The development of public sites is a multi-year process (6 -10 years), and we are only at the very early stages, starting with community engagement.

HPD compiled feedback and presented the summary findings to the public at a Community Board 1 meeting and published a community visioning report that details the summary feedback. HPD subsequently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in December 2020 and included a final version of the report as an attachment to the RFP.

After allowing time for development teams to respond and then for the City to review the proposals, we anticipate announcing a selected development team in 2021. The project will have to go through environmental review and City Council approvals before being funded for construction. This can last two to three years after we issue the RFP and takes place before beginning construction. We anticipate construction will take an additional two to three years due to the size and complexity of building on the waterfront.

A Request for Proposals is a document issued HPD that seeks proposals for new housing and community amenities. 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 that will be attached to the RFP document.

The New Stapleton Waterfront is made up of multiple properties along the harbor. Parts of this land have already been developed, including the existing portion of the Stapleton Waterfront Park. The remaining portions of the New Stapleton Waterfront will be developed in different stages through ongoing projects managed by EDC. For more information please visit the New Stapleton Waterfront webpage or contact Wil Fisher at EDC at wfisher@edc.nyc.

The land next to the HPD site will be saved for the building of a school at a future stage.

In response to previous community feedback, HPD has made changes to its RFP process. New and updated guidelines have been implemented to ensure that projects are comprehensively addressing neighborhood needs, including:

1. Requirements for development teams to submit a hiring outreach plan outlining recruitment strategies for the local workforce;
2. Requirements for development teams to ensure that 25% of project costs are spent on Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises ; and
3. Identify which non-residential uses should be prioritized at this site
4. New protections to ensure affordability over multiple generations.

Additionally, there is preference given to teams that can demonstrate a successful track record of investments in community and economic development, and to proposals with plans for meaningful community engagement throughout the process and longer-term affordability strategies. And for the first time, HPD will include a preference to teams that propose a Community Land Trust (CLT) model as part of their proposal.

The RFP will require a minimum of 30% of the affordable housing on the site will serve Extremely Low and Very Low Income Households (those earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income, which for 2020 corresponds to a combined income of $51,200 for a family of three). All proposals are required to have 100% of the units be affordable according to the incomes outlined in our financing programs for different types of housing (Senior, Supportive, Rental, Homeownership, etc.). Learn more about HPD affordability program and income requirements discussed during the Affordability Info Session.

No, the RFP will require proposals for housing that is 100% affordable (income-restricted, where tenants pay approximately 1/3 of their income on rent and are protected from sharp rent increases).

We are encouraging respondents to the RFP to include proposals for long-term or permanent affordability, including a preference for proposals that successfully propose Community Land Trust models. Additionally, HPD policy requires that housing financed by the agency make use of remainder interest, which is a legal tool that enables the City to retain ownership of the land at the end of an initial regulatory period, unless the developer refinances and extends affordability.

A Community Land Trust (CLT) is an ownership structure that separates ownership of buildings from ownership of land to enforce permanent affordability. The trust is typically a non-profit corporation with an elected or appointed board. CLTs retain ownership of land in perpetuity, sell the structures on it, and offer long-term ground leases.

We anticipate up to 300 new affordable homes will be created through this project.

Community facilities and retail uses, such as neighborhood stores, community centers, daycares, medical offices, and larger retailers are allowed by the existing zoning. We hope to learn more from the community about what types of community and retail spaces they would like to see on this site. These preferences for types of community facilities will be reflected in a Community Visioning Report that will be attached to the RFP.

The current zoning for the site is in context with the surrounding neighborhood and we do not anticipate rezoning the site. The site will need further City Council approval, because it is City-owned land that is being transferred to a development team.

Under the current zoning, affordable housing buildings can be as tall as 125 feet, or around 12 stories. The site’s size allows for creative designs to lessen the impact of tall buildings by breaking up the building into smaller portions. Effective design can help to make the building feel more welcoming and less imposing from the ground level through the use of setbacks and other tools.

EDC is in the process of reconstructing Front Street so the site will be directly accessible from this street. EDC will also be extending the Stapleton Waterfront Park all the way to this site. This green space will be accessible from the new building by crossing Front Street.

The amount of parking required will be determined by the uses and number of units proposed by the development team.

RFP proposals will be evaluated on their ability to:

• Thoughtfully respond to community feedback gained through this engagement process;
• Create a successful residential and non-residential program for the proposed building;
• Ensure their proposal is financially feasible;
• Present a project that demonstrates design quality & creativity, including incorporating site-Specific sustainability and resiliency criteria;
• Demonstrate the development team has the experience to execute the proposed project.

