City Creates More than 25,000 Affordable Homes in 2019
February 3, 2020
Press Office: hpdmedia@hpd.nyc.gov
HPD financed 25,889 homes last year, breaking records for new construction and homes serving the homeless and those needing supportive services
NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced today that the de Blasio administration financed 25,889 homes in 2019, making significant progress toward its goal of 300,000 affordable units by 2026 through the Housing New York plan. This number includes 15,692 affordable homes preserved and a record-breaking 10,197 new affordable homes financed.
The City also set new records for homeless and supportive housing, securing 3,030 affordable homes for people experiencing homelessness, and 1,482 affordable homes paired with supportive services. Since 2014, the de Blasio Administration has created a total of 12,869 affordable homes for homeless households, and 6,225 supportive housing apartments through the Housing New York plan.
HPD continued to deliver on providing deeply affordable housing in 2019. Nearly 45 percent of homes financed are affordable to extremely-low and very-low income families of three earning less than $48,050 a year, including 5,257 homes for families earning less than $28,830.
“We are fighting to create a City that New Yorkers can afford to call home. With every affordable apartment, we are stabilizing the lives of families across the City, but we are not stopping there,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “From establishing the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants to giving New Yorkers the representation they need to fight off eviction, we have the backs of tenants as we continue to ensure that New York is the fairest city in America.”
"We are delivering on the nation's most ambitious affordable housing plan in its densest and most complex city," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. "We want to ensure that every New Yorker, regardless of their income, has a place to call home and thrive in our great city. "
“Over the past six years, the teams at HPD and HDC have challenged the status quo by continuously finding new ways to break affordable housing records. Our talented teams remain firmly committed to fulfilling our promise to create a more affordable New York for all,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “I thank the Mayor for his insight and leadership, as well as my dedicated colleagues and our partners throughout the city for their hard work and support to get the job done.”
“HDC is proud to partner with HPD to help finance the ambitious Housing New York plan,” said NYC Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “An affordable home that is safe, stable and connected to all the opportunities we have in New York truly makes a difference for individuals and families throughout the five boroughs. On behalf of HDC, I want to thank our partners and dedicated teams who helped make 2019 a successful year in affordable housing.”
“Affordable housing is very much tied to workforce availability and the vibrancy of our communities,” said Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), Chair of the Assembly’s Housing Committee. “The gains we achieved in preserving and creating affordable housing in the last year make it possible for thousands of families, seniors and other New Yorkers to improve their lives and remain a vital, engaged part of our communities.”
“It is clear that the Department of Housing Preservation and Development is committed to meeting the ambitious housing goals set forth by Mayor de Blasio, and that they are responding to the serious need for more supportive and affordable housing in New York City,” said Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Chair of Housing and Buildings Committee. “I would like to commend Commissioner Carroll and her team’s efforts on a record year of affordable homes financed, improving prospects for low and moderate income New Yorkers, and New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. We are in the midst of a housing crisis, but I am confident in the leadership of the administration to meet the challenges before us.”
This record year for new construction spurred the creation of several flagship affordable housing projects:
- The Peninsula
The Peninsula is a 100 percent affordable mixed-use development in the Bronx that will ultimately bring more than 700 units of housing, significant open space including a new public plaza, light industrial business opportunities, arts-oriented community facilities, and ground floor retail to the Hunts Point neighborhood. Located on the former site of the Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, the transformation of the long-vacant block represents a significant milestone for the South Bronx. - Sendero Verde
Once completed, Sendero Verde will be the largest Passive House complex in the country. In its entirety, the project will include approximately 700 units of affordable housing, community and social service space, a school, publicly accessible open space, community gardens and neighborhood retail. - Apex Place
Apex Place is a three-building, mixed-use development in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens. The new construction will be located on a site privately owned by the tenant-governed Forest Hills Mutual Housing Association (FHMHA). The new development will create 442 affordable units. The acquisition price paid by the developer to the FHMHA will be used to fund much needed rehabilitation to the existing 430-unit buildings, as well as capitalize operating reserves. - Castleton
The Castleton development on Staten Island will include 31 permanent supportive apartments and 16 affordable apartments for low-income households. Residents will also have access to on-site supportive services and a community center on the ground floor operated by non-profit Project Hospitality as well as a landscape terrace with garden plots, lounge, computer room, and library. - Chestnut Commons
The Chestnut Commons development site was the largest public site designated in the East New York rezoning area. Chestnut Commons, includes the creation of 274 affordable apartments that will be affordable to formerly homeless, extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households. The mixed-use development will also create a number of opportunities through a rich multi-layered set of community-oriented offerings such as programming by ARTS East New York, CUNY Kingsborough Community College, and more. The project is designed to achieve a low carbon footprint by incorporating passive house elements that will reduce operating costs and benefit all residents.
The 147,933 affordable homes created under Housing New York represents a $6.6 billion City investment, which includes City Capital, HDC Reserves, Reso A, and other funds.