January 29, 2024

HPD is Setting into Motion Plans Announced in Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City Address to Advance 24 Affordable Housing Projects on Public Sites in 2024  

HPD to Turn an Unused Parking lot Into Sorely Needed Affordable Housing and Vibrant Community Greenspace Along a key Section of Manhattan’s Waterfront, Long Inaccessible to the Public   

City Looks to Hear from New Yorkers Interested in Shaping the Vision for the Site, Starting with Community Engagement Events This Month. 

NEW YORK- The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is kicking off a month-long push to advance affordable housing projects on multiple public sites across the city, putting into motion a significant piece of Mayor Eric Adams’ 24 in 24 plan announced in his State of the City address last week. Through the 24 in 24 plan, the Adams administration plans to advance 24 affordable housing projects on public sites in 2024 that will ultimately create or preserve over 12,000 units of housing through partnerships across HPD, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).  

Today, HPD is announcing an exciting process to redevelop an unused, city-owned parking lot along the waterfront of northern Manhattan into approximately 570 affordable homes, public waterfront greenspace, and a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) facility. Starting this week, the city will be holding community outreach events to seek community input through a questionnaire on their vision for the site, including the type of housing, architectural and landscaping design, uses for the open space, services, and the community amenities they envision for this site along 9th Avenue in Inwood. Inwood residents are invited to stop by the Inwood Public Library at 4857 Broadway on Thursday, February 1st, between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm to learn more about the site, share their input by filling out the project questionnaire, and ask any questions.  

“Growing up on the edge of homelessness, I know what it is like to live without the security of housing. My siblings and I had to take trash bags full of clothes to school because we didn’t know where we would sleep the next night. That’s no way to live. You cannot plan for the future if you are worried about today,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “While we advocate for action in Albany this session and advance our historic ‘City of Yes’ proposal, our administration is tacking the housing and affordability crisis with urgency. Our ’24 in 24’ plan to create and preserve affordable housing on 24 publicly-owned sites is another example of how we're doing everything within our control to deliver housing and relief to New Yorkers when they need it most. Investments like the Inwood Waterfront project, once again, deliver on the vision we laid out to protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make this city more livable for working-class New Yorkers.”   

“The Inwood Waterfront project is a prime example of this administration's commitment to meaningful community engagement as we spur housing and jobs across the five boroughs,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “This project is an exciting opportunity to transform an unused parking lot into affordable homes, waterfront green space, and a STEM facility, and we look forward working with residents to ensure the project reflects the needs and aspirations of the Inwood community.”    

“A community’s vision is a key driving force behind creating a thriving neighborhood for current and future generations,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “In an area cut off from the bustle of lower Manhattan and the serenity of the city’s waterfront, Inwood residents can now create a vision for their part of the city that honors rich local history and culture and can benefit from its proximity to the Harlem River. The Inwood 9th Avenue site will bring much needed affordable housing, access to the waterfront, and a brand-new Science Technology Engineering & Math center to this area, giving the host community the respect they deserve in shaping their future.”    

 “The redevelopment of this unused parking lot into much needed housing, open space, an educational center, and other critical resources are going to greatly benefit the Inwood community,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “We applaud HPD for leading these redevelopment efforts and building on the Inwood Action Plan to reimagine this community and build a more vibrant neighborhood with economic opportunities for all residents while advancing Mayor Adams’ 24 in 24 Plan.”    

“Housing is a foundational need and critical to a New Yorker's quality of life,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Currently, housing is too expensive and inaccessible for too many, and we need to be able to add to New York City’s housing supply to reduce the stress and cost of housing for New Yorkers. The Inwood waterfront project is a great example of the Adams administration's dedication to delivering more affordable housing for a community in need.”  

“As this new housing and greenspace demonstrates, the Inwood Action Plan is continuing to pay dividends,” said Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick. “Through well-planned projects like this, we’re tackling our housing crisis, improving waterfront access, bolstering education, and creating a more equitable city.”   

“NYC is confronting crises on multiple fronts, with housing, affordability, and dignified conditions for tenants among them,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “We continue to work to ensure that the commitments made during the Inwood Rezoning yield housing that is both dignified and affordable, prioritizing the curbing of displacement for Uptown families. We look forward to working with HPD during the community visioning stages to identify community spaces that continue to uplift the educational and workforce needs of our city and give our constituents a seat at the table, especially our youth who will benefit greatly from additional STEM spaces.”  

The site at 4095 9th Avenue between 220th Street and 218th Street in Inwood is an unused parking lot over one acre in size along a precious piece of the Harlem River waterfront. The site was assembled through a land exchange to create a viable development site at this location. While the city previously only owned the undevelopable waterfront portion of the land, a swap with Charter Communications created a piece of land with both street and waterfront access. Through a community visioning and competitive review process, HPD aims to build approximately 570 units of affordable housing, a STEM-focused community facility, and public access to the waterfront on the site in accordance with the points of agreement in the Inwood NYC Action Plan.     

As a part of the Inwood Action Plan, the city proposed a set of neighborhood investments in infrastructure, services, and changes to land use. This included a rezoning led by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), which was approved by the City Council in 2018. The plan set overarching goals for housing, culture, education, economic development, transportation, and open space in the neighborhood, which are reflected in the project approvals. This prior engagement has been used to help set the parameters for what type of development will be considered for the site, including a facility focused on STEM. The Inwood 9th Avenue RFP builds on the city’s commitment to promote the development of affordable housing and economic opportunity in the area. Progress toward that commitment is also felt in the soon-to-open Inwood Library and The Eliza affordable housing development nearby.     

The process of creating new affordable housing on publicly owned land begins with a robust community engagement process. No one knows the Inwood community and what it needs more than the residents – making the community visioning process an invaluable part of the process for HPD and the future development team. Together with residents, HPD will create a vision for the land through an in-person community workshop, local tabling events in the community, meetings with the local community board and stakeholders, while collecting responses through a questionnaire, available online and printed at each event.     

The community visioning phase will culminate with the release of a Community Visioning Report, which will encompass local priorities for the site. HPD will then issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Inwood 9th Avenue site, asking affordable housing developers to respond to a set of goals and guidelines that reflect community priorities in the report.     

To learn more about the Inwood 9th Avenue site and to sign up for updates, please visit the HPD website.    

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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city's housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods - because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love. We maintain building and resident safety and health, create opportunities for New Yorkers through housing affordability, and engage New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity. HPD is entrusted with fulfilling these objectives through the goals and strategies of Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness, Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing framework. To learn more about what we do, visit nyc.gov/hpd and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.