Latest news with #DepartmentofHousingPreservationandDevelopment
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Free classes on everything to know about affordable housing and more
NEW YORK (PIX11) — If you've ever had a question about how to get affordable housing, how to navigate Housing Court, or even how to get rid of pests, New York City's housing department is offering free help. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development is offering free virtual classes during the summer to help answer some of the most commonly asked questions on housing in New York City. All the classes will be over Zoom and will have live interpretation in Spanish, Chinese, and Bangla. New website launches for affordable housing rentals without lotteries Some of the classes planned include how to apply for the affordable housing lottery, how to improve your credit to access housing, how homeowners can avoid deed theft, what to expect if going to housing court and how to eliminate pests. Classes for May have already begun but they will continue to run through July 30. More classes are also expected to be scheduled. New Homey app helps simplify affordable housing lottery application For a full list of classes and to register click here. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
12-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
This could be Brooklyn's second-tallest skyscraper — if it replaces an ‘eyesore' office building
A public-private partnership is eyeing a notoriously gloomy Downtown Brooklyn office building for an ambitious overhaul. The all-black, seven-story office building at 395 Flatbush Ave. Extension was once dubbed 'one of the biggest eyesores in downtown Brooklyn,' by Brownstoner. Now, the borough's second-tallest tower could take its place. The city Department of Housing Preservation and Development is looking to rezone the city-owned site to allow for a 72-story, 840-foot-tall mixed-use tower, the Real Deal reported. A tower that size would be second only to the 93-story Brooklyn Tower, just down the street. 3 A rendering of the proposed 72-story tower. Binyan Studio and TenBerke Architects Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the plan at last week's Real Deal NYC Forum 2025, touting the city's new tax incentives and City of Yes zoning changes making the proposed development possible. Developers Rabina and Park Tower Group control the site through a long-term ground lease with the city. Josh Rabina, President and CEO of Rabina, said the plan to replace the 'dark and outdated' office building will 'breathe new life into one of the most important intersections in Downtown Brooklyn.' '395 Flatbush will respond to the city's urgent housing needs, while anticipating and supporting future growth by overhauling the public realm for the thousands of people that pass through every day,' Rabina said in a statement. The 53-year-old building sits just above the DeKalb subway station, in the heart of Brooklyn's transit-rich central business district. The currently squat, triangular office is currently occupied by a Verizon call center and ground-floor storefronts. Its sheltered sidewalk is often crowded with computers and homeless encampments. A spokesperson for the developers said the 350,000-square-foot office building is 'no longer meeting the needs of the community.' 3 The current office building has been dubbed 'one of the biggest eyesores in downtown Brooklyn.' Rabina 3 Plans for the tower include a public public plaza, widened sidewalks and an improved subway entrance. Binyan Studio and TenBerke Architects The proposed 1.5 million-square-foot tower would include 1,263 apartments, 253 to 379 of which would be designated as permanently affordable at or below 80% of area median income, according to city records. The developers plan to construct the affordable units without receiving any loans or grants from the city, according to a spokesperson, but will instead will take advantage of new city tax incentives. An Adams aide has also stated that the building will house formerly homeless residents, Gothamist reported. The surrounding area will also receive a 10,000-square-foot facelift. The developers plan to construct a 4,750-square-foot public plaza along Fulton Street, widen the sidewalk along Flatbush, add green landscaping and expand the DeKalb Avenue subway station's public entrance. The new all-electric building design will also offer 66,000 square feet of retail space, in addition to 75,000 square feet of commercial space, according to a spokesperson for the developers, adding that the redevelopment will retain and reuse portions of the existing office building. Plans for the tower, however, are still in their infancy — the project must first pass through the city's lengthy land-use process. A public scoping hearing for the project will be held on June 5.
