NextGen Neighborhoods Development at La Guardia Houses Moves Forward

NYCHA and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) released a request asking developers to submit proposals for a new mixed-income building at La Guardia Houses. Half of the units in the building will be rented at market rates while the other half will be affordable housing. As part of the NextGen Neighborhoods initiative, the revenue generated by the new building will be reinvested into La Guardia Houses and other NYCHA developments.

The developer will receive a ground lease to build and operate the building while NYCHA keeps ownership of the land. No residents will be moved from their homes or see rent changes. Current NYCHA parking permit holders affected by the construction of the new building will receive parking spaces elsewhere at the development. Capital repairs and improvements to La Guardia will be made while the new building is being constructed. When the new building is complete, NYCHA residents will receive preference for 25 percent of the new affordable apartments.

“NextGen Neighborhoods at La Guardia Houses is a clear example of the steps we are taking to reinvest in our buildings and our communities,” said NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye. “After extensive resident engagement focused on resident priorities and concerns, we will deliver long overdue repairs to La Guardia Houses while creating much-needed affordable housing.”

NYCHA held six resident meetings and two interactive Community Visioning sessions in English, Spanish, and Chinese in 2017. The recommendations from the Community Visioning sessions helped shape the proposal request to include resident recommendations and community needs, including:

• The creation of a flexible, multi-purpose community space that serves the greater Lower East Side community;
• Community programming to address the lack of affordable food access in the neighborhood;
• Affordable family-sized apartments for households that align with the income levels of the Lower East Side;
• Precautionary measures to limit environmental impacts during and after construction; and
• Improvement to the safety, security, and accessibility of the immediate surroundings.

The developer is required to maintain open communications with residents, informing them of next steps throughout the construction process, and will work with NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability to connect residents to job opportunities generated by the new building.