The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced plans Friday to bring 40 new homeownership opportunities to low-income families in the Bronx.
This announcement with Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County, Camber Property Group, Almat Urban and Interboro Community Land Trust (CLT) advances a key commitment of the Jerome Avenue Rezoning to transform the vacant city-owned Anthony Avenue site into permanent affordable housing.
This delivers on the administration’s commitment to advance new housing models designed to expand community and collective ownership. This will facilitate ongoing home sales to lower-income households, ensuring that future generations of first-time home buyers benefit from the project’s long-term affordability.
“This plan to bring 40 low-income homeownership opportunities to the Bronx is a huge win for our city and the residents that will benefit from having affordable housing options in our borough,” said City Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson. “The development on 1640-1642 Anthony Avenue was one of several commitments made as a result of the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan that will help combat growing housing insecurity and bring 100 percent affordable housing to the Bronx. I am extremely proud to see this project come into fruition and I want to thank the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Community Land Trust, Habitat NYC, Camber Property and Almat Urban for their work on this vital project that will give land ownership back to our community.”
The project will result in an 8-story, 100% affordable residential building to include a mix of 20 one-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom apartments. Each home will be affordable to households earning up to $93,000 for a family of three and all are fitted with a balcony and installation for washer and dryer units. Communal amenities for residents include a rear yard, community room, wellness gym and hydroponic center. Additionally, as a part of the development, homeownership education and assistance will be provided to first-time home buyers and residents whose applications have been denied.
“Affordable homeownership not only provides low and moderate income New Yorkers with quality homes, but also the opportunity to build wealth and equity in their neighborhoods,” said Rick Gropper, principal of Camber Property Group. “Our project will create 40 low- and middle-income apartments for sale in the west Bronx, fulfilling a key promise of the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan. We look forward to working with our partners at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Interboro Community Land Trust, Habitat NYC and Almat Urban to deliver on that promise.”
Located on 1640-1642 Anthony Ave. across from Claremont Park, the city-owned vacant site’s transformation into affordable housing advances a key commitment of the Jerome Avenue rezoning. The rezoning is bringing more than $189 million in capital projects and services to the Bronx neighborhood in new and improved parks and playgrounds, pedestrian safety improvements near the Cross Bronx Expressway, business assistance and new schools. Covering a 2-mile stretch of Jerome Avenue, roughly from 167th Street to 184th Street, the rezoning promotes housing, including permanently affordable housing.
The project is being financed through HPD’s Open Door program, which funds the new construction of affordable cooperative and condominium buildings, as well as new one- to three-family homes. The architect, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, designed the building to connect to the Bronx’s rich architectural history with most homes exceeding the HPD Design Guidelines for unit size. Additionally, the development team will partner with community organizations on a jobs outreach plan to employ local residents on the construction site.
A complete rundown of the Jerome-Anthony RFP, including the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan, can be found on the Jerome-Anthony RFP webpage.
