Affordable Housing

December 11, 2018

A megachurch in East New York will become an ‘urban village’ with 2,100 affordable apartments

A Christian megachurch in East New York is partnering with the Gotham Organization to redevelop their East New York campus into a mixed-income community, or "urban village" as Reverend A.R. Bernard calls it, of 2,100 affordable units and neighborhood amenities. The plan from the Christian Cultural Center, led by Bernard, will supplement the existing church at 12020 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn and create a community with CCC at its core.
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December 5, 2018

This new tool helps NYC tenants fight back against landlord violations

In an effort to demystify property ownership and management company networks across New York City, JustFix.nyc, a Brooklyn-based tenant advocacy nonprofit, launched a new tool today to help tenants easily obtain the information they need to deal with difficult landlords. The free tool, available at WhoOwnsWhat.nyc, aims to cut through some of the opaque practices of landlords, like the tendency to use a shell company or LLC to preserve their anonymity. The platform makes it possible to connect dots that are often hidden and will provide tenants, housing advocates, and local officials with the information to fight speculative behavior, harassment, and discrimination.
Find out how it works
November 20, 2018

NYCHA will turn over 62,000 apartments to private developers for repair work

The New York City Housing Authority will turn over 62,000 apartments to private developers as a way to provide necessary repairs to the units, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. Through a public-private partnership, via the Rental Assistance Demonstration program (RAD), all units will be converted into Section 8 and remain permanently affordable. Renovations, which will cost nearly $13 billion, include new kitchens and bathrooms, improved common spaces, and replacing windows, boilers, roofs, and elevators. About 142,000 New Yorkers across the developments will benefit from the repair work.
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November 16, 2018

Plan for 1,500 units of affordable housing in LIC at risk as Amazon gets ready to move there

A plan to create 1,500 units of affordable housing in the Anable Basin area of Long Island City will most likely be scrapped, as Amazon prepares to open its headquarters on that same land, Politico reported. Amazon announced this week plans to bring its second headquarters to the Queens neighborhood on land currently owned by plastics company Plaxall, as well as some parcels owned by New York City. Previous plans from Plaxall and the city, who hired developer TF Cornerstone to build a mixed-use campus at the site, called for 1,250 and 250 units of affordable housing, respectively. But an Amazon spokesperson told Politico there will be no housing at its new complex.
Amazon in, affordable housing out
November 8, 2018

New housing lottery in Long Island City misses the ‘affordable’ mark

With speculation about Amazon's chosen HQ2 cities landing on Long Island City this week, the questions of transportation and affordability in the neighborhood have come to the forefront. And a new affordable housing lottery in the area does not look good for the latter. As of tomorrow, New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for 10 units at the newly constructed, mixed-use rental 40-05 Crescent Street. Located on the border of Astoria, the building houses 32 rentals, an underground parking garage, and two floors of manufacturing space. The "affordable" units range from $2,125/month studios to $2,741/month two-bedrooms.
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November 6, 2018

Live across from Bushwick Inlet Park in Williamsburg, from just $907/month

This new luxury rental in the heart of Williamsburg is offering the best of the neighborhood, located just steps from the East River waterfront and the Bushwick Inlet Park, as well as all of the trendy eateries and hot spots. The building at 56 North 9th Street launched a lottery on Tuesday for nine affordable apartments, all which boast floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, and state-of-the-art appliances. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from a $907/month studio to a $1,165/month two bedroom.
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November 5, 2018

Lottery launches at church-replacing affordable senior housing development in the Bronx

Applications are now being accepted for 43 affordable senior housing apartments in the Foxhurst neighborhood of the Bronx. Formerly home to the Home Street Presbyterian Church, the new residential building at 1017 Home Street offers amenities like an on-site super, lounge, fitness center, bike room, a roof terrace, and card-operated laundry. Available studio and one-bedroom apartments are set aside for seniors who are 62 years or older and who earn a maximum of $41,750 per year. Eligible residents pay 30 percent of their income and must qualify for Section 8.
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November 5, 2018

200+ mixed-income units up for grabs at a new South Bronx rental, from $865/month

A housing lottery launched on Monday for 211 mixed-income apartments in a new South Bronx building. Located at 1530 Story Avenue, the rental is part of the Lafayette-Boynton residential complex in the neighborhood of Soundview and is one of two new structures at the site developed by Nelson Management Group and L+M Development Partners. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60, 90, 95, and 125 percent of the area median income can apply for the batch of units, which range from $865/month studios to $2,184/month three-bedrooms.
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November 2, 2018

