeline: Launch Homeowner Helpdesk in summer 2016, continue for one year, then evaluate need to continue. Expense funding commitment is $250,000.

Please see notes for entirity of commitment.

2016–2017

Building upon the successful implementation of the Homeowner Help Desk pilot program in East New York, HPD expanded the program to Central Brooklyn (including East New York), Southeast Queens, and the North Bronx in 2021. The expanded Help Desk has engaged more than 34,000 residents and assisted 1,466 homeowners by providing services tailored to their needs, such as repair loans or legal counseling to prevent foreclosure.

2024

Bay Street

Implement "Certification of No Harassment" CONH Pilot Program

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

The Administration will enforce a three-year pilot CONH program in designated neighborhoods,
including Staten Island Community District 1, to protect certain tenants from being harassed
from their homes. This program identifies specific buildings which meet criteria indicating that
tenants may be at risk for harassment. Owners of such buildings are required to obtain a CONH
before being granted building permits for specified covered work in the buildings. Community
groups, under contract with HPD and identified through a Request for Proposals (RFP), will
investigate buildings that apply for CONHs.

Until September 2021

HPD received funding in FY19 to implement the pilot Certification of No Harassment (CONH) program in designated neighborhoods to protect tenants from being harassed from their homes. Owners of designated buildings are required to obtain a CONH before being granted building permits for specified covered work in the buildings. The program launched in fall 2018, and the CONH pilot was expanded citywide in October 2021. As of April 2022, HPD reviewed four applications subject to evaluation by the program in the Bay Street rezoning area.

2024

Bay Street

Continue to provide local hiring incentives in HPD‐financed developments

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

In all HPD RFPs for the development of City-owned property, including the Jersey Street Garage,
respondents must demonstrate a plan for outreach to residents of the local community district
related to employment opportunities generated by the proposed project. The outreach plan
could also include activities such as skills, safety, and job training programs. The outreach plan
must include a timeline for implementation. Applicants will be required to comply with their
outreach plans and report regularly on outreach activities.
In addition, HPD will continue implementing HireNYC, which requires that any housing
development receiving $2 million or more in HPD subsidy post open positions with the
Workforce1 system and consider qualified candidates. North Shore residents will be able to
apply for jobs through the City’s HireNYC program at nearby Workforce1 Centers. HPD will also
continue to explore how it can further more job opportunities on projects assisted by the
agency.

Ongoing

For all HPD financed developments exceeding $2 million, including the Stapleton Site A RFP, respondents must demonstrate a plan for outreach to residents of the local community district related to employment opportunities generated by the proposed project. The outreach plan must include a timeline for implementation and could also include activities such as skills, safety, and job training programs. Applicants will be required to comply with their outreach plans and report regularly on outreach activities. In addition, HPD will continue implementing HireNYC, which requires that any housing development receiving $2 million or more in HPD subsidy must post open positions with the Workforce1 system and consider qualified candidates. North Shore residents will be able to apply for jobs through the City’s HireNYC program via Workforce1 Centers, which are now operating remotely and virtually. HPD will also continue to explore how it can further more job opportunities on projects assisted by the agency.

2024

Bay Street

Continue to refine tenant selection procedures to reach New Yorkers most in need

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD is working to remove barriers to qualifying for affordable housing, and regularly updates its
procedures to respond to community feedback and new needs. In June 2018, HPD strengthened
the City’s policies and procedures for allocating affordable housing through NYC Housing
Connect lotteries. These policy changes make affordable housing more accessible to vulnerable
New Yorkers who would have otherwise been previously disqualified, and include:
● Limiting options to reject applicants based on credit history and debt and ensuring
that applicants can no longer be punished for taking their landlords to court.
● Clarifying eligibility guidelines for a speedier review process by eliminating mandatory
employment history requirement for self-employment and freelance income.
● Introducing additional protections for domestic violence survivors, such as ensuring
applicants cannot be denied housing for adverse factors, such as poor credit or
negative debt payment history, if those factors are a direct result of domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Ongoing

HPD continues to make improvements to the Housing Connect portal to make it easier and more efficient for applicants to apply and obtain affordable housing through the lottery process. HPD has implemented a variety of policy changes, and will continue to do so, to remove administrative burden on applicants; most notably, recent policy changes benefit applicants with rental subsidies (vouchers) such as by removing the income eligibility review for voucher holders and prohibiting credit checks as an eligibility criteria for voucher holders.

HPD also continues to administer the Housing Ambassador program. HPD, in partnership with the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, received council discretionary funding once again in FY25 to administer the Ready to Rent program, which provides funding to a select number of Housing Ambassador organizations to host events and seminars to educate the public on the Housing Connect process, and partners with financial counselors to provide additional support in preparing to apply for affordable housing.

2024

Bay Street

Expand Landlord Ambassadors program to Bay Street rezoning area.

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

In addition to strategic outreach to owners, the local community identified a need for more sustained technical assistance for mission‐driven, faith‐based, and small‐ to mid‐sized property owners who are interested in, but unfamiliar with, the process of securing a loan to undertake building improvements. HPD is partnering with Enterprise Community Partners, the Mutual Housing Association of New York (MHANY), Habitat for Humanity NYC Community Fund, and community organization partners to expand the pilot Landlord Ambassadors Program to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to owners of multifamily buildings in targeted areas across the city and develop an emergency loan program to address urgent financial and physical conditions.
Dependent upon Council support for this initiative in the FY 2020 budget, HPD will ensure
targeted outreach to local property owners in the Staten Island Community District 1 to:
  - Provide information about the benefits of using HPD financing programs
  - Navigate HPD program requirements, including regulatory agreements, and package
application materials for HPD review and approval
  - Connect to emergency loan programs if needed
  - Access local resources and vendors needed to close, construct and operate their
properties, including contractors, property managers, attorneys, and other professionals

Ongoing

Through the Landlord Ambasssadors Program (LAP), HPD partnerered with organizational partners to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to owners of multifamily buildings regarding repairs and financing. Although the LAP has concluded, HPD plans to establish the Owners Resource Center (ORC) to continue and expand LAP's work of supporting Housing Development Fund Corporations (HDFC) cooperatives, a type of affordable, limited equity co-op. The ORC will focus outtreach and technical support on owners of buildings with four or more units, including co-ops and condos, who have tax liens.