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Inside NYC's New Housing Policy with Ahmed Tigani
The Eliza at 4790 Broadway in Inwood, Manhattan. New York City's housing landscape is at a critical tipping point. Vacancy rates are at historic lows. Construction costs are climbing. And across the five boroughs, residents—especially those in long-standing Black and Brown communities—are asking a vital question: Who is this city really being built for? To get answers, I sat down with Ahmed Tigani, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). It was clear from the beginning of our conversation: this role is more than a title for him. It's personal. 'My mother raised two kids as a single parent in New York City,' Tigani shared. 'We relied on nonprofits and city programs to stay afloat. I never forgot what it meant to be supported by the system—and now I'm working every day to ensure it works better for others.' But in a city facing one of its most severe affordability crises in recent memory, good intentions aren't enough. I asked Commissioner Tigani the hard questions about how HPD is ensuring that its policies reach the people who need them most—and what's being done to make the housing system more equitable, more transparent and more responsive to the needs of underserved communities. Let's start with the scale. NYC's rental vacancy rate is just 1.4%, the lowest in nearly 60 years. That statistic becomes even more stark when you consider that for homes priced at or below $1,100/month, the vacancy rate drops to under 0.4%. For Black and Latino residents—who represent the largest share of low-income renter households and shelter populations—these numbers translate into a daily struggle for dignity and stability. The lack of affordable housing options isn't just an inconvenience—it's a barrier to opportunity, education and economic mobility. 'There's a real supply and access issue,' Tigani acknowledged. 'But we're working to change that—not just through more construction, but by removing the unnecessary hurdles that keep people from moving into homes.' Among the improvements: streamlining Housing Connect (the city's affordable housing portal), eliminating credit check requirements for voucher holders and automating document processing for households already in public systems. Ahmed Tigani, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) As part of its ongoing commitment to housing equity, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) recently introduced a major policy shift aimed at expanding access to affordable homes—particularly for those who may have struggled with the complexities of the traditional application process. Launched on May 1st, the updated policy allows affordable re-rental units—apartments that become available after previous tenants move out—to be leased without going through the Housing Connect lottery system. Instead, these units can now be marketed and leased through a wider range of accessible platforms, including HPD's official website, authorized property management firms, and popular rental platforms such as StreetEasy and Craigslist. This streamlined approach will be in effect for at least one year, and is designed to remove administrative burdens that have historically delayed or deferred applicants. By allowing eligible New Yorkers to view and apply for units directly, the city is increasing both the transparency and efficiency of the affordable housing process. For households from marginalized communities—who may face digital divides, language barriers, or hesitancy in navigating government systems—this change opens a new, more intuitive pathway toward housing stability. Commissioner Tigani noted that this effort reflects HPD's broader mission to improve equity through systemic reform. 'If the process itself is inaccessible, then affordability is just a number on paper,' he said. 'This is about giving people more direct tools to access housing in real time.' The policy also represents a broader pivot toward using existing inventory more effectively, recognizing that new construction alone cannot meet the urgent demand. One of the most encouraging themes that emerged from our discussion was HPD's growing emphasis on preservation, not just production. While new housing remains essential, keeping current residents in their homes—especially in gentrifying areas—must be part of the long-term strategy. Yet, significant challenges remain. Disparities in housing access, awareness gaps in underserved communities and rising market pressures continue to threaten the long-term stability of Black and Brown residents across the five boroughs. HPD is investing in programs like HomeFix, which helps low-income and senior homeowners with repairs. The revived J-51 tax abatement provides landlords with incentives to maintain buildings without displacing tenants. Meanwhile, the Homeowner Help Desk—initially a pilot in Bed-Stuy—is now a citywide tool connecting New Yorkers with legal services, housing counselors and mortgage guidance. 'Preservation is a form of protection,' Tigani said. 'If we don't help legacy homeowners and long-time tenants, we risk erasing the very culture that makes these communities strong.' This approach has been embedded into HPD's neighborhood planning framework. In Brownsville, over $1 billion in collective investment has supported not only affordable housing construction but also upgrades to local parks, infrastructure, and youth facilities. In East Harlem and the South Bronx, community-led plans have helped shape zoning decisions and resource allocation. NYC HPD Plan for affordable housing When it comes to city-led planning, skepticism among communities of color is warranted. From redlining to urban renewal to unchecked gentrification, history has shown how easily voices can be dismissed and displacement justified in the name of 'progress.' So I pressed Tigani: How is HPD building lasting trust with the communities most impacted by housing policy? He pointed to HPD's Neighborhood Planning Playbook, a public tool that outlines the agency's approach to inclusive development. Engagement begins with surveys and multilingual community meetings. The findings are compiled into 'visioning reports,' which directly inform developer RFPs and city investments. 'For any RFP we release, we require that at least 25% of the development team be either a nonprofit or MWBE,' Tigani explained. 