December 10, 2025

Slate Property Group, Xenolith Partners, and Comunilife Inc. chosen to develop buildings for 100% affordable housing

600+ units of senior housing and homes for low-income New Yorkers and their families coming to Inwood

NEW YORK – Today, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is proud to announce that Slate Property Group, Xenolith Partners, and Comunilife Inc. will develop their proposal, “La Ostra,” turning a currently vacant site in Inwood into a new development with over 600 world-class, affordable homes. The development will also deliver a marine science and STEM education center operated by the Billion Oyster Project and BioBus, a new indoor–outdoor field house, suicide prevention and mental health services, and nearly one acre of publicly accessible waterfront open space along the Harlem River. 

La Ostra will also offer a publicly accessible waterfront open space to the broader community. After extensive community engagement and a months-long competitive review process, this selected proposal responds to community needs for deeply affordable housing for families and seniors, an engaging marine-focused science hub tied to the Harlem River, new commercial space, and access to the waterfront. Once constructed, La Ostra will be home to over 400 households of low-income New Yorkers and 200 households of older New Yorkers. 

In addition to affordable housing, this project will make use of the site’s close proximity to the Harlem River, offering nearly an acre of waterfront public access and open space. Anchored by a STEM partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, BioBus, and NPower, the development places marine science and STEM education at its core, equipping residents and the broader community with tools to engage with and restore the natural environment.  Once constructed, this site will help connect New Yorkers in the community directly to the Harlem River. Proposed facilities include an outdoor classroom, a pavilion with a large seating area with movable furniture, a large central lawn, and a stone amphitheater. 

The project will also feature the “Oyster Field House,” an indoor-outdoor soccer field where both residents and community members can come together to play and socialize. Additionally, Comunilife will provide on-site supportive services to residents of both buildings, and the project will include dedicated space for their Life is Precious program, offering easy access to mental health resources to teenagers and their families.

"At HPD, we have been focused on thinking creatively and acting boldly to build more housing and tackle the affordability crisis head-on — with the urgency that New Yorkers expect and deserve," said Acting Commissioner of HPD Ahmed Tigani. "Inspired by the Inwood Neighborhood Plan, today's announcement is a testament to the power of that creative thinking: by combining access to the waterfront, a hub for science and community education, and over 600 units of affordable housing, we are showing that we are focused on building not just units, but affordable homes and communities, equipped with world-class amenities, for hard-working New Yorkers." 

"Many great housing proposals were brought forth for the Inwood 9th Avenue site, demonstrating the diverse needs of our community and creative solutions driven by the expertise and dedication of many community-based organizations. This proposal is thoughtful, considering the reality of climate change, opening up the waterfront and additional green space for Uptown, and providing much-needed mental health services on-site. We are excited to see this team, including Comunilife, materialize this proposal, and look forward to eventually moving our seniors and low-income families into the 600 units at La Ostra," said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa.

The Development Team:  

Slate Property Group, LLC is a property owner, developer, and lender, with a focus on multifamily assets in the New York metropolitan area. Slate has developed 3,300 units of affordable, workforce, supportive, and transitional housing. Read more about Slate here. 

Xenolith Partners, LLC is a certified WBE affordable housing development company founded in 2016. The company focuses on the development of affordable, mixed-income, and mixed-use projects in New York and Connecticut. Read more about Xenolith here. 

Comunilife Inc. is a nonprofit developer and social services provider committed to providing vulnerable communities with housing and culturally sensitive supportive services. In 2024, they served more than 4,000 low-income and vulnerable New Yorkers, focusing on African American and Latino clients. Read more about their amazing work here. 

Magnusson Architecture and Planning PC is an architecture firm that has designed more than 100 affordable, supportive, and senior housing developments accounting for 13,000 new homes. Read more about MAP Architects here. 

“Inwood deserves something extraordinary on this site, and our team has worked hard to deliver it. Together, we are building deeply affordable homes for hundreds of seniors and families, giving this community back its waterfront, and providing a fieldhouse for kids and community to play the game they love year-round. We are so proud to work alongside our nonprofit development partner, Comunilife, and our co-developer, Xenolith, to bring La Ostra to life,” said David Schwartz, Principal and Co-founder of Slate Property Group.

“At Xenolith, we put equity and inclusion at the forefront of every project. From its deep affordability, to its environmental standards, to its connection to the community, every part of La Ostra is designed to make people feel ownership and empowerment. This is a place where different generations gather together, where recent immigrants and old-timers share space, and where we can celebrate the things that make Inwood such a unique neighborhood,” said Andrea Kretchmer, Principal of Xenolith Partners.

“Comunilife has always believed that strong communities shape a brighter future. For decades, we’ve championed community-centered programs and culturally sensitive housing—and La Ostra is the next chapter in that vision. This development isn’t just about buildings; it’s about creating a vibrant ecosystem where elders feel secure, youth have space to learn and grow, and everyone can share in a revitalized waterfront. These buildings and services will become the heartbeat of La Ostra, transforming Inwood into a model of equity, opportunity, and pride. As a nonprofit, we are proud to lead this movement and bring a future our community deserves,” said Blanca Ramirez, President and CEO of Comunilife.

“With a thorough integration of technology, landscape and architecture, Regenerative Design was our organizing principle. The building’s energy production strategies including solar panels, water turbines, algae panels and sand battery feed each other like an ecosystem, while the features and material choices of the landscape design will restore the shoreline environment as part of a new set of community assets. Inside, building amenities that improve and maintain health dovetail with equitable design moves like sharing the best views of the Harlem River and ensuring well-connected spaces that support community programming goals. In planning for an uncertain future, design for resiliency and renewal is what puts La Ostra at the leading edge of urban development,” said Fernando Villa, FAIA, NOMA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, Magnusson Architecture and Planning.

Developing Community Amenities with an Emphasis on Education:  

The plan for the Inwood 9th Avenue site was informed by the Inwood 9th Avenue Community Visioning Report and the goals outlined in the Request for Proposals (RFP). The City committed to providing a STEM space through the 2018 Inwood Action Plan Points of Agreement. Community members expressed wanting to see a STEM-focused community facility for local children and families, as well as programming for adults and seniors. The community also indicated a strong desire to see water-related amenities along the Harlem River, creation of public amenities that take advantage of the waterfront, and recreation areas.

Residents will also benefit from a multitude of residential amenities across both buildings. La Ostra will include:

1. A large recreation room on the ground floor.
2. Terrace space spread across multiple floors.
3. Several community rooms that will also serve as places of refuge in the event of emergency. 

 La Ostra also features innovative sustainability and climate resiliency features, engineered to withstand the challenges of a changing climate. Key sustainability and climate adaptability features are:

1. The building and occupied spaces are elevated to mitigate future flooding. Landscaping is also raised and contoured to reduce street-level flooding.
2. The building is designed to function independently during severe weather emergencies with rooftop solar arrays and other innovative technologies.
3. Any excess energy that is generated on-site is proposed to be stored in a battery to be used later as heat and power.

What Comes Next:

The development team will work with HPD to:

• Communicate project updates to community stakeholders and the community board throughout the predevelopment process and during construction.
• Obtain necessary public approvals for the project.
• Secure financing for the project before construction can begin.

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