June 26, 2024

The Eliza is set to become an essential community hub, providing education, safe spaces for learning, and deeply affordable housing for the Inwood community

   Project features a new and improved Inwood Library, along with important community amenities, including Universal Pre-K and ACTS Center

NEW YORK – This morning, the Inwood community celebrated the grand opening of The Eliza, the neighborhood’s new 100% affordable housing building anchored by community amenities including the new Inwood Library– Joseph and Sheila Rosenblatt Building, a Universal Pre-K, and the Activities, Culture, and Training (ACTS) Center. Various New York City agencies—including the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Housing Development Corporation (HDC), The New York Public Library (NYPL), and the development team; a joint venture of the Community League of the Heights (CLOTH), The Children’s Village (CV), the lead developer Ranger Properties, Housing Workshop, and Alembic Community Development alongside City elected officials, Robin Hood Foundation, and other stakeholders came together to cut the ribbon on 174 new deeply affordable homes at The Eliza and the revitalized state-of-the-art public library.         

The event marked a significant milestone for the Inwood Rezoning Plan, which aims to build 1,600 new affordable homes and preserve and protect 2,500 units in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan. Amidst a severe housing crisis marked by historically limited rental options, the demand for The Eliza alone, with over 80,000 applications from New Yorkers, underscores the urgent need for more affordable housing solutions. The Eliza illustrates what can be achieved when the city, private philanthropy, and community partners work together to address the pressing need for affordable housing and vital community resources for all residents. The project also advances the administration’s  Housing Our Neighbors goals to ensure that New Yorkers have access to safe, high-quality, and affordable homes they deserve.

“We came into office with a mission to protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make this city more livable for working-class New Yorkers. With 174 units of affordable housing, a brand-new library, a Universal Pre-K, and STEM learning center on site, projects like The Eliza are key to achieving that mission,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “With over 80,000 housing lottery applications from New Yorkers, The Eliza makes clear that the path out of our housing crisis is to build more housing. That’s why we’ve set a moonshot goal of building 500,000 new homes by 2032, advanced new housing on city-owned land in all five boroughs, wasted no time implementing new state laws to create more housing, and are pushing full steam ahead to get ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ approved by the City Council this fall. We’re grateful to all the partners who worked on bringing The Eliza to life, and look forward to welcoming their new residents, Pre-K students, and library patrons.”

“The opening of The Eliza is an important step towards building a more affordable, inclusive and livable city for New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “The Eliza provides much needed affordable housing and social infrastructure through a state-of-the-art public library that will offer families access critical services, create opportunities for children to read and play, and build community. I want to thank all the partners that brought The Eliza to Inwood —projects like this are how we build not just more affordable housing, but homes for New Yorkers to thrive.”

“The Eliza is a great example of what the future looks like when we work together to creatively confront the city’s housing challenges”, said NYC Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development, Adolfo Carrion Jr. “We are changing the lives of more than 170 families, delivering a new state-of-the-art library and investing in the future of Inwood, by bringing housing, education, technology, and culture under one roof. That’s what we call the city of yes!”

“The Eliza delivers over 170 deeply affordable homes to the Inwood neighborhood, coupled with a new library and an array of educational resources that will make the site a critical center for learning and gathering for years to come,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Thanks to the many partners and community stakeholders involved, whose hard work and dedication have made this innovative project such a success.”  

“This innovative, public private partnership demonstrates the power of city government, philanthropy, and community partners working together. The end result is not just a state-of-the-art library for Inwood, but also desperately needed affordable housing and community space. The Library is proud to have been a part of this project, and grateful to our partners in city government, the Robin Hood Foundation, the Rosenblatt Family and the development team. This is a win for all New Yorkers,” said Anthony W. Marx, president of The New York Public Library.  

"Today, we celebrate a significant milestone with the opening of The Eliza. This project, which combines a new branch of The New York Public Library with 100% affordable housing, embodies our commitment to enhancing community resources and preserving the character of Inwood. As the former City Councilmember for this district and now Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, I am proud to see the transformative impact of our efforts. Together, we are making Inwood a vibrant, safe, and welcoming community for all,” said Ydanis Rodriguez, NYC DOT Commissioner and former Council Member.

The innovative concept gained traction following an initial grant from Robin Hood made possible by a gift from Sam Rosenblatt, Sarah Goos, and Jill Gordon, honoring their late parents, Joseph and Sheila Rosenblatt. That initial donation was supported by a match from the City, propelling major commitments from a development team comprised of local not-for-profits and private entities, and with commitments for financing for The Eliza from HPD and HDC.

Located at 4790 Broadway, the site of the former stand-alone Inwood Library, this project includes a fully redeveloped public library, operated by NYPL, an extensive community learning, STEM and Teaching Kitchen center operated by CLOTH and The Children's Village, and a universal Pre-Kindergarten facility operated by the New York City Department of Education (DOE).

