101 New Affordable Homes Open in Mott Haven—HPD, NYCHA + Partners Celebrate the Completion of Betanc | City of New York

Housing Preservation & Development


Press Release


101 New Affordable Homes Open in Mott Haven—HPD, NYCHA + Partners Celebrate the Completion of Betances Family Apartments

July 15, 2024

The Development Creates Housing for Extremely Low- and Low-Income Housing for Families, Individuals, and New Yorkers Who Had Previously Experienced Homelessness on NYCHA’s Betances Campus

“A step forward but we need more” Betances Family Apartments Highlights Need for Widespread Zoning Changes to Create a "City of Yes

The Bronx, New York — This morning, New York’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) celebrated the opening of much-needed affordable housing in the Mott Haven area of the Bronx, on underutilized land at the site of NYCHA’s Betances VI campus. The development will provide 101 units of deeply affordable housing, including 70 homes for extremely low-, low-, and moderate-income New Yorkers, 30 apartments set aside for New Yorkers who had previously experienced homelessness, and 18 units reserved for NYCHA residents to receive priority housing.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony to open Betances Family Apartments was attended by HPD and NYCHA, as well as public and private partners and elected officials, including Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Deputy Speaker and Councilmember Diana Ayala, and representatives from BNY, NEF, Lemle & Wolff, Alembic Community Development, and The Bridge.

“Today, our administration joins the South Bronx in proudly saying ‘yes’ to more affordable housing in our backyards,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “The only way to solve our generational housing and affordability crises is to simply build more, and the Bronx is setting the example by welcoming working-class New Yorkers, NYCHA residents, and formerly homeless individuals into the community with open arms. With more than 100 units of deeply affordable units, the Betances Family Apartments sets a model for the rest of our city to follow and embody.”

“With 101 new affordable homes for New Yorkers in Mott Haven, this project marks an investment in housing access for those in need of affordable and supportive housing,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Offering furnishings for families who have previously experienced homelessness, priority units for NYCHA residents, and services on-site for all residents, Betances VI is an excellent example of how we can provide support and opportunity through housing. I’m grateful for the partnerships that resulted in this project coming to be, as this administration continues to invest in new affordable homes for New Yorkers.”

“Today marks a milestone for Mott Haven as we deliver a new home for New Yorkers struggling with housing insecurity or mental health issues: you deserve safe, stable, and affordable housing,” said NYC Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development, Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Not only does this transformative project create much-needed affordable and supportive housing for New Yorkers and those with mental health challenges, but it also revitalizes a once-underused property -- uplifting the entire community while creating a healthy, vibrant residence for low-income and formerly homeless individuals.”

“We consider ourselves extremely fortunate whenever we're able to celebrate the completion of new housing on NYCHA property,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “NYCHA is very proud of the work completed in concert with our partners at HPD to bring about the addition of Betances Family Apartments to the Betances VI campus. This new building creates invaluable housing stock amid the current crisis and the 101 deeply affordable units within will serve as amazing new homes for the New Yorkers that will soon inhabit them."

“NYCHA is proud to work directly with HPD and our partners to respond to one of our city's biggest needs — the development of new, affordable housing,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia. “The Betances Family Apartments shows how we can come together to utilize our resources to provide existing NYCHA residents with amenities, community spaces, and beautiful new housing. We are excited to celebrate the opening of Betances Family Apartments today and look forward to welcoming home 100 residents soon.”

The South Bronx thrives as a cultural hotspot within The Bronx and New York City, yet residents continue to face housing scarcity and challenges. The City is addressing these issues by building more homes in every neighborhood through the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. With housing availability becoming scarcer, low-income and individuals experiencing homelessness are finding it increasingly difficult to find or keep a home. Thanks to this public and private partnership, the Betances development creates 101 (including a super unit) new affordable housing opportunities for Bronx and New York City families, becoming part of the solution.

Building Breakdown + Amenities

Betances VI includes 19 studio apartments, 44 one-bedroom apartments, 24 two-bedroom apartments, 13 three-bedroom apartments, and one superintendent apartment.

The 30 units set aside for adults who had previously experienced homelessness come equipped with furniture such as bed frames and seating. The eligible tenants are also provided with a stipend to purchase additional appliances and items from a catalog, allowing for the personalization of each home and promoting a sense of dignity and independence.

Amenities at Betances Family Apartments will feature a children's playroom, bike storage, an outdoor green roof terrace, and 24/7 building security. The ground floor will offer approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial space, contributing to one of the busiest commercial districts in the Bronx.

Supportive Services

In addition to the building’s amenities, The Bridge, a local nonprofit, will provide a range of on-site supportive services, including case management, benefits counseling, and linkages to community mental health, dental, and substance use services. These services will be available for all 30 tenants who were formerly homeless.

“We are deeply grateful to our development partners, Lemle & Wolff and Alembic Community Development, our Board of Directors, and to HPD, NYCHA, the Bronx Borough President and Councilmember Ayala for joining with us to bring Betances Family Apartments to fruition,” said Bridge CEO Susan Wiviott. “We applaud the city and state's commitment to creating more affordable housing for vulnerable New Yorkers. We also recognize the tremendous efforts of our staff, who work tirelessly to provide on-site supportive services for 30 formerly homeless residents who have left the shelter system to begin a new life in a beautiful building in the Bronx.”

