Update 1/18/17: This post was updated to include the architects for each project.
As part of an ongoing affordable housing development drive, New York City has selected eight Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) to develop hundreds of affordable units across three boroughs.
The six city-owned sites—in East New York and Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; Melrose and Crotona Park East, the Bronx; and Central Harlem, Manhattan—will be 100 percent affordable across a broad range of incomes. The developments will include 440 units for seniors, the homeless, and extremely-low income New Yorkers.
“These Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise firms are offering first-rate projects that will serve a diverse set of New York communities and New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio, in a statement. “I congratulate them, and expect to see important work from each of them as we continue to work together in the future to protect affordability and quality of life in all our neighborhoods.” The developments will include a STEM center for high schoolers, a tech center, space for a green market, and an LGBT community center.
The M/WBE contracts are part of the city’s goal to award 30 percent of the value of its contracts to nonwhite and woman firms by 2021. To meet its metrics, the city is increasing access to capital and putting resources towards capacity-building for M/WBE firms, among other measures.
The six winning projects are pictured below:
1921 Atlantic Avenue
Architect: GF55
Developer: Dabar Development Partners and Thorobird
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
“The 25,762 square-foot site will be transformed into a mixed-use project with 183 affordable homes for seniors, and low- and moderate-income households. The project will feature a community facility operated by Oko Farms and NHS. A new fresh food grocery store will be created.”
1510-1524 Broadway
Architect: GLUCK+
Developer: MacQuesten Construction Management
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
“Partnering with the not-for-profit East Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation, the M/WBE will create 59 affordable homes for extremely-low income individuals on the 20,059 square-foot parcel.”
461 Alabama Avenue
Architect: Newman Design
Developer: CB Emmanuel Realty
East New York, Brooklyn
“In partnership with the non-for-profit Services for Underserved, the M/WBE firm will transform the 10,000 square-foot lot into a supportive housing development, with 55 homes for formerly homeless and low-income households. The nonprofit will provide onsite supportive services for the homeless. The building will feature a recreation room, a landscaped yard and roof for resident use.”
1490 Southern Boulevard
Architect: Bernheimer Architecture
Developer: Type A Real Estate Advisors
Crotona Park East, the Bronx
“[490 Southern Boulevard will be developed] into a 95-unit senior housing development, affordable to senior households with incomes between $25,400 and $38,100. Working with the LGBT Network and the Jewish Association Serving the Aging, the project will offer support services for senior residents and a community space with programing for the LGBT community of all ages.”
Construction Services: FG-PH
Developer: Infinite Horizons
Melrose, the Bronx
“With MBD Community Housing Corp., the M/WBE firm will build 20 affordable homes on the 4,700 square-foot parcel. The homes will be affordable to individuals with incomes between $50,750 and $63,500, and families with incomes between $65,250 and $81,600. The development will feature a green roof and solar panels.”
263-267 West 126th Street
Architect: Aufgang Architects
Developer: Lemor Realty Corporation and Apex Building Group
Central Harlem, Manhattan
“The companies will build a passive-house development with 29 affordable homes on the 8,492 square-foot property. The project will house a restaurant and space for the tech incubator company Silicon Harlem, which offers the Apps Youth Leadership Academy, a seven-week course for high school students focused STEM education and enrichment.”