The housing portion of this development will feature studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for residents with rents set to 30 to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) as provided by HPD’s Extremely Low and Low Affordability (ELLA) program.

Amenities include bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, a recreation room, a gym, rooftop gardens, remote working spaces, an all-weather lounge a terrace with views of the Hudson River, and an on-site resident manager. Units come with energy-efficient appliances.

The redevelopment of the former Inwood Library is the second project of its kind to include affordable housing with a library on-site, following the opening of a similar project in Sunset Park, Brooklyn in 2023. The transformation of Inwood’s decades-old library into a contemporary and welcoming space will be better able to support the community. The new branch features dedicated spaces for adults, children, and teens (including a new Teen Center), as well as quiet study spaces, flexible programming rooms for workshops and classes, and a brand-new collection of books for all ages. The branch now embodies a full range of access to knowledge and resources that the library has historically provided to the neighborhood, and also signifies its commitment to education and community enrichment in Inwood. Libraries serve as vital hubs for learning, offering educational programs, promoting child advancement, literacy initiatives, and resources for residents of all ages. The new Inwood Library – Joseph and Sheila Rosenblatt Building will continue to play a crucial role in fostering a culture of lifelong learning and empowerment within the community.

Fogarty Finger is the architect for The Eliza Apartments and Inwood Library, designed in collaboration with Andrew Berman Architect who designed the Inwood Library interiors. The 20,000-square-foot library anchors the first two floors of the building, and now features an open and flexible floor plan that allows for generous spaces capable of accommodating the growing and evolving needs of the community. Berman has extensive experience in library and community facility design.

The ACT Center brings a state-of-the-art STEM Robotics learning center, a teaching kitchen, a performance space, a sensory room, and classrooms all designed to meet the evolving needs of youth and families.

The name of the residential portion of the building pays homage to Eliza Hamilton, a long-time resident of northern Manhattan, who, after the death of her husband, Alexander Hamilton, devoted her life to the welfare of the community, including bequeathing funds for the predecessor of the Inwood Library. Eliza Hamilton’s focus on literacy for all, her commitment to the well-being of Washington Heights and Inwood, and her example of engaged and productive senior years are standards that guide the design and implementation of this project.

The project's financing sources include a tax-exempt bond financing issued by HDC, equity raised through the sale of 4% LIHTCs generated by the project, HDC corporate reserves, HPD ELLA subsidy, Reso A funds from the Borough President and City Council, and HDC HIF funds. TD Bank provided a Letter of Credit facility and serves as the construction lender. The Inwood Library – Joseph and Sheila Rosenblatt Building was generously supported by Robin Hood through a gift from the Rosenblatt family, the Mayor, Borough President, City Council, State Education grant funds, and other finance sources.

“After working for so long to make the Eliza, its affordable housing, and its community resources a reality, I’m thrilled to officially welcome the Eliza to Inwood. Neighbors of all ages and backgrounds will benefit from this community hub,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “80,000 New Yorkers applied for the Eliza’s 174 affordable apartments, showing how deep our need for affordable housing is and how important developments like the Eliza will be to ending the city’s housing crisis.”

“The Eliza is emblematic of the power of community-building, bringing the voice of the people into a physical manifestation that addresses some of the deepest needs Uptown. The Eliza brings 174 units of 100% affordable housing, updated library facilities for the Inwood Branch, and additional amenities for the community to enjoy,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “We are proud to have this gem on Broadway, serving our Uptown residents and reminding us that projects like these are possible across the city so long as we encourage strong community input and continue funding truly affordable housing options and libraries for all to enjoy.”

“The Eliza is a collaboration that shows the kinds of creative and effective solutions that are possible to address the needs of the community. Residents occupying 174 units will have affordable housing and they will have access to resources with the help of an NYC Public Library, a universal Pre-K facility, and a community learning space. This kind of holistic approach will allow Inwood residents to thrive, whether through education, wellness, or professional development, and simply by living in a cost-effective home. This could not have been done without the community partners who dedicated their time and resources to this project,” said NYS Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos.

“The Eliza project embodies a transformative approach, turning challenges into opportunities for education, affordable living, health, and career growth. It ensures that families do more than reside—they thrive together, fortified by a collective vision. At a time when affordable housing is crucial, this initiative marks a significant step forward for our community,” said Senator Robert Jackson.

“Today’s ribbon cutting of The Eliza brings much needed affordable housing to the Inwood community as well as other amenities including a state-of-the-art library that will have a tremendous positive impact for generations to come,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “Thanks to our partnership with the community and city agency partners, the Inwood Rezoning Plan is continuing to deliver on its promise of 1,600 new affordable homes while preserving and protecting 2,500 affordable homes in Inwood.”

“We are grateful to design a building that combines the library, Pre-K and STEM centers and spaces for the Inwood community that are safe, open, multi-functional and beautiful, affirming the need for these critical spaces, now and in the future. Collaborating with the community, NYPL, city agencies, non-profits and working alongside Andrew Berman Architect is among our firm’s proudest achievements,” said Chris Fogarty, co-founder and partner, Fogarty Finger.