HPD + NYCHA Partnership: 100% Affordable

HPD and NYCHA's partnership spans decades, working tirelessly as the City’s main housing agencies to ensure New Yorkers always have a place to call home. This project is aimed at creating new affordable housing units on underused or vacant NYCHA land for low- and moderate-income families. NYCHA and HPD prioritize community involvement in the planning process, ensuring new developments meet local needs and contribute positively to the surrounding neighborhood and NYCHA campus. By providing a set-aside for NYCHA residents, the new building will provide NYCHA residents the option to stay in their communities.

Additional Building Details

The new building was designed by Think! Architecture and Design to create a modern, sustainable living environment for low-income families and individuals. The building was developed by Lemle & Wolff Development Company, Alembic Community Development, and The Bridge. Lemle & Wolff will also serve as the project’s general contractor and property manager.

Permanent financing for the $60 million project includes a $9.2 million mortgage from Sterling National Bank, $14.7 million in HPD ELLA financing, $1 million in Reso A funds from Councilmember Diana Ayala, $500,000 in Reso A funds from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., $2.5 million award from Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, $5.7 million in Brownfields Tax Credit Equity, $24 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and $2.8 million in other sources.

“Our residents in the Bronx deserve the very best, and that includes affordable, safe, and quality housing with amenities that support the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of its tenants,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “We are grateful to New York’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), Bank of New York, NEF, Lemle & Wolff, Webster Bank, Alembic Community Development, The Bridge and my colleagues in government for their support of this housing project that reimagines underutilized land in our borough as affordable housing that will provide critical support for our residents in the South Bronx.”

“The completion of Betances VI proves that when city agencies, City Council, and the private sector come together, housing that places working families and those most in need first can be achieved. As New York City continues to face an affordable housing crisis, I am proud of the over 100 deeply affordable housing units Betances VI will add, with apartments set aside for supportive housing that helps tackle the city’s homelessness epidemic. I am happy to have been able to support the funding for this project and I want to thank HPD, The Bridge NY, Alembic Community Development, and everyone else involved in providing much needed community-based affordable housing,” said Deputy Speaker and Councilmember Diana Ayala.

“At the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, we know that a safe, dependable and affordable home is the foundation from which we all grow as individuals, families and communities,” said José R. González, president and CEO of the FHLBNY. “We were honored to partner with Webster Bank to provide a $2.5 million grant for the Betances Family Apartments and are thrilled to witness its ribbon cutting. We congratulate all those whose hard work have made these homes a reality and look forward to the positive impact this housing will bring to the Mott Haven neighborhood.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Betances Family Apartments with our development partners Lemle & Wolff and The Bridge,” said Mike McCarthy, Director of Alembic Community Development. “Through dedication and team work we achieved our goal of creating 100 much needed new homes for Bronxites and other New Yorkers. We are thankful to our government partners, HPD and NYCHA and the rest of the lenders and investors as well, without whom none of this would have been possible.”

“At National Equity Fund, we value partners who share in our mission to expand the creation and preservation of affordable and supportive housing,” said Emily Chen, Managing Director, East Region at NEF. “The completion of the Betances Family Apartments represents years of steadfast dedication and collaboration with a goal to empower individuals and families to reach their fullest potential. NEF is grateful to have played a part in the development of this incredible campus that provides safe, high-quality affordable housing and fosters community and stability through holistic supportive services.”

“We are extremely proud and excited to celebrate the grand opening of Betances Family Apartments and to welcome residents to this building community,” said Anivelca Cordova, Principal at Lemle & Wolff Companies. “We would like to thank our partners, Alembic Community Development, The Bridge and NYCHA, as well as New York City HPD, Bank of New York Mellon, Webster Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank, City Councilperson Diana Ayala and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson for their generous support.”

“Founded 240 years ago in New York City, BNY’s scale and significance places us in a unique position to help build strong communities through financial solutions, including providing financing to help developers of affordable housing address the shortage of quality rental homes,” said Patrick Vatel, Chief Lending Officer at BNY. “As the construction lender for this project, we are proud to support efforts to create and preserve affordable housing for communities in the Bronx and across the five boroughs.”

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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. For full details visit

www.nyc.gov/hpd

and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.

About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 520,808 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.

About The Bridge The Bridge is a leading New York City social service provider and nonprofit housing developer, serving 4,200 individuals annually including 1,500 people residing in its supportive housing programs in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Its mission is to change lives by offering help, hope, and opportunity to the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Programs are designed to support the needs of marginalized populations, including individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders, individuals with histories of criminal justice involvement, and people experiencing homelessness. The Bridge offers a comprehensive range of evidence-based rehabilitative services including mental health and substance use treatment, housing and care coordination at locations throughout the city. Its community support division, which includes nine Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, four Safe Options Support (SOS) teams, an Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) team, and more, serves people whose needs have not been met by traditional office-based services and provides care right in the community.

About Lemle & Wolff Lemle & Wolff is a full-service real estate firm specializing in the development, construction and management of high-quality affordable housing. For more than 80 years, Lemle & Wolff has invested in the progress and sustainability of New York City’s neighborhoods through a long-term growth strategy by fostering successful partnerships with government, lenders, investors, community stakeholders and residents. In its history, the firm has developed or preserved thousands of affordable homes throughout the City of New York.

About Alembic Community Development Alembic Community Development invests in long-term partnerships in underserved neighborhoods through real estate development, organizational capacity building and community-based planning initiatives. Alembic Community Development offers a full continuum of planning and development services to nonprofit organizations, neighborhoods and cities. For more information, please visit alembiccommunity.com.