Expanding Affordable Housing - New York City Housing Authority

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As part of his New Housing Marketplace Initiative, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg committed to investing more than $3 billion to preserve and create 165,000 units of housing for low, moderate and middle income New Yorkers by the year 2013. NYCHA, in collaboration with New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) supports the Mayor’s initiative by creating low- and moderate- income housing in underutilized NYCHA properties. NYCHA has sought innovative funding strategies to continue adding to the supply of affordable rental housing; and by using public/private financing and forging strategic alliances with partner organizations, NYCHA is able to return underutilized properties to use. Below are some examples of current and recent projects developed as part of this initiative.

The Bronx

Architect's Rendering of University
Macombs Apartments

University Macombs Apartments: On September 26, 2006, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), in partnership with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), together with the developer Bronx Pro, officiated the opening of a new the new 210 unit University Macombs Apartments in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx. NYCHA provided four vacant buildings for rehabilitation and one vacant parcel for new construction. As the designated developer for the first NYCHA-HPD collaborative project, Bronx Pro renovated 180 units in the four buildings, and constructed a new 30 unit rental building with community space on the vacant parcel provided by NYCHA.

In Phase II of University Macombs Apartments, NYCHA provided three additional University Avenue Consolidated (UAC) buildings with a total of 111 units. These were conveyed to Bronx Pro in October 2006, and rehabilitation of the buildings was completed for occupancy in the fall of 2007. The 321 units in Phases I and II of University Macombs Apartments are intended for low-income residents. Former and current NYCHA UAC residents were provided a rental priority for 35% of the units during the initial rental period.

Architect: Santoriello + Groom Architects

Brook/Willis Apartments: Galaxy was selected in 2005 as the developer from proposals responding to a Request For Proposals (RFP) for rehabilitation of eight vacant buildings within NYCHA’s Betances Houses in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. This is the second collaborative project by HPD and NYCHA to preserve a total of 121 units as affordable housing for low-income families. Eligible NYCHA residents will be given rental preference for 42 of the 121 units within Brook/Willis Apartments. Conveyance, or transfer of title, and loan closing occurred on June 29, 2006, and construction began in August 2006. Four buildings were completed in 2007 with another four scheduled to be rehabilitated by summer 2008.

Architect: Harman Jablin Architects

Architect's Rendering of PSS/Grandparent Family Apartments

PSS/Grandparent Family Apartments: In February 2005, NYCHA celebrated the completion of the first-ever housing facility in the United States constructed specifically to meet the special needs of grandparents or elderly caregivers who care for grandchildren or other minor relatives. PSS/Grandparent Family Apartments, located in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, is a six-story building consisting of 50 two- and three-bedroom apartments exclusively for households with generation-skipping family compositions. To realize this unique $12 million project, NYCHA collaborated with two not-for-profit organizations, Presbyterian Senior Services (PSS) and West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, Inc. (WSFSSH). NYCHA provided the land for the development and is contributing public housing subsidies to keep the rents affordable. The developer/owner, WSFSSH, built and maintains the new facility, while PSS provides on-site intergenerational services for residents and their families. Read the Mayor’s press release for further information.

Architect: Goshow Architects, LLP

Staten Island

Architect's rendering of Markham Gardens

Markham Gardens: NYCHA, together with public housing residents, local officials, and community organizations has undertaken the redevelopment of the Markham Gardens public housing site on Staten Island. In partnership with HPD, a Request For Proposals was issued on August 29, 2005 and a developer was selected in April 2006. The approved plan for redevelopment includes (i) an 80 unit senior building, (ii) 290 affordable rental units, and (iii) 25, two-family homes for affordable homeownership. NYCHA public housing residents have been provided a first purchase preference for 20 of the 25 town homes. Construction began in the summer of 2007 for completion by winter 2008.

NYCHA will provide tenant-based Section 8 vouchers to eligible residents with priority given to former Markham Gardens public housing residents who were relocated during construction. Marketing of the townhouses has begun, with special outreach through Neighborhood Housing Services of Staten Island to former Markham residents and current NYCHA residents in Staten Island. For the senior site, NYCHA is working with a not-for-profit sponsor who will submit an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for funding under its Section 202 program to construct and operate the proposed senior building. NYCHA has requested of HUD to allow 25 percent of the units in the senior building to be set aside for eligible NYCHA residents.

Preview images of the proposed Markham Gardens community

Architect: Domenech Hicks & Krockmalnic Architects

Rendering of Stapleton Senior Housing

Stapleton Senior Housing: A low-income senior housing project with 105 units has been proposed for a portion of the Broad Street parking lot located at NYCHA’s Stapleton Houses public housing development. Subject to land disposition approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and financing commitments to the developer, BFC, construction will commence as early as spring 2009. Residence priority of up to 45 units, to which NYCHA will provide Section 8 tenant-based vouchers, will be given to eligible NYCHA seniors, especially those in under-occupied apartments. In addition to the land and rental subsidies provided by NYCHA, the State of New York has also committed to provide funding under its Homes for Working Families financing program.

Architect: James McCullar & Associates

Brooklyn

Linden and Boulevard Houses: In December 2006, NYCHA and HPD released a Request for Proposals to develop two and three family townhouses on a 3.6 acre parking lot located between NYCHA’s Linden Houses and Boulevard Houses developments. A developer has been selected and construction is scheduled to begin in early 2009.

The townhouse development will provide affordable homeownership opportunities for public housing residents, as well as other residents. Additionally a 0.9 acre portion of the parking lot has been set aside, and is planned for a senior housing development. This site will be made available to a not-for-profit sponsor that secures funding from HUD, in order to provide affordable senior housing on this site.

Prospect Plaza Homeownership Units

Prospect Plaza Houses: NYCHA was awarded a HOPE VI grant to revitalize Prospect Plaza Houses in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville community of Brooklyn. The development originally consisted of four 12- and 15-story masonry towers containing 368 public housing units. When completed, this will be a mixed-use, mixed-income community. There will be approximately 685 dwelling units: 355 public housing rental units, 330 non-public housing rental units and 37 homeownership units (which opened in 2005).

In addition, there will be a multi-purpose community center, daycare, retail space, and a community park. One of the towers will be completely replaced by a new building containing 100 units of affordable rental housing. The remaining towers will be refurbished and new townhouses will be constructed on city-owned lots in the surrounding neighborhood. The HOPE VI award was supplemented by a wide array of public and private financing, including private equity, private loans, financial contributions from local/city elected officials, and in-kind contributions from various community and social service partners.

Architect: RKT&B/ERM Architects