EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended a groundbreaking at a former police department parking lot in East Harlem for a new, 20-story affordable housing building — including nearly 100 apartments for formerly homeless and more than 240 additional affordable units.
It is the type of project the mayor has focused on to solve the city’s housing shortage — identifying city-owned land where at least 25,000 homes can be built over the next 10 years.
It will be 100% affordable, with more than 61 one-bedroom apartments that rent for around $900, and 44 two-bedroom apartments that rent for about $2,550.
The project on East 119th Street, dubbed Timbale Terrace, will host the new home of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance.
“There is a new consensus in this city about the importance of building more housing, about the importance of intertwining the agendas of affordability and the arts,” Mamdani said.
The city-owned land was being used as a parking lot for a neighboring NYPD precinct, but officials felt this project made more sense.
The new building will also have a new garage for police vehicles.
In 2024, the NYC Council gave it the green light for the building that will feature 340 apartments that will be affordable for those making between $30,000 and $130,000 each year.
There will also be permanent supportive housing for the homeless and those struggling with mental illness and substance abuse.
“Each person will be supported by a rental subsidy and by an onsite service team dedicated to helping them stay housed,” said Dan Kent with Lantern Organization.
One neighbor said one reason that some oppose the project is because of crime.
“We have a public school right there and sometimes when you have these types of facilities, then you have people that hang around and they have hang arounds,” said resident Hector Rios.
But others in the neighborhood disagree, acknowledging it may be a bit of a struggle, but is the right thing to do.
“There are a lot of people that are homeless and they need a place to stay, we are all human,” said resident Migdalia Molina.
The building is expected to open to new residents in 2028.
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