NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) recently launched a housing lottery described as “affordable” for units at 3178 Villa Avenue, a six-story residential building in Bedford Park, as reported by YIMBY. Designed by Rise Architecture and developed by Yoel Mandel under the 3178 Villa BSD LLC, the structure yields 22 residential units.

 

Available on NYC Housing Connect, HPD’s online portal, are 21 units for residents earning at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $104,640 to $161,590.

 

Units come equipped with energy-efficient appliances, split-unit heating and air conditioning, intercoms, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Amenities include an elevator and a shared laundry room. Tenants are responsible for electricity including stove, heat, and hot water.

 

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are 21 studios available at a monthly rent of $3,052, for incomes ranging from $104,640 to $161,590. Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than Nov. 21. Paper applications must also be sent and postmarked by Nov. 21.

 

 

On Sept. 27, Reside New York LLC officials said stipulations regarding “rents and income limits are subject to change and asset limits may apply.” They added that, in addition, “minimum incomes listed may not apply to applicants with Section 8 or other qualifying rental subsidies.”

 

We contacted HPD and asked if the housing lottery is advertised as affordable housing, why it is that “rents and income limits are subject to change and asset limits may apply,” and that in addition, “minimum incomes listed may not apply to applicants with Section 8 or other qualifying rental subsidies.”

 

A HPD spokesperson responded. We were advised that “income guidelines subject to change” means income limits set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are updated every year. They said in most years, these limits increase slightly and added that this would only increase the pool of eligible applicants when the newly set income limits come out in the spring, as the income minimums aren’t affected. They said any new income limits wouldn’t affect the amount of rent or tenants who have already moved in.

 

Additionally, they said that applicants with rental subsidies don’t need to meet the minimum income as long as their voucher covers the rent. They said, however, that such applicants still might not qualify for the lottery if their income exceeds the maximum limit.

 

Meanwhile, Reside New York LLC officials said on Sept. 27, “We encourage interested persons to apply online at https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/search-lotteries or by mail, send a self-addressed envelope with a stamp to: 3178 Villa, C/O Reside New York, 349 Keap Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211,” they said. “Online and paper applications are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian, Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.”

 

They added, “Please remember that the online applications must be submitted by the deadline date and that the applications received after this deadline date will not be considered. Completed paper applications must be sent to the Post Office Box address indicated on the application, postmarked by the application deadline date. Applicants may not submit more than one application per household.”

 

Applicants can obtain more information by contacting Martin Joseph via email on martin@mretax.com or by phone on (718) 387-4448. Reside New York LLC operates independently as a privately held firm, and does not work for, nor represent any city agency.

 

We asked Reside New York what their involvement was with the development and they said they were acting as “an affordable marketing agent,” and that 3178 Villa LLC was managing the property.