2024

Bay Street

Host outreach and marketing events to continue promoting programs that help property owners make repairs and preserve affordable housing

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD will continue its targeted outreach to property owners, including through events, mailings,
emails, calls, and surveying of distressed properties. HPD currently hosts monthly Property
Owner Clinics at its downtown location, where building owners can consult one-on-one with
HPD preservation finance specialists and representatives from Department of Buildings (DOB),
Department of Finance (DOF), and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). HPD will
target outreach for its monthly Property Owner Clinics – including via calls, mailings, and e-mails
– to owners in the Bay Street area.

Through December 2021

HPD continues to conduct outreach to property owners in need of repairs and support in navigating financing. In 2023 and 2024, HPD conducted 13 tabling events in Staten Island CD 1, targeting property owners who may be experiencing finanical distress, and engaged 1,025 community members at these events. HPD also surveyed three distressed properties in Staten Island CD 1 in August and September 2024 to identify if they qualified as zombie homes.

2024

Bay Street

Host tenant resource fairs to educate tenants about their rights and resources to prevent displacement

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD is committed to working with partner agencies, elected officials, and community groups to
ensure tenants are aware of their rights and have access to important housing resources. HPD
will host two tenant resource fairs by the end of 2020 in coordination with the local Council
Member.

Host two tenant resource fairs by the end of 2020

HPD is committed to working with partner agencies, elected officials, and community groups to ensure that tenants are aware of their rights and have access to important housing resources. Since switching to virtual events, HPD hosted two online Housing Resource Fairs in partnership with the Housing Dignity Coalition for the North Shore in June and October 2021 for both homeowners and tenants.

2024

East New York

Launch Community Retrofit NYC to boost participation in the Green Housing Preservation Program

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD's new Green Housing Preservation Program targets small buildings of five to 50 units with low interest loans that will make buildings more energy efficient in exchange for maintaining the affordability of their units. On or around Earth Day, 2016, the City will launch Community Retrofit NYC, a comprehensive outreach and technical assistance campaign specifically targeting East New York and other Brooklyn property owners who could benefit from this new financing tool. Outreach will include community based events with local organizations to promote awareness of the program and canvassing to recruit building owners to participate in the program.
Timeline: Late April, 2016, continuing for three years

2016–2019

Launched in 2016, the Community Retrofit NYC Program engaged owners of 600 buildings and initiated or completed retrofit projects in 543 buildings in Brooklyn and Queens. In East New York, 76 buildings comprising 851 homes were engaged.

2024

Bay Street

Improve housing quality through rigorous enforcement of the Housing Maintenance Code

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD responds to 311 calls, Housing Court requests, and building referrals by community groups
and elected officials by sending inspectors to see if building conditions violate the City’s Housing
Maintenance Code. If HPD finds such conditions, they issue violations, which require that the
owner correct the condition. The most serious conditions must be corrected immediately, while
less serious conditions must be corrected within 30 to 90 days.
If owners do not correct violations, buildings may enter into one of HPD’s enforcement
programs. As part of the City’s focus in the Bay Street area, HPD conducted 5,075 inspections
and issued 5,450 new violations in Staten Island Community District 1 in Fiscal Year 2018. Over
that same period, the agency spent over $500,000 to repair emergency conditions in the
neighborhood.

Ongoing

HPD responds to 311 calls, Housing Court requests, and building referrals by community groups and elected officials by sending inspectors to see if building conditions violate the City’s Housing Maintenance Code. If HPD finds such conditions, they issue violations, which require the owner to correct the condition. The most serious conditions must be corrected immediately, while less serious conditions must be corrected within 30 to 90 days. If owners do not address violations, buildings may enter into one of HPD’s enforcement programs.

2024

Bay Street

Keep homes affordable by continuing to offer loans and tax incentives to building owners

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

Since 2014, HPD has financed the preservation of 1,488 affordable homes in Community District
1. HPD will continue monitoring homes in Staten Island Community District 1 with affordability
restrictions in its portfolio and use its various financing programs to preserve and invest in the
neighborhood’s existing affordable housing stock.

Ongoing

Since 2014, HPD has financed the preservation of 2,062 affordable homes in Staten Island CD 1. HPD will continue to monitor homes in Staten Island CD 1 with affordability restrictions in its portfolio, and to use its various financing programs to preserve and invest in the neighborhood’s existing affordable housing stock. Since the rezoning was adopted in 2019, HPD has financed the preservation of 573 affordable homes in Staten Island CD 1.

2024

Bay Street

Launch HomeFix to help low income homeowners make critical repairs and stay in their homes

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

Funding for home repairs is often hard to find for low-income homeowners, especially for families struggling to make mortgage payments. Making repairs can contribute to the health and safety of one’s home, as well as keep up property values. Often, aggressive speculators will barrage owners with cash offers, knowing that owners with significant maintenance issues will be tempted to accept – even if it means leaving the neighborhood they helped to build, and being left without a viable housing alternative. To meet these needs, HPD will launch HomeFix, a program to help low- and moderate-income homeowners in small, one- to four-family properties fund home repairs. Leveraging the services of multiple community and non-profit partners, the new program will pair financial counseling with financial assistance. HPD will work with the local Councilperson and neighborhood organizations to conduct targeted outreach to eligible households in the North Shore of Staten Island to inform them about the new program and its benefits.

2019

In September 2024, HomeFix 2.0 was officially rolled out. The program will assist 450 low- and moderate-income homeowners of one-to-four family homes across the City over the next three years by providing loans of up to $150,000 for critical repairs and sustainability measures. HomeFix 2.0 is now taking applications.

2024

Bay Street

Make it easier for residents to understand, prepare for, and complete the affordable housing application process

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD continues to take steps to help residents become better prepared to submit complete and
accurate applications. Housing Ambassadors are community-based organizations and service
providers, trained by HPD, who help people prepare and apply for affordable housing. HPD has
trained two groups as Housing Ambassadors for Staten Island: CAMBA and Project Hospitality.

Ongoing

HPD continues to make improvements to the Housing Connect portal to make it easier and more efficient for applicants to apply and obtain affordable housing through the lottery process. HPD has implemented a variety of policy changes, and will continue to do so, to remove administrative burden on applicants; most notably, the recent policy changes benefit applicants with rental subsidies (vouchers), such as the removal of the income eligibility review for voucher holders and prohibition of credit checks as an eligibility criteria for voucher holders.