New Bed-Stuy rental opens affordable housing lottery, starting at $1,102/month

A new rental building just a few blocks from the Myrtle-Willoughby Avenue G train stop in Bed-Stuy is opening an affordable housing lottery for 20 apartments. Conveniently, the 65-unit building at 633 Marcy Avenue will have a supermarket in its base, as well as a laundry room, gym and yoga room, kids room, and a landscaped roof terrace. The affordable units are open to households earning 80 or 130 percent of the area median income. Those on the lower end range from $1,102/month one-bedrooms to $1,327/month two-bedrooms. On the other end, however, the savings are minimal, as they range from $2,207 one/bedrooms to $2,665 two/bedrooms. Currently, the market-rate two bedrooms are going for $2,800/month.
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November 1, 2018

New York City to launch affordable co-living pilot program

On the heels of London-based housing brand The Collective's announcement to bring a huge, co-living community to Brooklyn, the city of New York announced on Thursday plans to get involved with the growing housing trend. The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development said it will launch a pilot program that lets developers seek public financing in exchange for creating affordable, shared-housing developments, the New York Times reported.
More here
October 31, 2018

Affordable lottery launches at a new Bushwick building, but doesn’t save renters a whole lot

Applications are now being accepted for eight middle-income apartments at a newly constructed building in Bushwick. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments at 18 Stanhope Street, which include four $2,175/month one-bedrooms and four $2,270/month two-bedrooms. The units do not offer that much of a discount from the market rate apartments at the building, with current listings starting at $2,500/month for a one-bedroom and $2,700/month for a two-bedroom.
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October 30, 2018

New East New York complex opens affordable housing lotto for 120 units, from $413/month

Two years ago, the city and MacQuesten Development broke ground on Van Sinderen Plaza, a redevelopment of two vacant lots in East New York into a 155,000-square-foot mixed-use complex with 130 high-quality affordable apartments, as well as retail and community space. Located just off the New Lots Avenue stop on the L train, the two-building project was built for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households, or those earning 30, 40, 50, or 60 percent of the area median income. Apartments range from $413/month one-bedrooms to $1,281/month three-bedrooms.
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October 29, 2018

Apply for 67 middle-income units near the J, M, Z lines in Bushwick, from $1,759/month

For those looking to move away from the soon-to-be-shuttered L train but remain in Brooklyn, this affordable housing lottery may be a decent solution. Applications are now being accepted for 67 middle-income apartments across two buildings in Bushwick, both conveniently near the J, M, Z subway lines. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from $1,759/month studios to $2,506/month two-bedrooms.
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October 25, 2018

If living in the theater district is your thing, 28 middle-income apartments are up for grabs

New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can now apply for 28 middle-income units at the Avalon Midtown West. The 41-story, 440-unit rental is located at the southeast corner of Eighth Avenue and 50th Street, so if living across from the Gershwin Theatre and swarms of "Wicked" fans doesn't sound appealing this may be a pass. The available units range from $2,138/month studios to $2,993/month two-bedrooms. This may not sound immediately "affordable," but market-rate apartments of that size are going for $3,329 and $5,827, meaning you're actually getting close to a 50-percent discount.
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October 18, 2018

Over 70 affordable units up for grabs in new luxury Clinton Hill rental, from $913/month

Applications are now being accepted for 73 affordable rentals in a new Brooklyn building located in the middle of Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, and Fort Greene. Developed by RXR Realty, the 12-story building at 810 Fulton Street is expected to open in 2019. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $913/month studios to $1,183/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
October 17, 2018

Not-so-affordable housing lottery launches for 8 units in East Williamsburg, from $2,253/month

While 130 percent of the area median income is technically considered affordable in New York City, paying $2,253/ month for a one-bedroom apartment in East Williamsburg is still hard to swallow. The neighborhood does have a lot to offer in terms of nightlife and cultural activities, but the area's transit options, mainly the soon-to-be-shuttered L train, leave a lot to be desired for those commuting to Manhattan. But if you can look past the price and the far-out location, consider applying for eight middle-income units at 310 Graham Avenue, a newly constructed seven-story building. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the AMI can apply for the apartments ranging from $2,253/month one-bedrooms to $3,132/month three-bedrooms.
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October 11, 2018

Lottery launches at brand new rental in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, from $1,525/month

Applications are now being accepted for 51 middle-income apartments and The Clark, a newly constructed 8-story building in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. The Brooklyn building, located at 310 Clarkson Avenue just a short walk from Prospect Park, features a ton of amenities, including an attended lobby, in-unit washer/dryer, dog run, fitness center, a media room, co-working space, and a furnished penthouse space. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments ranging from $1,525/month studios to $2,635/month three bedrooms.
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October 11, 2018

Live at 15 Hudson Yards for just $858/month, lottery opens for 107 affordable units

Hudson Yards' first residential building to rise, the 88-story 15 Hudson Yards, has just opened its affordable housing lottery for 107 of its nearly 300 units. Listings for the market-rate condos went live two years ago, ranging from a $3.8 million two-bedroom to a $32 million penthouse. By comparison, the affordable rentals, available to New Yorkers earning 50 or 60 percent of the area median income, range from $858/month studios to $1,350/month two-bedrooms. And in addition to the incredible price point, residents will have access to all of the mega-development's amenities, including new parkland, The Shed performance space, and plenty of retail and restaurant space. Plus, 15 Hudson Yards has a 24-hour attended lobby, two floors of wellness offerings including a gym, yoga studio, and swimming pool, and a skytop lounge with views of the Hudson River and Thomas Heatherwick's huge climbable installation, the Vessel.
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October 3, 2018

