September 10, 2021

Habitat NYC and Westchester, Camber Property Group and Almat Urban developers will lead homeownership project and transfer ownership to Interboro Community Land Trust

Transformation of Anthony Avenue site advances key commitment of the Jerome Avenue rezoning

NEW YORK— The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) today announced plans to bring 40 new homeownership opportunities for low-income families to the Bronx. This announcement with Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County, Camber Property Group, Almat Urban and Interboro Community Land Trust (CLT) advances a key commitment of the Jerome Avenue Rezoning to transform the vacant city-owned Anthony Avenue site into permanent affordable housing.

This project represents the first time HPD selected a team proposing the CLT model for homeownership in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) to create affordable housing on vacant, City-owned land. This milestone delivers on the Administration’s commitment to advance new housing models designed to expand community and collective ownership. Transferring the project’s land to the Interboro CLT will facilitate ongoing home sales to lower-income households, ensuring that future generations of first-time home buyers benefit from the project’s long-term affordability.

“With this plan, we make a dent in the unjust circumstances that, by design, have prevented homeownership opportunities for low-income families,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “I commend Habitat for Humanity NYC, Camber Property Group, and Almat Urban for their tireless work to make homeownership opportunities open to all.”

“Thanks to this plan, forty families will get the opportunity to buy a home and live the American dream. We know that affordable homeownership is an important vehicle for building family wealth and giving communities a greater stake in their neighborhoods,” said HPD Commissioner Carroll. “Through the transformation of the Anthony Avenue site into affordable housing, we are making good on our commitments to the community in the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan. I’m thankful to Council Member Vanessa Gibson for her ongoing partnership and want to congratulate Habitat NYC, Camber Property Group, and Almat Urban for this dynamic, forward-looking proposal.”

“This plan to bring 40 low-income homeownership opportunities to the Bronx is a huge win for our city and the residents that will benefit from having affordable housing options in our borough,” said Council Member Vanessa Gibson. “The development on 1640-1642 Anthony Avenue was one of several commitments made as a result of the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan that will help combat growing housing insecurity and bring 100 percent affordable housing to the Bronx. I am extremely proud to see this project come into fruition and I want to thank the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Community Land Trust, Habitat NYC, Camber Property and Almat Urban for their work on this vital project that will give land ownership back to our community.”

The project will result in an 8-story, 100 percent affordable residential building to include a mix of 20 one-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom, and four three-bedroom apartments. Each home will be affordable to households earning up to $93,000 for a family of three and all are fitted with a balcony and installation for washer and dryer units. Communal amenities for residents include a rear yard, community room, wellness gym, and hydroponic center. Additionally, as a part of the development, homeownership education and assistance will be provided to first-time home buyers and residents whose applications have been denied.

“We are honored to partner with the City and an incredible development team in creating new homeownership opportunities for hard-working New Yorkers in the Bronx,” said Karen Haycox, CEO, Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County. “Claremont House exemplifies the power of permanently affordable homeownership to transform lives and communities by enabling New York City families to build equity and by ensuring low- and moderate-income New Yorkers have access to owning a piece of their neighborhood for generations to come.”

“Affordable homeownership not only provides low and moderate income New Yorkers with quality homes, but also the opportunity to build wealth and equity in their neighborhoods,” said Rick Gropper, Principal of Camber Property Group. “Our project will create 40 low- and middle-income apartments for sale in the west Bronx, fulfilling a key promise of the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan. We look forward to working with our partners at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Interboro Community Land Trust, Habitat NYC and Almat Urban to deliver on that promise.”

“Almat Urban looks forward to developing Claremont House with our partners, Camber, Habitat for Humanity, SoBro and our architect Robert AM Stern’s office,” said Almat Urban Principal Donald Matheson. “We strive to continue developing the gold standard of affordable housing in the Bronx and New York City as a whole.”

"Interboro is proud and excited to partner with Camber, Almat Urban, and Habitat NYC and Westchester – one of our founding organizations and partners – in the creation of 40 affordable homeownership units in the borough with the most dire need for such opportunities,” said John Edward Dallas, Coordinator of the Interboro Community Land Trust. “By placing these new homes on the Interboro CLT, the development team is contributing to growing the citywide stock of permanently affordable homeownership units for current and future lower-income New Yorkers, ensuring the investment collectively made to build Claremont House is an investment in equity-building opportunities for generations of working-class families.”

Located on 1640-1642 Anthony Avenue across from Claremont Park, the City-owned vacant site’s transformation into affordable housing advances a key commitment of the Jerome Avenue rezoning. The rezoning is bringing more than $189 million in capital projects and services to the Bronx neighborhood in new and improved parks and playgrounds, pedestrian safety improvements near the Cross Bronx Expressway, business assistance and new schools. Covering a 2-mile stretch of Jerome Avenue, roughly from 167th Street to 184th Street, the rezoning promotes housing, including permanently affordable housing.

The City is continuing to make significant investments in affordable housing in the area, preserving 750 homes since the plan was adopted on top of 5,500 units that were preserved during the planning process, and advancing new affordable developments on City-owned sites.

The project is being financed through HPD’s Open Door program, which funds the new construction of affordable cooperative and condominium buildings, as well as, new one to three-family homes. The architect, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, designed the building to connect to the Bronx’s rich architectural history with most homes exceeding the HPD Design Guidelines for unit size. Additionally, the development team will partner with community organizations on a jobs outreach plan to employ local residents on the construction site.

A complete rundown of the Jerome-Anthony RFP, including the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan, can be found on the Jerome-Anthony RFP webpage.

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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. HPD is tasked advancing the goals of the City's housing plan – a critical pillar of Your Home NYC, Mayor de Blasio's comprehensive approach to helping New Yorkers get, afford, and keep housing in these challenging times. 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.