HPD also continues to administer the Housing Ambassador program. HPD, in partnership with the NYC Dept of Consumer and Worker Protection, received council discretionary funding once again in FY25 to administer the Ready to Rent program, which provides funding to a select number of Housing Ambassador organizations to host events and seminars to educate the public on the Housing Connect process, and partners with financial counselors to provide additional support in preparing to apply for affordable housing.

2024

Bay Street

Offer financing to incentivize the development of affordable housing that exceeds minimum MIH requirements

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD will work with property owners in and around the Bay Street Corridor to facilitate the creation of affordable housing that exceeds the minimum MIH affordability requirements. The agency’s financing programs have options that provide for extremely low- to middle-income households, as well as for seniors and households with special needs. HPD also recently updated the terms of its financing programs to require that at least 10% of apartments be set aside for homeless families and individuals in virtually all of our housing programs, as well as more homes for extremely low- and very low-income households. In addition, any project in an MIH area receiving City subsidy must also now set aside an additional 15% of apartments as permanently affordable, on top of the baseline MIH requirements.

Ongoing

HPD will work with property owners in and around the Bay Street Corridor to facilitate the creation of affordable housing that exceeds the minimum Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) affordability requirements. The agency’s financing programs have options that provide for extremely low- to middle-income households, as well as for seniors and households with special needs. HPD's financing programs require that at least 15 percent of apartments be set aside for homeless families and individuals in nearly all of HPD's housing programs, as well as more homes for extremely low- and very low-income households. In addition, any project in an MIH area receiving a City subsidy must also now set aside an additional 15 percent of apartments as permanently affordable, on top of the baseline MIH requirements.

2024

Bay Street

Prioritize the development of City owned land at Jersey Street with affordable housing

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

In Progress

HPD will issue a Request for Proposals to develop 100% affordable housing, including senior
housing, at 539 Jersey Street. Under current assumptions, HPD estimates that the site can
accommodate approximately 223 affordable homes, including approximately 90 units of senior
housing, as well as a community facility and retail space.
In advance of the Department of Sanitation relocating its operations to Fresh Kills Park in 2023,
HPD will conduct a community engagement process to determine an appropriate mix of uses
and affordability levels for the site. Based on feedback, HPD will prioritize community-serving
uses, including potentially a child-care facility, in the RFP.
A minimum of 25% of the affordable housing on the site will serve Extremely Low and Very Low
Income Households (those earning up to 30% and up to 50% of the Area Median Income,
respectively).

RFP by October 2021

HPD conducted a community engagement process to determine priorities for the 539 Jersey Street site in 2023, and issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the site in late 2023. This mixed use development will be 100 percent affordable housing and will include senior housing. A minimum of 25 percent of the affordable housing on the site will serve extremely low and very low-income households (those earning up to 30 percent and up to 50 percent of the Area Median Income, respectively). HPD plans to select the winning development team in late 2024. More information about the project and the takeaways from community engagement can be found on the project website: www.nyc.gov/jersey-street-rfp

2024

Bay Street

Prioritize the development of City owned land at the Stapleton Waterfront with affordable housing

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

In Progress

The New Stapleton Waterfront is a 32-acre decommissioned U.S. Navy Base on Staten Island’s
North Shore. The site was rezoned in 2006, creating a special district and providing City
disposition authority, under SBS jurisdiction. The goals were to generate a mixed-use
development, build a new public waterfront esplanade and open space, and provide community
facilities. The project also includes resiliency measures, such as new storm water infrastructure
and shoreline hardening. The northernmost development sites, Sites A and B1, are included in
the land use application as they are subject to a text amendment to allow for extra height and
changes to the street wall. The City will advance Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the
development of affordable housing. Each site can accommodate at least 300 affordable homes.
HPD will issue an RFP for a 100% affordable housing project at Site A, the northernmost
development site, by the end of 2020. A minimum of 30% of the affordable housing on the site
will serve Extremely Low and Very Low Income Households (those earning up to 30% and up to
50% of the Area Median Income, respectively).
Site B1 is currently occupied by the DOT Dock Builders, who are expected to relocate to a new
facility by 2023. Contingent upon the successful relocation of the Dock Builders, the City will
issue an RFP for the development of a 100% affordable housing project at this site.

Site A RFP by 2020; Site B1 RFP by 2023

Predevelopment planning is currently underway for the Stapleton Beacon development.

2024

Bay Street

Proactively engage property owners in the Bay Street Corridor about the City’s resources to develop affordable housing

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD, in partnership with other City agencies and local elected officials, will convene an
information session in the fall of 2019 for property owners in the rezoning area to inform them
of the City’s resources for developing new mixed-use affordable housing that exceeds MIH
requirements, prioritizing the creation of deeply affordable homes reaching incomes of 30% and
40% AMI.

Fall 2019

HPD hosted a property owner information session in January 2020, in partnership with former Council Member Deborah Rose's office, DCP, and SBS. Approximately 20 property owners in and around the Bay Street Corridor attended the information session to learn more about the City’s resources for the development of new mixed-use affordable housing that exceeds Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) requirements, prioritizing the creation of deeply affordable homes reaching incomes of 30 and 40 percent Area Median Income (AMI).

2024

Bay Street

Promote the Neighborhood Pillars Program to help community organizations acquire rent stabilized buildings.

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

The Neighborhood Pillars program finances the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing rentregulated buildings to protect current tenants and stabilize communities. The program leverages funding from private sector banking partners and philanthropic organizations to provide capital to neighborhood‐based organizations well positioned to identify the buildings most at risk of speculation and rapid turnover. HPD will partner with the local Councilperson to identify potential non‐profits and missiondriven organizations that work in and around Staten Island and ensure they are informed about the opportunity to apply to the Preservation Buyer RFQ, which would qualify them to participate in the Neighborhood Pillars program.

Through 2021

HPD is working to relaunch the Neighborhood Pillars Program which helps M/WBE, For-Profit, and Not-for-Profit owners aquire and rehabilitate physically and financially distressed multi-family buildings. HPD is working to obtain final approvals for launch in 2024.