Mapping the growing pressure of residential displacement in NYC

While tenant displacement is happening in every New York City borough, the reason behind it differs from neighborhood to neighborhood. An updated, interactive map from the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD) looks at the loss of rent-regulated housing, property sales, construction permits, and evictions across the city's 763,000 residential properties as a way to determine the risk of residential displacement in every NYC community (h/t Curbed NY).
Explore the map
October 2, 2018

100-unit lottery opens at all-affordable wing of Taconic’s Hell’s Kitchen rental, from $1,091/month

Nearly five years ago, the city rezoned a portion of Hell's Kitchen to allow the Clinton Housing Development Corporation and developers Taconic Investment Partners and Ritterman Capital to undertake a two-building residential project between 10th and 11th Avenues. The larger of the two, a 22-story rental with 392 units at 525 West 52nd Street, launched an affordable housing lottery for 80 apartments two summer ago. The shorter, 13-story component is located next door at 540 West 53rd Street, and as of today, New Yorkers earning 80, 100, 125, or 165 percent of the area median income can apply for all 102 of its residences. They range from $1,091/month studios to $3,270/month two-bedrooms and have access to amenities including two terraces, children's "splash pad," a fitness center, laundry room, and the adjacent public community garden.
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October 1, 2018

Live at Waterline Square for $1,041/month, lottery launches for 250+ affordable units

Applications are now being accepted for 269 affordable apartments across three buildings at a development on the Upper West Side known as Waterline Square. The trio of luxury high-rises is located between West 59th Street and West 61st Street on the Hudson River and contains a new 2.6-acre park. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from a $1,041/month studio to a $1,553/month three-bedroom. As 6sqft reported last week, construction at the five-acre waterfront site continues to wrap up.
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October 1, 2018

Steps from the Bronx Zoo, 58 affordable apartments for seniors up for grabs

A lottery launched this week for 58 affordable units of senior housing in the West Farms neighborhood of the Bronx. Located at 1880 Boston Road, the development contains 167 affordable apartments with amenities including a yoga room, community room, art studio, library, and a rooftop terrace. The building is just a few blocks south of the Bronx Zoo and sits next to the Bronx River. Available studio and one-bedroom apartments are set aside for seniors who are 62 years or older and who earn a maximum of $31,750 annually. Each eligible resident pays 30 percent of their income and will need to qualify for Section 8.
Find out if you qualify
September 26, 2018

New York City has lost over 400,000 affordable apartments since 2005

Update 9/27/18: City Comptroller Scott Stringer said the report released this week about the decrease in affordable housing contained a major miscalculation, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. Instead of the 1 million affordable apartments lost, as the report stated, the true number is less than half of that, or 425,492 units. According to an updated report, the number of apartments renting for $2,700/month increased by 111,000 units between 2005 and 2017, instead of 238,000 units as originally stated. "While it remains true that affordable housing is declining at an unsettling rate and the gap is still growing, we overstated the pace," Ilana Maier, a spokesperson for Stringer, said in a statement. "We made a genuine mistake." Since 2005, New York City has lost over 1 million affordable apartments, according to a report released by the City Comptroller Scott Stringer on Tuesday. The report, "The Gap is Still Growing," builds from an original 2014 analysis from the comptroller's office and shows the number of available units has failed to keep up with the city's booming population. Between 2005 and 2016, about 576,000 people moved to NYC. But the city added just over 76,000 new units of rental housing.
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September 24, 2018

New report shows NYC landlords falsified 10,000+ work permits in 2.5 years

Recent news of Kushner Companies' filing of false documents outlining the residential makeup of their buildings in order to get construction permits has prompted a closer look at the practice, which, according to Politico, has been rampant among New York City property owners for years with few consequences. Last month the Department of Buildings fined Kushner Companies $210,000 for repeatedly submitting inaccurate paperwork. Tenant advocacy group Housing Rights Initiative (HRI) will release a report Monday outlining how landlords filed more than 10,000 deceptive PW1s (Plan/Work Applications) in the span of two and a half years.
What's going on here?
September 21, 2018

Live in a Clinton Hill building with a roof deck and gym, from $867/month

At the crossroads where Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and Fort Greene meet, apartments at this newly-minted seven-story, 38-unit building at 840 Fulton Street have in-unit laundry, plus the building features a residents' lounge, a fitness center, and a rooftop deck. Eight affordable units are currently available to households who earn between $31,612 and $62,580 (60 percent of the area median income) annually. The units range from $867/month studios to $1,123/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify