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324 East 5th Street RFP - FAQs


324 East 5th Street RFP Process and Frequently Asked Questions

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RFP Process and Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the RFP Process?

A Request for Proposals (RFP) is a document issued by HPD that seeks proposals for new housing and community amenities on City-owned land. Development teams propose projects in response to the criteria and requirements outlined in the document. Such proposals are evaluated based on their ability to meet such requirements and advance the goals as reflected in the competitive criteria of the document as well as the Community Visioning Report (CVR) that is attached to the RFP document.

Check out the additional information below to learn more about the RFP process, milestones, and FAQs. Throughout the process, updates about the RFP release, pre-submission conference, required forms, addenda and more will be posted on the

Submit an RFP Response

tab.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to learn more about the RFP process and milestones? Check out the FAQ below.

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Click a topic, or press the enter key on a topic, to reveal its answer.

Community Input

How will community input be incorporated into the RFP?

The results of the community engagement will be summarized in the 324 East 5th Street Community Visioning Report (CVR). The CVR is provided as part of the RFP document so that prospective developers can understand and craft proposals that are responsive to the priorities and needs of the community. Amongst other evaluation criteria, proposals will be evaluated in part on how thoughtfully they consider and respond to the priorities and needs. (See the How to Get Involved tab for opportunities to provide your input on the project.)

Will residents who are not able to attend meetings have an opportunity to provide input?

Yes. For people who are not able to make it to the meetings, there is an online Project Questionnaire available on the project website. Community members can also offer feedback and submit questions about this project by emailing East5thRFP@hpd.nyc.gov. For community members without access to the internet, there will be paper versions of the project questionnaire available at our various public tabling events held throughout the neighborhood

HPD will present our findings at a public report back meeting when the community visioning phase is coming to an end.

Will there be additional opportunities for community feedback after the developer is selected?

Yes. The community engagement process does not end with the release of the CVR. Once selected, the developer and HPD will report back to the Community Board and other key stakeholders about project progress toward major milestones and how to apply for affordable housing.

Will input from people who live far away from the site have the same weight as people near the site?

While we receive input from many different types of stakeholders, our goal is to focus on the big picture and to accommodate as many perspectives as possible. We are conducting extensive outreach in the community to ensure that those who may be most impacted by the new development are informed and have opportunities to provide feedback.

Once the buildings are complete, how can I apply to live in one of the units?

After construction, newly available apartments go through a housing lottery process. Visit NYC Housing Connect online for more information about current affordable housing lotteries.

Supportive housing and formerly homeless units are leased through referrals from the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), Human Resources Administration (HRA), HPD, or other sources.

For help on how to apply for housing, contact a nearby NYC Housing Ambassador in Manhattan.

Requests for Proposals

What is a Request for Proposals (RFP)?

A Request for Proposals is a document issued by HPD that seeks proposals for new housing and community amenities on City-owned land. Development teams submit proposals and those proposals are evaluated based on their ability to meet the requirements and advance the goals identified in the RFP and Community Visioning Report.

Why is HPD issuing an RFP on this site?

Many New Yorkers are experiencing homelessness, living in poor quality housing, or struggling to keep up with housing costs. A priority for the mayoral administration is for HPD to finance and preserve more affordable housing, and to enable new affordable housing developments to include important community amenities. The East 5th Street site provides an opportunity for the City to create 100% affordable housing that will serve the community and New Yorkers.

What is the timeline of the RFP and project? When will it be completed? When will it be ready to rent?

The development of public sites is a multi-year process, and we are currently in the early stages. After community visioning and release of the RFP, developers will have time to respond, and the City will then review the proposals. At this point, any remaining public approvals will be obtained, financing will be finalized, and the building will be constructed.

Can the community help choose the developers or proposal for the site?

We highly value community input informing the development of the RFP before it is written and issued, which is why we designed activities and a survey that gather your input. HPD takes the integrity of its RFP competitive review process seriously. As such, HPD is required to ensure that the RFP process prevents potential conflicts of interest (and disqualifications of teams because of potential conflict of interest) and cannot allow community members to partake in the review.

As stated above and in the How to Get Involved tab, the input gathered throughout the engagement process is published in the CVR and attached to the RFP for development teams to refer to in crafting proposals. Proposals will be scored in part on how well they respond to the visions of the community.

Will we be able to see the RFP when it is released?

Yes. The RFP and any relevant supplemental information will be linked on the East 5th Street RFP Homepage and the Submit an RFP Response tab and downloadable as PDFs.

Site Design and Zoning Parameters

What is currently on this site?

324 East 5th Street is a City-owned site that is currently used by the NYPD 9th precinct for parking.

What is the current zoning for this site? What does this zoning district allow?

The site is currently zoned R8B, which allows for medium-density residential buildings of about 6-7 floors. The zoning district also allows for community facility uses in Use Groups 3 and 4, such as educational uses, day cares, and community centers. More information about Use Groups can be found on DCP's website. Feedback on a potential community facility to be included on the ground floor of the building will be solicited throughout the community engagement process.

A rezoning may be considered to allow the new building to house as many New Yorkers as possible, while ensuring the building’s shape and height are contextual to the surrounding neighborhood.

What will happen to the NYPD parking currently on the site?

City agencies will work to evaluate potential relocation of the parking and/or incorporation into the new building. Per the Soho/Noho Neighborhood Plan Points of Agreement, the RFP will be released subsequent to a relocation or incorporation plan for the minimal municipal parking need.

Affordability

What will be the rents and income qualifications for the new homes?

The RFP for 324 East 5th Street will require proposals where 100% of the units are affordable according to the incomes outlined in HPD’s financing programs for different types of housing (Senior, Supportive, Rental, Homeownership, etc.). The qualifying incomes for these programs range from less than 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) up to 130% AMI, and include units set asides for formerly homeless households. HPD will analyze which programs are feasible and appropriate for the site and will also hear from the community as to the types of housing and affordability levels that will be most beneficial.

Will there be homeownership opportunities as part of this development?

HPD will consider a variety of housing programs for the site including homeownership. Sales prices for homeownership units on this site would be affordable to families with incomes between 80% and up to 130% of the AMI.

Will market rate housing be part of this developments?

No, the RFP will require proposals for housing that is 100% affordable, where all units are income restricted and rent regulated through a regulatory agreement with HPD.

Will the units be permanently affordable?

RFP respondents are required to put forth proposals with long-term or permanent affordability. HPD will also convey the site subject to an extended affordability reverter, so that title to the site will revert to the City upon expiration of the initial regulatory period, unless the parties agree to an extended term of affordability.

Will there be a preference for community residents in the new development?

Under current policy, a developer must, during initial rent-up of an HPD development, give preference for 20% of the income-restricted units to applicants who, at the time of application, are residents of Manhattan Community District 3 in which the site is located. If the development is advertised for initial rent-up after April 30, 2029, the developer must give preference for 15% of the income-restricted units to applicants who are residents of the Community District 3.

Depending on the housing programs selected and the resulting financing sources, different rules may apply to parts of the development which could result in a community preference, a borough-wide preference, or no geographically-based preference at all.

Economic Development and Other Community Impacts

Will jobs be available for Manhattan residents?

All projects financed by HPD must include a plan for job outreach to community residents related to employment opportunities generated by the project. HPD is also connecting Manhattan residents to jobs in the building trades. The HireNYC program requires that housing development receiving $2 million or more in HPD subsidy post their open positions with the Workforce1 system and consider qualified candidates.

Do we know how the new development will impact the neighborhood and associated infrastructure (schools, transit, noise, etc.)?

Because the project will involve transfer of City-owned land, there will be an extensive public review process. As a part of public review, an environmental review will be required to assess potential impacts to the surrounding area. Should any adverse impacts be identified, steps will be taken to mitigate them to the greatest extent practicable.