2024

Bay Street

Study the feasibility of affordable housing and commercial development on the Municipal Parking Lot at 54 Central Avenue

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

The site is currently operated by DOT as a municipal surface parking lot. Its location in the heart
of downtown St George makes it an ideal site to pursue affordable housing and job-generating
uses. However, there is currently an unbuilt portion of Victory Boulevard which is mapped as a
street on the site. Mapped streets do not generate buildable floor area, and any development of
the site would require a modification of the City Map. Additionally, the current zoning on the
site could limit its potential for redevelopment. Because of these constraints, further analysis is
11
needed to understand development feasibility and the potential costs associated with building
affordable housing and commercial uses at this site.

Ongoing

In late 2021, HPD, DCP, and EDC completed a preliminary technical analysis of the 54 Central Avenue site to determine development options. Reviewing the site as either a commercial/mixed-use or 100 percent residential development highlighted a development scenario that significantly exceeded HPD’s financing capabilities. It was determined that this site would be infeasible for affordable housing development until additional, alternative funding sources were identified.

2024

COY: Economic Opportunity (Citywide)

Blue highways

Transportation & Infrastructure

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (EDC)

In Progress

The NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will manage the implementation of six harbor Blue Highway landings by early 2026 to dock vessels and transload cargo for last-mile deliveries by zero-emission cargo bikes, e-quads, and electric vans in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

Early 2026.

Ongoing

2024

Bay Street

Support mission‐driven groups interested in developing affordable housing on underutilized sites

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

Bay Street Area residents and stakeholders expressed a desire to see more participation by
mission-driven organizations in affordable housing development and preservation. To assist
those interested in affordable housing, HPD will work with local faith-based organizations to
explore development opportunities. HPD maintains a Pre-Qualified List of Owner’s
Representatives to help mission-driven organizations who may have underutilized land but littleto-
no real estate experience. In creating the list, HPD evaluated each organization’s technical
expertise, experience, and capacity to represent owners in the development of affordable
housing.
In collaboration with Council Member Rose, HPD will host a workshop in early 2020 for missiondriven
organizations on the North Shore who are interested in affordable housing development.

Event to be held in 2020

HPD continues to steer mission-driven groups to the Pre-Qualified List of Owner's Representatives and NYC Acquisition Fund, which is now available exclusively to nonprofits and M/WBEs, to support their affordable housing initiatives. Since 2015, HPD has financed about 35 projects, comprising about 5,000 affordable homes, with faith-based organizations as development partners; over 1,700 additional units are in various stages of discussion.

2024

Bay Street

Uphold responsible contracting and labor standards for affordable housing projects receiving City subsidy

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD will require disclosure and background checks through its Sponsor Review process to
ensure the integrity of individuals and entities seeking to do business with HPD (e.g. as
developers or contractors). Through this review process, some of which will be performed in
consultation with the Department of Investigation (DOI), HPD’s Sponsor Review Unit will ensure
that sponsors are honest, reliable stewards of public resources. Through the sponsor review
process, HPD attempts to identify:
● History of noncompliance with local, state and federal rules and regulations; including
violations, administrative findings and debarments;
● Pending and prior litigation; and
● Negative contracting history with the city.

Ongoing

HPD will require disclosure and background checks through its Sponsor Review process to ensure the integrity of individuals and entities seeking to do business with HPD (e.g. as developers or contractors). Through this review process, some of which will be performed in consultation with the Department of Investigation (DOI), HPD’s Sponsor Review Unit will ensure that sponsors are honest, reliable stewards of public resources. Through the sponsor review process, HPD attempts to identify:

● History of non-compliance with local, state, and federal rules and regulations; including
violations, administrative findings, and debarments
● Pending and prior litigation
● Negative contracting history with the city

2024

East Harlem

Continue promoting programs that help owners make repairs and preserve affordability

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD is taking a proactive and strategic approach to engaging building owners who could benefit from financing and tax incentives in exchange for maintaining affordable rents for existing tenants. HPD will continue implementing its outreach strategy, targeting property owners in East Harlem through owner outreach events, mailings, e-mails, calls, and surveying distressed properties.

2017-ongoing

HPD promoted owner support at three events in East Harlem in 2024. HPD interacted with 325 community members at these events.

2024

East Harlem

Establish a "Certification of No Harassment" (CONH) Pilot Program

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

In response to feedback from the community and growing interest across the city, the Administration, pursuant to legislative authorization, will enforce a pilot CONH program in designated neighborhoods, including East Harlem, to protect certain tenants from being harassed from their homes. This program will identify specific buildings which meet criteria indicating that tenants may be at risk for harassment. Owners of such buildings would be required to obtain a CONH before being granted building permits for specified covered work in the buildings.

Within a year of legislation passage

HPD received funding in the FY19 budget to implement the pilot Certification of No Harassment (CONH) program in designated neighborhoods, including East Harlem, to protect tenants from being harassed from their homes. Owners of designated buildings are required to obtain a CONH before being granted building permits for specified covered work in the buildings. The program launched in fall 2018 and 37 buildings were subject to evaluation by the program in East Harlem. The CONH pilot was expanded citywide in October 2021.

2024

East Harlem

Continue to offer financing to incentivize the development of affordable housing that exceeds minimum MIH requirements

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD aims to affirmatively further fair housing and economic diversity by financing the development of housing that is affordable to families with a range of incomes and needs, from extremely low- to middle-income households, as well as seniors and those with special needs. HPD recently updated its financing terms to require that any MIH project receiving City subsidy must provide 15% more permanently affordable homes than required by the MIH program alone.

2017-ongoing

Since 2014, 2,217 new affordable homes have been constructed in East Harlem. Of these, approximately 36% percent are serving households earning extremely-low and very-low incomes. Since the East Harlem rezoning was adopted in 2017, 491 affordable homes were constructed in the rezoning area.

2024

East Harlem

Continue to improve housing quality through rigorous enforcement of the Housing Maintenance Code

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

OENS responds to 311 calls, Housing Court requests, and building referrals by community groups and elected officials by sending inspectors to see if building conditions violate the City's Housing Maintenance Code. As part of HPD's focus on East Harlem, and in response to recommendations from the community, OENS prioritized "block sweeps" throughout the neighborhood. Through this initiative, HPD identified buildings and blocks with maintenance or other housing-related issues. HPD will continue monitoring the properties surveyed during this initiative, and will continue accepting building referrals from the community for additional surveying.