'It's not enough to build in a community—you need to build with the community.' HPD has also broadened its outreach strategy: 'These aren't just buildings,' Tigani said. 'They're reflections of what people told us they needed.' The Eliza at 4790 Broadway in Inwood, Manhattan. Zoning reform may not sound exciting, but it's one of the most powerful levers in shaping equity across a city. NYC's 'City of Yes' initiative is aiming to do just that—modernize outdated zoning laws to allow more deeply affordable housing across all neighborhoods, not just those already burdened. But some community leaders have expressed concerns: Will this lead to more luxury towers in historically Black neighborhoods? Will the benefits actually reach those most in need? To address that, the city has developed the Equitable Development Data Explorer (EDDIE). Any large development or rezoning proposal must now include a racial impact study and displacement risk index, ensuring that decisions are made with full transparency about who might be affected. Tigani expressed, 'It's about leveling the information field. If communities have the data, they can have a stronger say in the future of their neighborhoods.' What struck me most throughout our conversation was Tigani's insistence that housing is about more than walls and roofs—it's about healing, stability and future-building. When asked what he hopes his leadership brings to the city, his answer was both personal and profound. 'I want people to feel our urgency. We can't wait when families are struggling this deeply,' he said. 'But I also want them to feel seen. To know that this system isn't just reacting—it's evolving.' And for many residents across Harlem, Flatbush, Jamaica and the South Bronx, that evolution can't come soon enough. Because equitable housing is not just an economic issue—it's a cultural one. It's about who gets to plant roots, pass down wealth and build futures in the city they call home. Tigani's work highlights a pivotal transformation in New York City's housing strategy—shifting the focus from mere development to prioritizing access, equity and the preservation of communities. Under Tigani's leadership, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has initiated substantial reforms aimed at simplifying the affordable housing process and enhancing community engagement. While HPD has established more robust frameworks for neighborhood involvement and housing preservation, the continuation of this progress will depend on sustained oversight, effective inter-agency collaboration, and supportive legislation. The success of New York City's evolving housing landscape will not only be measured by the quantity of housing units produced but also by the inclusivity of those who benefit, the stability of long-standing residents and the empowerment of historically underserved communities to flourish.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
6 million applied to just 10K affordable housing units last year: HPD
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – In 2024, around six million households applied to just 10,000 open affordable housing units, according to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. That means, on average, every applicant had just a 0.2% chance of securing an affordable unit. The figure does not include units earmarked for homeless applicants. More Local News HPD officials on Tuesday testified to the New York City Council on its affordable housing lottery system, NYC Housing Connect, which City Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez called 'flawed.' 'The technology has made it harder, not easier, for New Yorkers to find an affordable apartment that meets their needs,' Sanchez said. In Fiscal Year 2024, 9,035 applicants were approved for new affordable housing units, and 3,280 more at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, according to the Preliminary Mayor's Management Report. Even for those lucky people, the process was fairly lengthy. In 2024, the median length of time for an application to be approved was over six months, according to HPD. Only 24% of applicants were approved within three months. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Generally, getting from application to lease signing will take between 12 to 15 months, said HPD Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. HPD has recently made adjustments to try to cut red tape on affordable units, particularly for re-rentals, or affordable units that have a tenant moving out. Now, renters can apply for re-rentals on StreetEasy and a new HPD website. On Tuesday, HPD announced a slew of other application changes, including reducing the financial documentation required for employed applicants. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Affordable housing now easier to apply for, qualify for in NYC: HPD
NEW YORK (PIX11) – It will now be easier for New Yorkers to apply and qualify for affordable housing lotteries, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced on Tuesday. HPD cited New York City's record low vacancy rate as the reason for the changes. More Local News 'Our administration's number one goal has been to remove barriers that prevent New Yorkers from accessing the crucial services and benefits they have earned and deserve,' said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrion Jr. in a statement. Here are some of the changes made to the way residents apply for affordable housing: Employed applicants are now only required to submit one month of pay stubs instead of multiple Applicants who have less than $51,600 in assets can self-certify without using bank statements Affidavits, also called self-certifications, will no longer have to be notarized Applicants with federal benefits like SNAP now have fewer documentation requirements Tax returns aren't required anymore (self-employed people are still required to present tax returns) There are more ways for disabled applicants to verify their eligibility for set-aside units, like using driver's licenses or school records Other recent changes made to affordable housing lotteries include apartments recently moved out of now being listed on HPD's new website for re-rentals or on popular rental sites. Potential applicants would no longer need to apply for the lottery to have a chance at a re-rental, according to HPD. More than 10,000 people found apartments through lottery listings on NYC Housing Connect last year, HPD said. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
