City to Begin $3.5 Million Renovation of “Selma’s House” at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens

Project to upgrade building and exterior areas and add ADA access

DCLA: publicaffairs@culture.nyc.gov
DDC: Ian Michaels, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov, 646-939-6514

(Corona, NY – March 6, 2025) The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) today announced a $3.5 million renovation of “Selma’s House.” The home, at 34-52 107th Street in Corona, Queens, was bequeathed by owner Selma Heraldo on her death in 2011 to the Louis Armstrong House Museum and has served as the museum’s administration building. DDC is managing the project for DCLA, which provided the funding.

“Learning the history of the Armstrong family and jazz in Queens through the Museum and its great staff is something every New Yorker should experience,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Tom Foley. “It’s an honor for DDC to enhance the Museum’s campus, which spans 107th Street in the middle of residential Corona, by adding a third fully upgraded and accessible building for education and other activities. We look forward to completing construction later next year and finally fulfilling Selma Heraldo’s vision for her long-time home.”

"While Louis Armstrong was a global icon, for the people of Corona, Queens, he and Lucille were first and foremost dedicated members of their community and beloved neighbors - and Selma's House is an extraordinary testament to the strength of these local connections," said NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. "We're proud to work with DDC and the Louis Armstrong House to invest in this much-needed renovation of Selma's House. These upgrades will help meet the critical needs of this thriving cultural campus, which is such an important hub for cultural enrichment, community engagement, and economic vibrancy for the Corona community."

"Selma Heraldo was a champion for The Louis Armstrong House Museum, sharing stories of her time living next door to music legends, mentoring young people on the block who interned with the museum, and finally, donating her home through Queens College Special Projects to further this legacy," said Louis Armstrong House Museum Executive Director Regina Bain. "We are deeply grateful to the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Design and Construction for leading the renovation of her home, making the museum a 3-building campus in service to community."

The project is designed to restore the house to better accommodate various support functions for the adjacent museum, and will replace mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems in the building while upgrading interior offices, meeting rooms, storage and kitchen space. New windows, flooring and doors will be installed. A new fire protection and security system will be added as well, along with modern lighting and communications/IT equipment.

A new ADA-compliant bathroom will be added while outdoors there will be new ADA-compliant access from the sidewalk to the first floor. The building’s exterior will also be restored where necessary. Work is expected to be completed in summer 2026 by contractor ACS Systems Associates, Inc.

The design of the project was completed by CTA Architects. The firm also designed for DDC the ongoing renovation of the Weeksville Heritage Center Hunterfly Road Houses as well as an exterior renovation of the Staten Island Supreme Court Building, which received a 2024 Honor Award from the Society of American Registered Architects (SARA).

The museum’s virtual exhibit about Ms. Heraldo shows she was born in 1923 and lived her entire life at the same address. Her mother, Adele, is the person who alerted Lucille Armstrong in 1943 that the Armstrongs’ future home next door was for sale. Louis Armstrong was known to refer to Ms. Heraldo as “Moms.”

The renovation of Selma’s House follows the opening in 2023 of the Louis Armstrong Center, a new, $26 million facility with space for exhibitions, archives, and live musical performances. Support for the Center included $10.9 million in funding from the City of New York.

About NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life. DCLA works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the City’s vitality. The Department represents and serves non-profit cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary, and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens, and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work within the City’s five boroughs. DCLA also provides donated materials for arts programs offered by the public schools and cultural and social service groups, and commissions permanent works of public art at City-funded construction projects throughout the five boroughs. For more information, visit nyc.gov/culture.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $33 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.