hunterspointe-rfp-process-faqs

Housing Preservation & Development


Hunter’s Point South Parcel E RFP


Hunter’s Point South Parcel E RFP

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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 Parcel E 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. (See a recent CVR for a development site in Staten Island.) 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?

We are including opportunities for people to provide input in a variety of ways. 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 HuntersPointE@hpd.nyc.gov. For community members without access to the internet, there will be community visioning packets with paper versions of the Project Questionnaire available at several neighborhood locations. Stay tuned for a full list of participating pick-up and drop-off locations.

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 or RFP. Once selected, the developer and HPD will present the project to the Community Board and other key stakeholders and periodically report back about project progress toward major milestones.

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

While we get input from many different types of stakeholders, our goal is to focus on the big picture and to hear 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 Queens

How can I apply to live in one of the other Hunter’s Point South buildings?

The affordable housing units developed in the other Hunter’s Point South buildings went through their own lottery processes on Housing Connect when the buildings were completed. There are not currently any open lotteries for the previously developed affordable housing in Hunter’s Point South. However, when a resident moves out of an affordable home, it may become available for re-rental.

When re-rental units become available a small number of interested and qualified Housing Connect users are picked at random for the opportunity to apply for that unit. You will have the chance to be randomly selected for re-rentals only if you select that you are interested on Housing Connect. Your household size and income must also match the unit requirements. Advertisements for re-rentals are not posted on the “Open Lotteries” page in Housing Connect. Instead, you will receive a notification if you are randomly selected to apply for a unit that matches your household information and Housing Choices.

To be considered for re-rentals in Hunter’s Point South and at other properties, sign up on Housing Connect to get notified:

Click “My Household” under the Main Menu

Go to the “Housing Choices” section underneath “Household Members”

Click “Yes” and answer the prompts to specify your Housing Choices. This will limit the types of units for which you may be randomly selected to apply, so it’s best to keep your options open if you can.

Keep an eye on your email and the “Dashboard” section of your profile, where you can choose to apply or reject the re-rental opportunity.

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 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 CVR that will be attached to the RFP document.

Why is HPD issuing an RFP on this site?

The development of Parcel E is part of the Hunter’s Point South neighborhood plan to create a mixed-use, mixed income community. This plan was made in response to addressing the many issues New Yorkers are experiencing like homelessness, living in poor quality housing, and 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 intent of the City to move forward with issuing an RFP at this site was contemplated as part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) actions adopted by City Council in 2008.

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, public approvals will be obtained if necessary, 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 Hunter’s Point E RFP Homepage and the Submit an RFP Response tab and downloadable as PDFs.

Site Design and Zoning Parameters

What is currently on this site?

Parcel E is vacant, although it has been used as a staging area for nearby development projects over the last several years.

What is the current zoning for this site? Is a rezoning being considered?

The site is currently zoned R10 with C2-5 commercial overlays along 2nd Street and Center Boulevard and is located in the Special Southern Hunter’s Point District. This zoning allows for high-density residential, commercial, and community facility uses. The site was rezoned in 2008 and no further rezonings are expected.

More information about zoning districts can be found in DCP’s Zoning Handbook.

What are the development expectations for the site as a result of the 2008 Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) and 2018 Urban Development Action Area Project (UDAAP) approvals?

The anticipated development on Parcel E will include approximately 850-900 units total with at least 60% affordable. The development will also provide commercial retail space and community facility space. Additionally, the Special Southern Hunter’s Point District requires an approximately 1,800 square foot open space on the northwest corner of the site.

What kinds of retail or community facilities can be built on this site?

The type of commercial or community facility uses permitted on the site will be determined by the zoning districts (R10 and C2-5) and other factors such as site area. The public will have the opportunity to provide input about what commercial or community facility uses are appropriate for the site through the community engagement process.

What is the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP)?

ULURP is a New York City Charter mandated procedure whereby certain actions affecting the land use of the city are publicly reviewed. Key participants in the ULURP process are the City Planning Commission (CPC), Community Boards, the Borough Presidents, the City Council, and Mayor.

Affordability

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

The RFP for the site will require proposals where at least 60% of the units are affordable according to the incomes outlined in HPD’s financing programs for different types of housing (Senior, Supportive, Rental, etc.). The qualifying incomes for these programs range from less than 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) up to 120% AMI, including unit 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. The remaining housing units will be market-rate units without income restrictions.

Will market rate housing be part of these developments?

Yes, the RFP will require proposals for housing where at least 60% of the units are affordable, where units are income restricted and rent regulated through a regulatory agreement with HPD. The remaining housing units will be market-rate units without income restrictions.

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 too applicants who, at the time of application, are residents of Queens Community District 2 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 Community District 2

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 geographic preference at all.

Economic Development and Other Community Impacts

Will jobs be available for Queens 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 Queens residents to jobs in the building trades. The HireNYC program requires that housing developments 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.)?

An extensive review was conducted as part of the 2008 ULURP. As a part of that public review, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was required to assess potential impacts to the surrounding area. The EIS provided requirements that address any impacts that the new development will have.