Milestone Reached in City’s Zombie Home Initiative

On September 30, 2022, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Law Department announced that the City’s Zombie Homes Initiative reached a significant milestone: the Initiative has officially recouped over $1 million in penalties from mortgage holders of vacant properties who failed to comply with New York State’s Zombie Property and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2016, commonly referred to as the “Zombie Law.”


Tenant Harassment Task Force Reaches Settlement Requiring Landlord to Correct Significant Violations

On October 12, 2022, the Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force announced a settlement with landlord Greg Fournier and his real estate company, Greenbrook Holdings, LLC over harassing tenants and keeping unsafe building conditions. The task force is composed of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the Department of Buildings, the Law Department, the State Attorney General, and the Tenant Protection Unit of the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal Trust.


HPD Cuts Ribbon on New Senior Housing in Astoria

On October 7, 2022, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development joined City officials and community members to celebrate the opening of the Bishop Rene A. Valero Senior Residence at 23-11 31st Road in Astoria, Queens. The facility was developed by Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation, the affordable housing branch of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. 


HPD Celebrates Opening of New Affordable Building with 275 Units in East New York

The building includes a community center with a variety of programs to promote economic growth and youth development. On October 4, 2022, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) joined other city agencies, MHANY Management, Urban Builders Collaborative and Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation to celebrate the opening of Chestnut Commons Apartments in East New York, Brooklyn. Chestnut Commons Apartments, located at 110 Dinsmore Place, is a new 275-permanently affordable unit building. 


HPD Announces “Just Home” Project For Critically Ill Recently Released Rikers Detainees

With approximately 70 studios, the development will house patients with medical needs like congestive heart failure and end-stage renal disease after they leave jail. On August 19, 2022, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and NYC Health + Hospitals announced “Just Home,” a housing project in Morris Park, Bronx geared towards formerly incarcerated New Yorkers.