Rendering of the Peninsula. Image Credit: WXY Architecture + Urban Design and Body Lawson Associates/HPD.

Phase One of the development will yield 183 units of deeply affordable housing ranging from studios to three-bedrooms. On July 16, 2019, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD),the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and private developers announced plans to construct the first phase of the Peninsula, a 100 percent affordable mixed-use development in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. The project will be constructed on the site of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center. (more…)

The new play equipment at Saw Mill Playground in Mott Haven. Image Credit: NYC Parks Department

The playground provides new community amenities and improves the health of the Harlem River. On June 7, 2019, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced the completion of an $8 million upgrade to Saw Mill Playground in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. The playground is located on East 139^th Street between Brook and Willis Avenues. (more…)

Illustrative rendering of the proposed development at 2069 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx. Image Credit: Aufgang Architects/CPC.

The new development will bring an affordable ownership building and a larger rental building, both financed under HPD programs. On March 13, 2019, the City Planning Commission approved an application for a rezoning in the Unionport neighborhood of the Bronx. The rezoning will facilitate a 100 percent affordable development comprised of two new buildings, containing approximately 330 units, at 2069 Bruckner Boulevard. The application was presented to City Planning by Frank St. Jacques of Akerman, LLP and Guido Subotovsky of Azimuth Development Group LLC at a public hearing held on February 27, 2019. (more…)

Image Credit: NYCHA.

The lead paint testing initiative comes from the City’s plans to eliminate childhood lead exposure and improve quality of living in public housing. On March 15, 2019, the New York City Housing Authority announced that it will be accelerating its new lead-based paint testing plan at the Bronx River Houses located in the Soundview section of the Bronx. The Bronx River Houses is one of the first set of developments NYCHA will begin testing in April, along with Harlem River and Williamsburg Houses. The lead paint testing initiative is part of the City’s LeadFreeNYC plan, a plan to eliminate childhood lead exposure. For CityLand’s prior coverage of LeadFreeNYC, click here.

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Image Credit: Google Images.

Borough President Diaz proposes new policy to prevent homelessness and displacement of tenants of preferential rent units. On December 13, 2018, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. issued a report titled “The Preferential Rent Crisis in New York City.” The report examines the scope of the preferential rent issue in all five boroughs and the risk tenants of preferential rent apartments face should landlords increase their rents to the legal registered rent for those units. The report argues that it would cost the City billions of dollars to respond to such an occurrence, as over 145,000 families could end up homeless if all preferential rents were increased at once. To prevent such drastic spending by the City, the Borough President Diaz recommends a solution that will help preferential rent tenants remain in their homes, while making it worthwhile for landlords to continue charging preferential rents. (more…)