Lottery opens for 500 affordable apartments at La Central complex in the Bronx, from $395/month

A housing lottery launched on Monday for 494 affordable apartments at a sprawling development in the South Bronx. Two buildings of the five-building complex La Central are now accepting applications for the units, which range from $395/month studios to $2,689/month four-bedrooms. The rentals, located at 556 and 600 Bergen Avenue, contain a 50,000-square-foot YMCA, GrowNYC-operated rooftop gardens, and ground-floor retail. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments.

Designed by MHG Architects and FXCollaborative–with rooftop garden and courtyard space designed by Future Green Studio–La Central measures 1.1 million square feet and contains in total nearly 1,000 income-restricted apartments, 80,000 square feet of community space, and 45,000 square feet of retail space. The rentals available through the new lottery, buildings “A” and “B,” were developed by Hudson Companies, BRP Companies, Kretchmer Companies, ELH-TKC LLC, Comunilife, and Breaking Ground, along with the city’s Housing Preservation and Development and Housing Development Corporation.

“We are excited to invest in the Bronx, and to bring high-quality affordable housing to families who truly need it,” Aaron Koffman, principal of the Hudson Companies, said in a press release. “As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic it is critical that we invest in modern housing that can support families of all sizes.”

Breaking Ground and Comunilife’s 160-unit supportive housing building, which has apartments set aside for formerly homeless individuals with special needs and low-income New Yorkers, opened last fall.

Buildings C and E–two 100 percent affordable housing mixed-use buildings with 350 units also developed by Hudson–will break ground this summer. The development will include a community facility space, a skate park, and a telescope on the rooftop of building E, operated by Bronx High School of Science. La Central’s final phase is expected to be completed in 2023.

In addition to the YMCA and rooftop gardens, 556 and 600 Bergen Avenue residents have access to bike storage, on-site laundry, resident lounges, a parking garage, and WiFi access throughout the building. Apartments include stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher, and energy-efficient HVAC systems.

Qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the available affordable housing units until August 14, 2020. Complete details on how to apply are available here (pdf). Preference for 50 percent of the units will be set aside for residents of Bronx Community Board 1. Questions regarding this offer must be referred to NYC’s Housing Connect department by dialing 311.

If you don’t qualify for the housing lotteries mentioned, visit CityRealty.com’s no-fee rentals page for other apartment deals in the city.

RELATED: 

• City Council approves La Central development, bringing nearly 1,000 affordable units to the Bronx
• La Central, 992-unit affordable Bronx development, ramps up construction
• Apply for 63 affordable studios at new La Central development in the Bronx for $650/month