October 3, 2019

HPD calls for plans to build 100 percent affordable housing in Astoria for seniors and the homeless

Press Office: hpdmedia@hpd.nyc.gov

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) released today a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified development teams to submit plans to build affordable homes for seniors on a City-owned site in Astoria, Queens. The RFP furthers the City’s commitment to serve 30,000 seniors by 2026 through the Mayor’s Seniors First initiative.

“This administration’s steadfast commitment to creating affordable housing opportunities for this city’s most vulnerable residents goes hand in hand with our push to develop the remaining public land at our disposal. With this RFP, we’re looking for the best and brightest ways to maximize the potential of this city-owned site, and transform it into much needed affordable homes for low-income seniors and formerly homeless New Yorkers,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “We look forward to reviewing these proposals, and our continued partnership with the community to bring more high quality affordable housing to Astoria.”

“This project is crucial to fighting the senior affordable housing crisis here in Queens,” said Council Member Costa Constantinides. “No one should have to worry about being priced out of their neighborhood in their retirement years or be homebound because they can't climb up flights of stairs like they used to. I am happy to partner with HPD in bringing this community need to Astoria.”

The 20,880 square foot site, located at 31-07 31st Street in Astoria, currently operates as a DOT-managed parking lot. HPD is looking for the development community to put forward plans to develop high quality affordable housing that will serve extremely low- and very low-income seniors aged 62 and over, with 30 percent of the units set aside for formerly homeless households.

Seniors First is a three-pronged strategy to create affordable housing that better serves the growing senior population. Since 2014, the City has financed more than 8,400 homes for seniors. This is the second of six public sites that the City committed to expedite for development into 100 percent affordable housing projects for seniors. The first of the six sites was announced in December 2018, and two additional NYCHA sites are expected to be announced later this fall. More than 900 affordable senior units are currently under construction, and more than 900 additional senior units are in predevelopment across 13 previously awarded public sites.

HPD held a Community Open House on July 18, 2019 to provide the information on the development of this site and gather input from the community on what they hope to see at the future development.

The winning proposal will be financed through HPD’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) program. Deadline for submission to the RFP is December 19, 2019. For more information and to obtain a copy of the RFP, please view the RFP webpage.

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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked with fulfilling Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York Plan which was recently expanded and accelerated through Housing New York 2.0 to complete the initial goal of 200,000 homes two years ahead of schedule—by 2022, and achieve an additional 100,000 homes over the following four years, for a total of 300,000 homes by 2026.  For full details visit www.nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.