HPD is required to ensure that the RFP process prevents potential conflicts of interest (and disqualifications of teams because of potential conflicts of interest) and cannot allow community members to directly partake in the review of proposals submitted in response to the RFP.

However, we highly value the voice and ideas of community members and are conducting extensive community engagement to gather input that will inform the development of the RFP (before it is written and issued). The priorities and goals articulated through the series of online activities, and paper questionnaires will also be summarized in a public report and attached as an appendix to the RFP. Development teams whose proposals thoughtfully consider such community priorities and goals will be evaluated favorably.

In order to maintain the integrity and open competitiveness of the process, the City cannot provide explicit preference to local developers, including non-profits and Community Development Corporations; however, we encourage development teams submitting proposals for this RFP to partner with non-profits as a way to develop a project that will best address the needs of the community. Furthermore, we will evaluate development teams favorably if they demonstrate a successful track record of investments in local community and economic development.

Yes. Preference will be given to Development Teams that include M/WBE entities.

Yes. Development proposals must include a hiring plan that details methods for outreach to potential employees within a three mile radius of the development site. HPD will also support development teams in connecting Staten Island residents to good jobs in the building trades through the HireNYC program and requiring that available openings be posted with NYC Workforce Centers. Staten Island residents can find Workforce1 Centers at the NYC Business Solutions Staten Island Center (120 Stuyvesant Place, 3rd floor), the Staten Island Workforce1 Industrial & Transportation Career Center (1972 Richmond Terrace), and NYC Business Solutions Center at 900 South Avenue, Suite 400. Please note that Workfroce1 Centers physical locations are not open to the public but are providing services through an online portal.

The exact impacts will be evaluated during the environmental review stage of the predevelopment process. Should any adverse potential impacts be identified, steps will be taken to mitigate them.

In the case of Stapleton Site A, because the project will involve transfer of City-owned land to the developer, it will have to go through an approvals process and ensure that such potential impacts are addressed.

If you were unable to attend the online public meetings held during the engagement series, recordings of the meetings are available for review on the Community Engagement tab. Feedback provided during the series was presented on at a November 2020 Staten Island Community Board 1 public meeting and is also summarized in the community visioning report.

After developer selection, there is still room for feedback from the community. HPD will require the selected development team to present their project to the Community Board. Additionally, the required approvals for disposition will be referred out to the Community Board, Borough President’s Office, City Planning Commission, and Council Member for further commenting before the approval is voted on by City Council.

The results are summarized in a Community Visioning Report that is attached to the RFP issued for the site. Developers are encouraged to consult this Community Visioning Report when developing their proposals. Developers will have to describe how their proposal achieves community development objectives and considers community goals, as described in the Community Visioning Report. Development teams who are responsive to the visions articulated by the community will be evaluated favorably.

The purpose of the community engagement series and the summary community visioning report is to create space for community members to give their feedback and recommendations on how the project will best service their needs. The report formalizes and extends accountability to the development team that will ultimately be selected to develop the site because of their responsiveness to the feedback captured in the report. You can review the findings included in the report on the Community Engagement tab.

We will also publish the results of the workshop and community on the same tab. This very same report will also be provided as an attachment to the RFP so that prospective developers understand what the community wants and can craft proposals that are responsive to community goals and priorities.

HPD worked with various community partners such as the Community Board, local elected officials and other community organizations. While we strive to get a broad and representative population to participate, we understand that some people may not have been able to attend the online public meetings hosted during the engagement series. As such, the Community Feedback tab includes engagement materials presented to the community, as well as recordings of the meetings and summary findings detailed in the community visioning report. If there are any questions about the materials shared on that page, please email the project team at stapletonarfp@hpd.nyc.gov

HPD-financed homes are made available through a lottery process. Note that the building will not finish construction for several years if not more. In the meantime, you can visit NYC Housing Connect for more information about current affordable housing lotteries that are open to the public. For information and help on how to apply, contact a nearby housing ambassador such as Project Hospitality Single Stop Help Center located at 514 Bay Street (contact: 718-448-3470 and ask for Linda Murphy) or CAMBA Homebase at 209 Bay Street (contact: 718-622-7323 and ask for the HomeBase Outreach Team).

For housing resources in New York City, visit the Housing Resource Center at nyc.gov/housing.

HPD-financed homes are made available through a lottery process. Note that the building will not finish construction for several years if not more. In the meantime, you can visit NYC Housing Connect for more information about current affordable housing lotteries that are open to the public. For information and help on how to apply, contact a nearby housing ambassador such as Project Hospitality Single Stop Help Center located at 514 Bay Street (contact: 718-448-3470 and ask for Linda Murphy) or CAMBA Homebase at 209 Bay Street (contact: 718-622-7323 and ask for the HomeBase Outreach Team).