2017-ongoing

HPD's Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (OENS) continues to respond to resident complaints and referrals to identify and remediate problems with the quality or safety of buildings.

2024

East Harlem

Develop DSNY 123rd Street Parking Lot

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) occupies a large surface parking lot on the north side of 123rd Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues. The site is currently used as vehicle storage, including for large DSNY salt and other utility trucks, and it is expected to host additional spillover vehicles from the new Potamkin garage. The City will explore the feasibility of redeveloping this site with affordable housing and a new garage for DSNY vehicles in 2018. Any future RFP would need to be subsequent to a relocation site being identified and any related land use approvals completed.

TBD

DSNY occupies a large surface parking lot on the north side of 123rd Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues. The site is currently used as vehicle storage, including for large DSNY salt and other utility trucks, and it is expected to host additional spillover vehicles from the new Potamkin garage. HPD worked with DSNY to evaluate the feasibility of redeveloping this site with affordable housing and a new garage for DSNY vehicles. At this time, development on this site is not viable given the current lack of appropriate permanent relocation space for the DSNY vehicles and concerns regarding the compatibility of co-locating the sanitation garage with affordable housing.

2024

East Harlem

Develop HRA East Harlem Multi-Service Center

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

In Progress

The NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) East Harlem Multi-Service Center is located on East 120th Street between 1st and Pleasant Avenues. The project will include affordable housing and may include new community/office space for Multi-Service Center tenants. RFP respondents must submit a tenant relocation plan, and the City will work with the selected developer to temporarily relocate existing non-profit tenants of the Multi-Service Center and possibly bring back select tenants to the new building.

2018-2019

The HRA East Harlem Multi-Service Center is located on East 120th Street between 1st and Pleasant Avenues. HPD issued an RFP in August 2019, and in August 2021 designated a development team comprised of Ascendant Neighborhood Development Corporation and The Community Builders. Under their proposal, the proposed project will include a new 21-story building containing approximately 282 units of affordable housing. The proposed project also includes the rehabilitation and expansion of an existing 6-story brick school building that is currently owned and utilized by HRA as a Multi-Service Center, which will preserve and create new community facility space. As part of the RFP requirements, the development team provided a relocation plan for the non-profit tenants and is currently working with them on the relocation strategy. In March and April 2022, HPD and the development team met with CB 11's Land Use and Housing Committees and Council Member Diana Ayala to brief them on the winning proposal and kick off the pre-development process for the proposed development. The project certified into ULURP in early September 2024 and is currently undergoing the approvals process.

2024

East Harlem

Develop NYPD 25th Precinct Parking Lot

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

In Progress

The New York Police Department (NYPD) 25th Precinct is located on 119th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues and includes a large surface parking lot fronting Park Avenue. The Precinct uses 75 parking spaces on a daily basis, including emergency response, school safety, and other vehicles. The project will include affordable housing and a new parking garage for NYPD vehicles.

2018-2019

The NYPD 25th Precinct is located on 119th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues and includes a large surface parking lot fronting Park Avenue. HPD is coordinating with the NYPD to plan for the future of the 25th Precinct Parking Lot. The Precinct uses 75 parking spaces on a daily basis for emergency response, school safety, and other vehicles. In August 2021 HPD designated a development team comprised of Lantern Organization and Mega Development. Under their proposal, the proposed project will include a new 19-story building containing approximately 341 units of affordable housing, ground floor community facility space, and replacement parking for the adjacent NYPD 25th Precinct. In March and April 2022, HPD and the development team met with CB 11's Land Use and Housing Committees and the Council Member Diana Ayala to brief them on the winning proposal and kick off the predevelopment process for the proposed development. The project certified into ULURP in August 2023 and received public approvals in March 2024. Currently, HPD and the development team are working on the pre-closing process.

2024

East Harlem

Educate tenants about their rights and resources to prevent displacement

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD is committed to working with partner agencies, elected officials, and community groups to ensure tenants are aware of their rights and have access to important housing resources. HPD's Owner Engagement and Events Unit hosts tenant fairs and coordinates HPD and other agency participation in community events. In addition, through its discretionary awards and Neighborhood Preservation Consultant contracts, the City Council and HPD support community-based organizations that promote and provide tenant resources.

2017-ongoing

HPD is committed to working with partner agencies, elected officials, and community groups to ensure that tenants are aware of their rights and have access to important housing resources. In East Harlem, HPD worked with the Urban Homestead Assistance Board (UHAB) to conduct outreach and educational initiatives for tenants, including coordinating tenant meetings and conducting surveys to assess physical conditions in apartments. HPD also administers City Council-funded contracts with Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council and New York State Tenants and Neighbors, both of whom work directly with East Harlem tenants to educate them about their rights and prevent displacement. In 2021, HPD partnered with CB 11 to host a virtual tenant resources fair.

2024

East Harlem

Continue to work with the Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force to investigate and take action against landlords who harass tenants

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

The Administration helped to create an interagency, multi-jurisdictional Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force to investigate and bring enforcement actions - including criminal charges - against landlords who are found to be harassing tenants to force them to vacate rent-regulated apartments. HPD will continue to work with the Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force to take action against landlords in East Harlem who are harassing tenants.

2017-ongoing

HPD continues to participate on the Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force, in partnership with the New York State Attorney General's Office, New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal, and other City agencies.

2024

East Harlem

Explore opportunities to finance the development of affordable artist housing

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

In Progress

As part of Housing New York, the City committed to building 1,500 affordable apartments for artists. Consistent with goals of the community, HPD will review proposals from private and mission-driven developers seeking to build or preserve artist housing, live/work spaces, or traditional affordable housing integrated with studio and performance spaces in East Harlem. The City will also explore artist housing on future public sites if desired by the community.

2017-ongoing

HPD aims to fulfill the goal of financing live/work spaces for artists through a combination of new construction and adaptive reuse of existing buildings on both public and private sites. The City will aim to co-locate affordable live/work housing and publicly accessible community arts spaces. An inter-agency collaboration, comprised of DCLA, EDC, HPD, and the Mayor’s Office, is leading the implementation of the Affordable Real Estate for Artists (AREA) initiative to identify potential sites citywide, backed by $30 million from the Department of Cultural Affairs’ (DCLA) capital budget for the workspace component. In March 2019, HPD and DCLA hosted a roundtable with a diverse set of artists, arts organizations, architects, and developers to discuss design guidelines and considerations for the development of mixed-use live/work housing for the AREA initiative.

