Housing Authority Requesting Plans for Mixed-Income Building Near Holmes Towers

Upper East Side, NY — The New York City Housing Authority and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development have filed plans requesting developers for a new mixed-income building to be built adjacent to the Holmes Towers on First Avenue.

The request for proposals was filed June 30 as part of the Housing Authority's NextGeneration Neighborhoods program. The new development would include a 50-50 split of both market-rate and affordable housing units in one building, according to a NYCHA press release. The NYCHA request also included the Wyckoff Gardens development in Brooklyn.

The new development will contain 300 units and will be located in an open space between two existing Holmes Towers developments on 92nd Street, according to the press release. The space is currently occupied by a playground. The request also includes a suggestion for developers to include a minimum of 5,000 square feet of community facility space.

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By having half the building's units at affordable rates and half at market rates, the NYCHA hopes to both provide affordable housing and generate money to be re-invested in NYCHA developments, according to the request.

"The NextGen Neighborhoods program enables us to not only create much-needed housing for low-income New Yorkers, but to generate revenue to address NYCHA’s critical repair needs,” NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye said in the press release. “This Request for Proposals reflects the input we received from residents, advocates and other key stakeholders after an extensive and meaningful engagement process that will continue as the development moves forward.”

The new development at the Holmes Towers site was first discussed in the fall of 2015 and later during two "visioning sessions" with Holmes Towers residents in February 2016, according to NYCHA documents. During these sessions current residents of the Holmes Towers voiced their concerns with the project and suggested improvements.

During the visioning sessions residents asked for improved seating areas, improved gardening areas, enhanced security and improved lighting, additional parking and an improved playground. Residents also asked the NYCHA to build the new playground before the current one is demolished in order to build the new development.

The NYCHA is soliciting plans from developers through Sept. 30, according to the press release.

[Photo: Google Maps street view circa January 2013]