“Where you live and where your children go to school is the most dependable predictor of second-generation success in the United States,” said Jeremy Kohomban, President and CEO of The Children’s Village. “We are thrilled to be part of this collaboration that brings the concept of ‘live, work, learn and play’ -- often associated with luxury housing -- to this beautiful racially integrated neighborhood of Inwood and to the affordable housing space.”

“The Eliza is the embodiment of CLOTH’s holistic approach to community development,” said Yvonne Stennett, Executive Director of CLOTH (Community League of the Heights). “The project brings together key components that are the foundation for building a strong community: affordable housing, educational opportunities, health and wellness programming, and workforce development all under one roof.  Residents will have a home that is beautifully designed with access to the services they need.

“We are proud that Ranger Properties and our charitable partners were selected for this marquee project” said Sheldon Stein, President and CEO of Ranger Properties.  “From day one, our vision for The Eliza was steadfast; bring the best combination of high-quality, beautiful, affordable living, the most modern library we could design and the amenities we would want for our own children.  This is the model for the future.”

“The development team took great care to shape a project aligned with the community’s needs. Deeply affordable housing and a robust mix of complimentary services will benefit the Eliza residents and the broader Inwood community,” said Ellen Seidman, of Housing Workshop, an M/WBE co-developer of the project.

“We are honored to be part of this extraordinary project,” said Benjamin Warnke, Principal of Alembic Community Development.  “Combining deeply affordable apartments, a state-of-the-art library, robust community-based programming, construction excellence, and exceptional design, the Eliza is a model for community development projects across the City.”

"The project is a powerful proof of concept. This is philanthropy at its best, filling in the gaps, and providing the connective tissue to meet extraordinary needs. Through our experience with New Stories we created a playbook, from funding to permitting and beyond, for pursuing more public-private partnerships just like this one to address our city's ongoing need to provide stable housing for all New Yorkers. Our success in making today possible should signal to everyone that this is a project worth replicating across all five boroughs. Robin Hood is honored to have been a part of this project and immensely grateful to the Rosenblatt family for making all of this possible," said Emary Aronson, Chief Knowledge Officer, and Senior Advisor to the CEO at Robin Hood.      

“The new development housing a modernized Inwood Library and the Eliza Apartments is a living tribute to all that my late parents loved about New York – opportunity, education, and community. When Robin Hood introduced us to this project, my sisters and I were proud to make a gift in our parents’ honor that had the added benefit of unlocking $90 million in public funds to replace an old, worn library branch on underutilized city-owned land,” said Samuel Rosenblatt, son of Joseph and Sheila Rosenblatt. “It was our father’s dream to enable every eager student in New York City to have a unique and quiet space to do their homework and prepare properly for school. Our mother was deeply committed to finding affordable housing for all New Yorkers and helping them out of the shelter system. It was truly a perfect fit for both of them when Robin Hood told us about this project. It is our hope that this project can be replicated many times over. We have all, from the very beginning, lovingly nicknamed this project ‘New Stories.’ Today, the site boasts a modern, state-of-the-art library, 174 deeply affordable housing units, and program space that will allow generations of residents, library patrons, and students to write the next chapter in their bright and hopeful new stories.”

“The design of the Inwood Library comes from my own love of libraries, a respect bordering on awe for the NYPL and its ability to continue to provide and extend its mission, and a love for our city and its neighborhoods. This project was truly collaborative, Fogarty Finger Architects and the NYPL being wonderful partners among many. Like the city itself, here the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” said Andrew Berman, Architect.         

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About Housing Preservation and Development

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) 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 Children’s Village

The Children’s Village (CV) is committed to the wellbeing of children, teens, and families by advocating for, strengthening, and reuniting families; building community partnerships; creating innovative programs; and connecting people to resources that focus on equity, basic needs, and human rights. Learn more at http://www.childrensvillage.org. 

About Robin Hood

Robin Hood is New York’s largest local poverty-fighting philanthropy. Last year, Robin Hood celebrated its 35th year of funding, supporting, and connecting New York’s most impactful community organizations at the forefront of the battle against poverty. We are NYC’s largest local poverty-fighting philanthropy and since 1988, we have invested nearly $3 billion to elevate and fuel New Yorkers’ permanent escapes from poverty. In 2023, through grantmaking with 250+ community partners, we created pathways to opportunities out of poverty through our strategic partnerships on child care, child poverty, jobs, living wages, and more. We are scaling impact at a population level for the nearly 2 million New Yorkers living in poverty. At Robin Hood, we believe your starting point in life should not define where you end up. To learn more about our work and impact, follow us on X  @RobinHoodNYC or go to robinhood.org.

About The New York Public Library

For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives millions of visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.