2024

East Harlem

Fund and support the East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust to close on financing to renovate at least 3 buildings

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a non-profit organization that maintains control and oversight of affordable housing through ownership of land, and whose primary purpose is the creation and/or maintenance of permanently affordable housing. The CLT's land ownership, paired with a governance structure that reflects the interests of residents and the broader neighborhood, can offer a unique housing model that empowers communities. To support CLTs across the city, HPD issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) early in 2017 to identify qualified groups interested in forming CLTs. In addition, HPD recently announced an award of $500,000 from Enterprise Community Partners to Banana Kelly to support the efforts of the East Harlem El Barrio Community Land Trust. Over the next 24 months, the grant will fund operations and start-up support and is expected to be integrated into the budget of its first rehabilitation project of three buildings in East Harlem. HPD will continue exploring additional opportunities to partner with CLTs in Upper Manhattan.

2019

The City will fund one or more local community organizations to conduct proactive outreach to tenants in the rezoning area. Outreach will inform tenants of their rights, identify any housing-related issues, and connect them with a range of resources, such as emergency repairs and HRA’s free legal assistance. HPD launched a competitive procurement process in 2022 to select one or more partner organizations for the re-launch of the Partners in Preservation program, which will include targeted outreach and education for tenants in SoHo and NoHo. HPD is currently finalizing the contracts for Partners in Preservation, anticipating a launch by the end of 2024.

2024

East Harlem

Implement the Neighborhood Pillars Program to help community organizations acquire rent stabilized buildings

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD and HDC are launching a new Neighborhood Pillars program to finance the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing rent-regulated buildings to protect current tenants and stabilize communities. In fast-changing neighborhoods, the sale of rent-stabilized apartment buildings is often a harbinger of rising rents and tenant turnover. However, non-profit and other mission-based organizations that want to purchase buildings in order to keep them affordable often lack the capital and financing to compete in those transactions. In response, the new program will leverage funding from private sector banking partners and philanthropic organizations to provide capital to neighborhood-based organizations well positioned to identify the buildings most at risk of speculation and rapid turnover. The City will double the capacity of the Acquisition Loan Fund to $275 million, leveraging funding contributions from private sector banking partners and philanthropic organizations, to enable non-profits and mission-based organizations to acquire buildings that are rent-regulated, but not otherwise part of an existing affordable housing program.

2019

HPD is working to relaunch the Neighborhood Pillars Program which helps M/WBE, For Profit, and Not for Profit owners aquire and rehabilitate physically and financially distressed multi-family buildings. HPD is working to obtain final approvals for launch in 2024.

2024

East Harlem

Include East Harlem in the new Partners in Preservation initiative to develop a comprehensive anti-displacement strategy for the neighborhood

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD will include East Harlem in its new Partners in Preservation initiative. Representing our most aggressive and targeted efforts to date, Partners in Preservation will pair HPD's available data with the on-the-ground experience and work of community-based organizations to advance comprehensive anti-displacement plans in neighborhoods identified as most at risk of losing affordability. Strategies are expected to combine new and existing tools to address harassment and disrepair; provide tenants with anti-eviction legal services; protect homeowners from foreclosure and predatory activities; and help building owners access HPD financial resources to improve their buildings and preserve affordability.

2018-2019

Partners in Preservation concluded in January 2021 for the East Harlem pilot area. During the pilot program, the two partner CBOs (Community Voices Heard and Tenants & Neighbors) conducted outreach in 103 buildings, knocking on 2,382 doors to speak directly with tenants. The CBOs helped form and nurture tenant associations with 306 tenant members and leaders in five target buildings, and worked with HPD to develop action plans for each of the buildings. The partner CBOs focused their organizing efforts on the Emerald Equity portfolio and were able to assemble the five tenant associations from this portfolio into a larger tenant network. The organizers hosted 23 tenant leadership workshops and conducted leadership development with 170 tenants. They also identified tenant leaders who spearheaded the tenant associations' efforts to combat landlord harassment and displacement. The CBOs provided individual counseling to 111 tenants in the target buildings. They deployed a variety of strategies to demand change, including: 311 campaigns, Know-Your-Rights training sessions, quarterly stakeholder meetings with legal and direct services providers, social media blasts, and a rent strike. The organizers also developed a neighborhood-wide anti-displacement plan. The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges to the Partners in Preservation program, since social-distancing requirements rendered in-person organizing and coalition building impossible. Working together, HPD and the partner CBOs in East Harlem successfully pivoted towards innovative digital tenant organizing strategies that enabled them to continue much of the critical work of the program. Most recently, the CBOs have been coordinating with State and City agencies to achieve a preservation outcome for 13 buildings in the Emerald Equity portfolio that are in bankruptcy.

2024

East Harlem

Keep homes affordable by continuing to offer loans and tax incentives to building owners

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

Since 2014, HPD has financed the preservation of 3,387 affordable homes in East Harlem, representing about 8% of all homes preserved across the city. HPD will continue monitoring East Harlem homes with affordability restrictions in its portfolio, and use its various financing programs to preserve and invest in the neighborhood's existing affordable housing stock

2017–ongoing

HPD continues to monitor homes with affordability restrictions in its portfolio and to use its various financing programs to preserve and invest in the neighborhood's existing affordable housing stock. Moreover, HPD conducts proactive outreach work to enroll new owners into affordability programs. Since 2014, HPD has financed the rehabilitation and continued affordability of 10,562 homes in East Harlem. This includes 7,175 homes that were preserved since the rezoning was adopted in November 2017.

2024

East Harlem

Make it easier for residents to understand, prepare for, and complete the affordable housing application process

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD recognizes that the affordable housing application process can be time-consuming, and it continues to take steps to help residents become better prepared to submit complete and accurate applications. In addition to revamping its affordable housing application and lottery education materials, HPD has been recruiting and training Housing Ambassadors in East Harlem, which are local community groups that provide free technical assistance to residents who wish to apply for affordable housing.

