HPD Celebrates Grand Opening of 100 Percent Affordable Housing Development in Cypress Hills

The mixed-use, nine-story “50 Penn” building in Brooklyn will provide both housing and additional supports. On June 9, 2022, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC), developer PennRose, and the Riseboro Community Partnership celebrated the grand opening of the “50 Penn” housing development in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. The 218-unit building addresses key priorities in the East New York Neighborhood Plan, such as affordable housing and access to … <Read More>


City Council Holds First Hearing on Permanent Open Restaurants Plan

Many elected officials raised concerns about DOT’s ability to handle the scale and capacity of a citywide permanent open restaurants program. On February 8, 2022, the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a joint hearing with the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection on the proposed permanent open restaurant program. The proposed permanent open restaurant program will replace the temporary program and establish a new streamlined program for the creation, management and enforcement <Read More>


DDC Announces Reopening of Steinway Library in Astoria After Renovations

On January 18, 2022, the Department of Design and Construction announced the reopening of the Steinway Library at 21-45 31st Street in Astoria. Steinway Library is one of the three original branches from 125 years ago that became the Long Island City Public Library system, later known as the Queens Borough Public Library. Prior to the pandemic, Steinway Library served almost 200,000 customers and circulated over 225,000 materials annually. 



City Announces Holiday Pedestrian Space Around Rockefeller Center

Vehicle access will be restricted to protect pedestrians and provide them with more space. On November 24, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that temporary expanded pedestrian space would be added around Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall to accommodate holiday crowds. As the pandemic limited holiday crowds last year, more crowds are expected to return to New York City to enjoy holiday festivities.


NYCHA Announces Opening of New Affordable and Supportive Housing in Brownsville

On November 10, 2021, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced the opening of the Van Dyke III, a new twelve-story supportive and affordable housing development in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. The Van Dyke III, is built on underutilized land at NYCHA’s Van Dyke campus on Dumont Avenue between Mother Gaston Boulevard and Powell Street.