NYC council pushes One45 for Harlem developer to boost affordability
Members of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises questioned developer Bruce Teitelbaum about the long-stalled concept, which proposes building a pair of 34-story towers with 968 apartments and commercial space at the intersection of 145th St. and Lenox Ave — a massive infusion amid the city's ongoing housing crisis.
Councilmember Yusef Salaam, who represents the area and exerts tremendous influence over whether or not One45 will pass in the Council, expressed myriad concerns about the project. But he but also expressed an openness that could bode well for the its chances.
'This proposal comes to us at a very pivotal moment. It provides an opportunity to uplift the community by creating quality housing options, local retail and a much needed community space and more,' Salaam said. 'The question is, for whom.'
Approximately 291 of the units would be designated 'affordable,' a figure Salaam described as 'definitely too low.'
That number could more than double as part of an alternate plan Teiteilbaum has floated in tandem with Borough President Mark Levine, first reported by the Daily News, that would see a nonprofit develop one of the towers as 100% affordable in coordination with the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
But that version would hinge on 'significant' government subsidies and is far from a done deal.
'A deal's timeline is set by project readiness, developer capacity, and financing availability,' HPD spokesperson Matt Rauschenbach said in a statement. 'In this case, HPD continues to be actively engaged with the One45 project owner, and we look forward to continuing those conversations.'
Salaam and committee Chair Kevin Riley repeated longstanding concerns around affordability levels, gentrification, building heights and the potential environmental impact. They also called for more family-sized units, as almost half of the planned units are one-bedroom apartments.
Teitelbaum in turn touted his years of community engagement efforts, commitment to fix up the beleaguered block and the project's green energy credentials. The development would also include a tech center, a banquet hall and retail space.
'One45 is not just another housing development, it is a significant and a serious community investment,' he told the committee. 'We have listened, we have improved and we have responded … and now we respectfully ask the City Council to support this project.'
Tuesday's hearing was one of the last steps in the city's monthslong land use review process, which One45 needs to pass before the project can be built.
The first rezoning attempt famously fell apart in 2022 after pushback from the local councilmember at the time, Kristin Richardson Jordan, who wanted the project to be 100% affordable. Teitelbaum subsequently withdrew the proposal and turned the lot into a truck depot, angering the community; Jordan dropped her reelection bid amid the fallout.
Teitelbaum apologized Tuesday for the truck depot, saying 'In retrospect it was a mistake.'
The political atmosphere is far more pro-development than it was the last time Teitelbaum tried to pass One45, and he struck a cautiously optimistic note on Tuesday.
'I'm very hopeful, I think there's a real light at the end of the tunnel,' he told the News following the hearing. 'I feel confident but we're not there yet, there's still work to do.'
The Council's deciding vote will take place in the coming weeks.
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