March 21, 2023

HPD kicks off the process to create affordable housing and neighborhood amenities on Jersey Street with a community visioning process, starting with a workshop on April 4, 2023

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is kicking off plans to build new affordable housing and neighborhood amenities on the North Shore of Staten Island at a publicly owned site. The 115,000 square-foot site at 539 Jersey Street, currently used as a garage by the City’s sanitation department, will be transformed into affordable housing along with new amenities designed for the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.

The process for redeveloping the site into affordable housing is starting with a community visioning process, seeking input from the public through in-person and virtual workshops, community board meetings, an online questionnaire, and an interactive public comments map. The first of which will be a workshop at the JCC Gerard Carter Center on Tuesday, April 4, from 6pm to 8pm.

“All of New York City needs more affordable housing – and this public site in Staten Island offers a perfect opportunity to provide safe, quality homes to the North Shore community,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “We develop stronger projects when we work in partnership with the community, so I encourage New Yorkers to get involved in the community visioning process, so we can deliver the best outcome for the Jersey Street Site.”

Surrounded by small multifamily buildings, one-family homes, religious institutions, and local businesses, the site currently operates as a Department of Sanitation (DSNY) garage. A new DSNY garage will open by the end of next year to continue providing the vital cleaning, collection, and snow removal services to surrounding residents. It is currently under construction by the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC).

HPD’s engagement in this neighborhood, for the creation of new affordable housing, began in 2019 when the agency conducted preliminary outreach on the Jersey Street Site as part of the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Plan, led by the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) and approved in 2019. The 2019 Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval included approval of development of affordable housing and amenities on the Jersey Street Site.

“Building affordable housing on this Jersey Street site was one of the key commitments of the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Plan. Today’s announcement serves as another example of promises kept and another step towards a more equitable North Shore, Staten Island, and city for all,” said Edith Hsu-Chen, Executive Director of the Department of City Planning.

"As Council Member of the 49th District, I am excited for the Jersey Street RFP and urge the community to get involved in the process of bringing affordable housing to our district. Let's work together to create an accessible and affordable community for all,” said Council Member Kamillah M. Hanks.

The community visioning phase will culminate with the release of a Community Visioning Report, which will encompass local priorities for the site. HPD will then issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Jersey Street Site, asking affordable housing developers to respond to a set of goals and guidelines that reflect community priorities in the report. To learn more about the Jersey Street RFP and sign up for updates, please visit nyc.gov/jersey-street-rfp.

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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city's housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods - because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love. We maintain building and resident safety and health, create opportunities for New Yorkers through housing affordability, and engage New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity. HPD is entrusted with fulfilling these objectives through the goals and strategies of Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness, Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing framework. To learn more about what we do, visit nyc.gov/hpd and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.