Jersey Street RFP Process & FAQs - HPD

Housing Preservation & Development


Jersey Street RFP


Jersey Street RFP

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RFP Process and FAQs

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 in the Submit an RFP Response tab.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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

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

Community Input

The community was already engaged about the Jersey Street Site during the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Planning Process. How is this input being considered?

HPD gathered preliminary community input for the Jersey Street Site in partnership with the Department of City Planning (DCP) as part of the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Planning Process. This helped set overarching goals for the Site, which are reflected in the project approvals, including the 2019 City Council Resolution. This prior engagement has been used to help set the parameters for what development alternatives will be considered for the Site.

How will community input be incorporated into the RFP?

The results are summarized in the Jersey 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 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 get input from many different types of stakeholders, and 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 building is complete, how can I apply to live in one of the units?

After construction, newly available apartments go through a lottery process. The buildings on the Site will be in development for several years, but in the meantime, you can visit NYC Housing Connect online for more information about current affordable housing lotteries. For help on how to apply, contact a nearby NYC Housing Ambassador on Staten Island. A complete list of Housing Ambassadors can be found at nyc.gov/housing-ambassadors.

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 Staten Island.

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?

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 commitment by the City to move forward with issuing an RFP for affordable housing at this site was included as part of the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Plan which was approved in 2019.

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. After thorough review, HPD will announce the selected development team for the Site. At this point, any remaining public approvals will be obtained, financing will be finalized, and the buildings 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 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 in the Submit an RFP Response section and downloadable as PDFs.

Site Design and Zoning Parameters

What is the current zoning for the Jersey Street Site? Is a rezoning being considered?

The Jersey Street Site is zoned R5 which allows for a variety of housing types including low-rise multifamily housing, as well as a variety of community facility uses. The C2-2 commercial overlay is meant to facilitate commercial development that serves local retail needs in the city’s lower density areas. The Site is also located in the Special Hillsides Preservation District, the primary goal of which is to guide development in the steep slope and forested areas along Staten Island’s Serpentine Ridge. More information about these zoning districts can be found in DCP’s Zoning Handbook.

Through extensive environmental analysis and community engagement conducted as part of the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Plan, it was concluded that the current zoning is appropriate to facilitate affordable housing on the Site and provide commercial space and community facilities, while remaining contextual to the surrounding neighborhood. We currently do not anticipate a rezoning.

What development parameters exist on the Site as a result of the 2019 ULURP approval for the disposition of the Site to a developer?

The 2019 City Council Resolution for this site specified the following development targets based on a feasibility analysis and community engagement:

Approximately 223 affordable units across approximately three buildings.

Approximately 16,500 square feet of commercial and/or community facility space.

Income Targets: between 30% and 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) for rental housing and between 80% and 120% of AMI for homeownership housing.

What will happen to the existing DSNY facility on the Site? How will any contamination be handled?

The existing DSNY facility will be demolished by the selected development team. The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bay Street Corridor Rezoning stipulated that the environmental requirements with respect to hazardous materials found on the site would be incorporated into the land disposition agreement (LDA) between the City and the future developer; in other words, the development team will be responsible for remediating the site of any contamination found, in adherence to the standards of the NYC Office of Environmental Remediation.

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

Under the C2-2 commercial overlay, a variety of retail and service uses are permitted (Use Groups 5-9 and 14). The R5 district permits a variety of community facility uses within Use Groups 3 and 4. More information about Use Groups can be found on DCP's website. Potential retail and/or community facility uses will be discussed during the community engagement process.

Affordability

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

The RFP for the Site 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.). While part of the project will include senior housing, 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 on this Site.

Will there be homeownership opportunities as part of this development?

HPD will consider a variety of housing programs for the Site in addition to senior housing, and this includes homeownership. Sales prices for homeownership units on this site would be affordable to families with incomes between 80% and up to 120% of the New York City’s Area Median Income (AMI).

Will market rate housing be part of the development?

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 a remainder interest, 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 Staten Island Community District 1 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 in which the site is located.

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 Staten Island 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 Staten Island 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.)?

As part of the original 2019 ULURP approval described in the Site Design and Zoning Parameters section above, an analysis was conducted to anticipate and mitigate potential impacts of this prospective new development. These impacts are described in depth in the Bay Street Corridor Rezoning Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).