2017-ongoing

HPD continues to make improvements to the Housing Connect portal to make it easier and more efficient for applicants to apply for and obtain affordable housing through the lottery process. HPD has implemented a variety of policy changes, and will continue to do so, in order to mitigate administrative burdens on applicants; most notably, the recent policy changes benefit applicants with rental subsidies (vouchers), such as the removal of the income eligibility review for voucher holders and prohibition of credit checks as an eligibility criterion for voucher holders.

HPD also continues to administer the Housing Ambassador program. HPD, in partnership with the NYC Dept of Consumer and Worker Protection, received council discretionary funding once again in FY25 to administer the Ready to Rent program, which provides funding to a select number of Housing Ambassador organizations to host events and seminars to educate the public on the Housing Connect process, and partners with financial counselors to provide additional support in preparing to apply for affordable housing.

2024

East Harlem

Pilot a Landlord Ambassadors Program to provide technical assistance to East Harlem property owners

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

In addition to strategic outreach to owners, the local community identified a need for more sustained technical assistance for mission-driven, faith-based, and small- to mid-sized property owners who are interested in, but unfamiliar with, the process of securing a loan to undertake building improvements. HPD is partnering with Enterprise Community Partners to pilot a Landlord Ambassadors Program to contract with community-based organizations who will conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to owners of multifamily buildings in targeted areas across the city. The Mutual Housing Association of New York (MHANY) has been designated as the Landlord Ambassador for Upper Manhattan, inclusive of East Harlem. MHANY will work with local property owners to: Provide information about the benefits of using HPD financing programs. Navigate HPD program requirements, including regulatory requirements, and package application materials for HPD review and approval. Access local resources and vendors needed in order to close, construct, and operate their properties, including contractors, property managers, attorneys, and other professionals.

2017-2018

Since June 2017, HPD has partnered with Enterprise Community Partners and community-based organizations to pilot a two-year demonstration program called the Landlord Ambassadors Program. Organizations have been conducting outreach and providing technical assistance to owners of multifamily buildings in specific communities throughout the City, including East Harlem. Beginning in July 2019, the City continued the work of the pilot program through a two-year demonstration program, where a portion of the funding was available to help owners repair and lease-up vacant units. With the Landlord Ambassadors Program's help, properties that participated in the pilot received 42 percent fewer violations and reduced municipal arrears by 21 percent. Since the pilot began, the program has expanded to 124 properties, 15 of which have applied for HPD financing, and four of which have closed on HPD construction loans. The Mutual Housing Association of New York (MHANY) will continue working with local property owners to provide information about the benefits of using HPD financing programs; navigate HPD program requirements, including regulatory requirements; and package application materials for HPD review and approval.

2024

East Harlem

Prioritize the development of over 2,600 affordable homes on publicly owned land

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

In Progress

The City will expedite the construction of over 2,600 units of affordable housing on publicly owned sites in East Harlem over the next several years. A few of these projects - such as the MEC Center and NIHOP/NCP RFQ Clusters - have been in development for some time, while others are being prioritized based on feedback from the community. In response to feedback from the community, the City is committing to deeper levels of affordability for the Lexington Gardens II, Sendero Verde (SustaiNYC), and 126th Street Bus Depot sites, where at least 20% of all units will be set aside for households earning up to 30% of AMI. The Acacia Gardens project, which is already under construction, will primarily serve low-income and formerly homeless households.

N/A

The City is expediting the construction of over 2,600 affordable homes on publicly owned sites in East Harlem over the next several years. Several of these projects have been in development for some time, while others were prioritized based on feedback from the community, committing to deeper levels of affordability for the Lexington Gardens II, Sendero Verde (SustaiNYC), and 126th Street Bus Depot sites. So far, nearly 2,300 affordable homes have been completed or are in development on public land in East Harlem.

The MEC West phase closed in December 2018, and 270 homes are currently under construction. The MEC Center phase will include 79 affordable homes through Open Door and 291 affordable rentals through the Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA) Program that are anticipated to have a financial closing by 2026.
Sendero Verde, located on the majority of the block between East 110th and East 111th Streets between Park and Madison Avenues, is undergoing a phased development. Phase 1 began construction in 2019. Phase 2 began construction in summer 2021. Construction was completed in April 2024. The entire project comprises over 700 affordable rental units.
Castle III, which is a Fortune Society project located at 107-111 East 123rd Street, will contain approximately 81 apartments with on-site social services and community facility space. Castle III received ULURP approval in March 2022, and closed and began construction in March 2024.
The Central Harlem Open Door/NCP cluster contains one site in East Harlem which will contain approximately seven extremely low- and very low-income (ELI/VLI) rental units. This East Harlem site is part of a cluster that includes 12 scattered sites, generating approximately 119 additional affordable rental and homeownership units throughout the East and Central Harlem neighborhoods. The Central Harlem Cluster received ULURP approval in 2021.
The East Harlem NIHOP/NCP RFQ cluster was designated to Ascendant Neighborhood Development and MDG (Las Raices), which will culminate into four buildings (1771 Park Avenue, 303 East 102nd Street, 338 East 117th Street, and 505-507 East 118 Street) and approximately 81 new affordable homes for ELI/VLI families, with two buildings containing community facility space. Las Raices received ULURP approval in 2021 and is expected to have a financial closing by the end of 2024.
ShareNYC, located at 244 East 106th Street, was designated to Ascendant Neighborhood Development and Ali Forney Center through HPD’s ShareNYC RFEI. It will be a new 10-story building with 36 rooming units on privately owned land that is anticipated to have a financial closing at the end of 2025.
Timbale Terrace, located along Park Avenue betwen East 118th and East 119th Streets, is a project with Lantern Community Organization and Mega Development. The project will contain approximately 341 affordable units, including 99 supportive units, replacement parking for NYPD, and a ground-floor community facility space that will be the new home of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance Music and Arts Center. Timbale Terrace received ULURP approvals in March 2024.
The Beacon, which is located at 413 East 120th Street, between Pleasant and First Avenues, was designated to Ascendant Neighborhood Development and The Community Builders. The project certified into ULURP in September 2024. The proposed development includes the rehabilitation the existing HRA MSC Center and the construction of a new residential building containing approximately 281 affordable units under HPD's ELLA program.
Lastly, EDC and HPD anticipate issuing an RFP for the 126th Street Bus Depot / African Burial Ground in the future.

