NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Devleopment has launched an affordable housing lottery for units at Bedford Green House II, a 17-story, mixed-use affordable housing building at 2880 Jerome Avenue in the Bedford Park section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY.

 

As reported, construction began in January 2023. Designed by ESKW/Architects, the structure yields 116 residential units as well as a 2,200-square-foot medical clinic, a gym, and The Molly B. Kronick Library and Learning Center for residents.

 

HPD officials say housing is considered affordable if it costs about one-third or less of what the people living in the local area earn. Income eligibility and rent for City-financed affordable housing projects are based on a measure called Area Median Income (AMI).

 

The AMI for all cities across the country is defined each year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The 2023 AMI for the New York City region is $127,100 for a three-person family (100% AMI). We’ve asked HUD if it could provide the AMI for a single person. We did not receive an immediate response.

 

Available on NYC Housing Connect are 46 units for residents at 30 to 60 percent of the AMI, ranging in eligible income from $0 to $100,620.

 

Amenities include pet-friendly policies, a shared laundry room, common area Wi-Fi, gym, recreation room, children’s playroom, doorman, outdoor terrace, storage, package room, and community center with events and classes. Units come equipped with energy-efficient appliances, hardwood floors, air conditioning, intercoms, and name-brand kitchen countertops and finishes.

 

All studio and one-bedroom units are set aside for senior households. Senior households must have at least one household member who is 62 years of age or older at the time of the application who meets the income and household size requirements.

 

At 30 percent of the AMI, there are 13 studios available with a monthly rent of $454 for those with incomes ranging from $18,480 to $37,290, and three one-bedroom units with a monthly rent of $577 for residents with incomes ranging from $23,109 to $41,940.

 

At 40 percent of the AMI, there are 13 studios available with a monthly rent of $654 for those on incomes ranging from $25,338 to $49,720, and four one-bedroom units with a monthly rent of $827 for residents with incomes ranging from $31,680 to $55,920.

 

We’ve asked HPD to clarify why some rents are at $0, even when there is a related required income range and will share any updates we receive.

HPD officials say prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments, and applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than Dec. 30.

 

As reported, Mayor Eric Adams, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State. Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), Adolfo Carrión Jr., NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) commissioner, Eric Rosenbaum, CEO and president of Project Renewal, and Bedford Green House resident, Alexis Reid, joined other government officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of Phase I of the Bedford Green supportive housing complex, located at 2865 Creston Avenue in Bedford Park on Thursday, July 14, 2022.

 

News of the construction came on the back of the mayor’s announcement in December 2022 of the City’s latest approach to addressing the homelessness crisis, as well as a related mental health component to the crisis, amid mixed reaction. The City’s approach requires substantial input by the NYPD, as the first point of contact for homeless people who may or may not have mental health issues, which critics say is not necessarily the best approach. Nearly 1,500 people are recorded as being homeless every month in The Bronx, according to City data.

 

In December 2023, we reported how reported how a man was shot dead by police on the 13th floor of 2865 Creston Avenue (Phase I of Bedford Green) amid a family stabbng incident during which two other female family members including the victim’s mother were in danger. Police later released bodycam footage of the incident and the victim’s mother later shared her thoughts to how the incident was handled.

Similar housing lotteries, also described as affordable, have recently been launched by HPD, as reported. Click here, here, here and here for details.

 

Read some of our recent stories on housing affordability and availability in The Bronx here and here.