2024

East Harlem

Support mission-driven groups interested in developing affordable housing on underutilized sites

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

The community expressed a desire to see more participation by mission-driven organizations, including faith-based groups, in affordable housing development and preservation. To assist those interested in affordable housing, a number of resources are available, including the Pre-Qualified List of Owner's Representatives and the New York City Acquisition Fund. HPD also recently introduced new policy reforms for its RFPs, including a new preference for community development plans and experience and the recognition of development experience in affordable housing preservation.

2017-ongoing

HPD continues to steer mission-driven groups to the Pre-Qualified List of Owner's Representatives and NYC Acquisition Fund, which is now available exclusively to nonprofits and M/WBEs, to support their affordable housing initiatives. Since 2015, HPD has financed about 35 projects, comprising about 5,000 affordable homes, with faith-based organizations as development partners; over 1,700 additional units are in various stages of discussion.

2024

East New York

Break ground on 1,200 units of affordable housing. Possible sites include Phipps Site, Dinsmore-Chestnut, Christopher-Glenmore, NIHOP and NCP clusters.

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD will expedite the construction of over 1,200 units of deeply affordable housing over the next two years following ULURP approval. These units will be constructed on sites that include the publicly owned site at the intersection of Dinsmore Place and Chestnut Street. HPD will host a community-visioning process for the Dinsmore-Chestnut site in June 2016 to explore the different types of housing, community facilities, and retail uses that residents hope to see built there.

Two additional publicly owned parcels have been identified by the Council Member as priority development sites since the release of the East New York Housing Plan in September 2015. One is located at the intersection of Christopher and Glenmore Avenues; it can accommodate approximately 100 units of affordable housing. A community-visioning process for this site will begin in the summer of 2016, and an RFP will be released before the end of the year. A smaller site, on Essex Street between Fulton Street and Folsom Place, can accommodate approximately 15 affordable units and will be made available for redevelopment as part of the NIHOP/NCP RFQ process.

Further, the former Chloe Foods facility is now controlled by the non-profit affordable housing developer, Phipps Houses, who has committed to developing over 900 affordable units serving the incomes described above.

2016–2018

Since the rezoning was adopted, 1,200 units of newly constructed affordable housing have been created. This includes 1,080 affordable homes in projects financed by HPD. These 100% affordable projects include 3301 Atlantic Avenue (Atlantic Chestnut Phase 1), a 14-story, 403-unit project serving extremely-low to low-income New Yorkers, developed by the nonprofit developer Phipps Houses. 3301 Atlantic Avenue is currently under construction. Additional 100% affordable projects enabled by the East New York rezoning include 2337 Pitkin Avenue, 223-227 Vermont Street, 190 Essex Street, 110 Dinsmore Place, 2628 Fulton Street (50 Penn), 3002 Atlantic Avenue (Linwood Park Apartments). 

While the vast majority of new housing created in the East New York rezoning area since the rezoning has been 100% affordable, there have been seven privately-financed projects subject to Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) which contained 80 affordable homes (2817 Atlantic Avenue, 777 Glenmore Avenue, 2175 Bergen Street, 2178 Bergen Street, 975 Liberty Ave, 820-836 Glenmore Avenue, 2437 Pitkin Avenue). HPD will continue working with the development partners selected through RFPs and the owners of private sites to advance 100% affordable housing projects reaching deep affordability.

2024

East New York

Continue to identify and remediate housing quality issues

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD's Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (OENS) responds to resident complaints and referrals to identify and remediate problems with the quality or safety of buildings. In fiscal year 2014, OENS conducted 20,900 inspections in East New York, issued 12,700 violations, and worked with owners to remediate 11,242 violations. The agency spent more than $1.5 million in emergency repair work. Seven buildings in East New York successfully completed the Underlying Conditions Program, which addresses the root causes of water leaks and mold. HPD's Housing Litigation Division is currently involved in 150 Housing Court cases, including 29 comprehensive cases, in East New York.

Ongoing

HPD's Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (OENS) continues to respond to resident complaints and referrals to identify and remediate problems with the quality or safety of buildings.

2024

East New York

Expand local hiring incentives in HPD-financed developments

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD will include the following language in all future Requests for Proposals:
"15% of the granted points for the category "Developer Track Record and Capacity" will be awarded to Applicants who demonstrate a plan for outreach to residents of the Community District within which the proposed project is located related to employment opportunities generated by the proposed project. Said outreach may be demonstrated by activities including, but not limited to, training programs, job placement activities, Applicants' own staffing practices, and/or Applicants' contracting practices on the proposed project. Applicants will be required to comply with their outreach plans and will be required to regularly report on their outreach activities."
Timeline: All RFPs issued after the date of this agreement.

2016–ongoing

For all HPD-financed projects exceeding $2 million, respondents must demonstrate a plan for outreach to residents of the local community district regarding employment opportunities generated by the proposed project. The Dinsmore-Chestnut and Grant Avenue Muni Lot RFPs in East New York were both subject to these requirements.

2024

East New York

Expand opportunities for Minority and Women-owned Businesses (M/WBEs) in the Affordable Housing Development Industry

Housing

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (HPD)

Completed

HPD will encourage affordable housing developers in East New York to employ M/WBE contractors and professional service firms. HPD will continue to work to build the capacity of M/WBE developers through professional development, networking, and mentoring programs, improve access to capital for M/WBE developers with low-cost financing options for site acquisition and predevelopment costs, and enhance the ability of M/WBE developers to compete more effectively for HPD support by providing targeted new construction and preservation opportunities.

2016–ongoing

HPD has services and programs to support M/WBEs and create pathways for smaller businesses to build capacity. The M/WBE Build Up Program requires development projects receiving $2 million or more in City contribution to utilize M/WBE construction or professional firms. 461 Alabama Avenue in East New York was awarded to CB Emmanuel Realty through HPD's M/WBE Request for Proposals (RFP). CB Emmanuel Realty will develop the vacant site into supportive housing with 55 apartments for formerly homeless and low-income households. HPD continues its Developer Capacity Building Program, which provides courses and networking opportunities to M/WBE developers. In 2020, HPD introduced a new Equitable Ownership requirement for all future RFPs, which will require that M/WBE or not-for-profit entities comprise at least 25% of the proposed development team's ownership.