The One Flushing development will create new very low-income senior housing and multi-family housing that will be affordable to low- and moderate-income households
One Flushing will also include a variety of commercial retail opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs
FLUSHING (QUEENS), N.Y. – April 28, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) – The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been today announced the selection of a development team for the Flushing Municipal Lot 3 in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens. The joint venture between Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), HANAC Inc., and Monadnock Development was selected as the development team for this project through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The development team’s plan, called One Flushing, includes the creation of 208 units of housing affordable to households earning between $24,200 – $72,600 annually for an individual and $34,520 – $103,560 for a family of four. One Flushing will also feature a community facility program that will provide supportive care services to seniors, a rooftop farm, and weatherization services for low-income Queens residents.
The development of this city-owned parcel of land into affordable housing will be financed under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York: A Five-Borough, 10-Year Housing Plan. The plan aims to create and preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing. The most comprehensive affordable housing plan in the City’s history and largest municipal housing plan in the nation, its goal is to help address New York City’s affordability crisis by reaching more than half a million New Yorkers ranging from those with very low incomes to those in the middle class, all of whom face ever-rising rents.
“The One Flushing development plan is an example of a dynamic proposal that encompasses affordable housing, supportive senior housing, and services for the community as a whole,” saidHPD Commissioner Vicki Been. “I congratulate the development team on their designation and would like to thank AAFE, HANAC, and Monadnock for their commitment to creating what is sure to be a vibrant addition to the Flushing community. I look forward to seeing this development take shape and will be thrilled to welcome future residents to their new homes.”
The 43,200 square-foot development site is located at 133-45 41st Avenue, bordered by College Point Boulevard, Main Street, and the Long Island Rail Road. The City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) currently operates the site as a municipal parking lot with 156 parking spaces. The One Flushing development proposal includes a newly constructed energy efficient building with a mix of affordable housing, commercial and community resources. Over and above the parking required per zoning, the proposal more than replaces the existing DOT spaces.
“The One Flushing project is truly a transformative community development partnership for the neighborhood that will not only provide critically-needed senior, low-and-moderate-income housing, but also service amenities and resources for a multi-generational population. We will provide economic development opportunities through commercial retail opportunities for local small businesses and entrepreneurs, and of course, job creation. Furthermore, AAFE’s community development fund institution/lending arm, Renaissance Economic Development Corporation, will establish a $2 million dollar low-interest loan fund to lend to the small businesses in the project.” said Christopher Kui, Executive Director of AAFE. “We thank Mayor de Blasio and the NY City Council, Deputy Mayor Glen, Commissioner Been and our local community board for recognizing the dire community needs and economic potential of Flushing Queens in fulfilling the implementation of our City’s Five Borough, 10-Year Housing Plan.”
“HANAC is thrilled and honored to partner with Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), Monadnock Development, and the City to fulfill the de Blasio administration’s pledge in making New York and Flushing a more affordable and equitable place to live, work, and age,” said John Kaiteris, Executive Director of Hanac, Inc. “This dynamic project embodies all of the qualities to add to the vibrancy of the Downtown Flushing community while offering safe haven to benefit the physical health, comfort and overall well-being of those who reside, work and visit this new mixed-use building. With a deep history and track record in serving the people of Queens and the other four boroughs, HANAC and its team look forward to working with HPD, the Department of City Planning and the local community in serving the public’s interest through this unique and wonderful development opportunity.”
“We’re very excited to collaborate with our partners, AAFE, HANAC, and the City to develop Muni Lot 3 in the heart of Queens,” said Nick Lembo, Chairman of Monadnock. “The Flushing community is so vibrant and we are ready to get to work in creating much-needed affordable housing, supportive services for seniors and business opportunities for local entrepreneurs.”
The residential component of this development will be divided into two elements – housing dedicated to senior citizens, and housing affordable to a range of households, from very low income to moderate households. There are expected to be a combined total of 60 apartments reserved for senior citizens. The remaining 147 units will be mixed-income multi-family units. There will be an additional unit reserved for an onsite superintendent.
“I am very proud of the agreement we reached to redevelop Willets Point, which is creating affordable housing in our community. Muni Lot 3 will become a community facility with public parking, programs for seniors, housing for low-income Queens residents and affordable retail space for local businesses. This project is a prime example of responsible economic development and what business and communities can accomplish together,” said New York City Council Member Julissa Ferreras (D) – District 21, Queens.
“Affordable senior housing is a critical need for downtown Flushing, and I am encouraged to see that this proposal contains new options for our aging population. The community is keeping a close eye on this project, and I have relayed my concerns about the possible inclusion of a public community space. I look forward to continuing to work with HPD, local residents and businesses, and the Community Board to ensure everyone’s concerns are addressed,” said New York City Council Member Peter Koo (D) – District 20, Queens.
Building amenities will include a gym and community room for each building, common laundry rooms, as well as an over 15,000 square-foot second floor terrace and a green roof for all residents. The architecture is to be guided by the principles of Feng Shui. Building design will include generously sized vertical windows, with double-glazing to reduce noise from the LIRR tracks while maximizing daylight in the residential units. The development includes several sustainability measures and intends to comply with Enterprise Green Community Standards. Sustainable measures include: low-flow fixtures and Energy Star appliances in all apartments, photovoltaic solar panel cells on the roof, and individual thermostatic control of heat and air conditioning units. The architect for the project is Bernheimer Architecture PLLC.
In addition to an affordable housing component, the One Flushing development also includes significant commercial and community facilities on the first two floors. The ground floor of the development will contain a combination of large and small commercial spaces that will provide a mix of retail square footage and affordability for local businesses and entrepreneurs. In addition, the development will provide members of the Flushing community with access to a variety of spaces and services including a general multi-purpose space that could be used as a general public meeting space or an exhibition space.
One Flushing’s community spaces will be programmed by AAFE and HANAC to provide a range of services for seniors and the local community:
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- AAFECare Flushing will be an expansion of AAFE’s existing programs, providing adult day care services for the community including education, exercise opportunities, and case management with social service and entitlement services. Over the years, AAFECare grew out of AAFE’s strong commitment to expanding its tenant services program to directly address the needs of senior citizens in AAFE-managed buildings.
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- HANAC, in partnership with the Parker Jewish Institute for Healthcare and Rehabilitation, will provide a range of continuum of care services to keep seniors healthy and socially engaged while living in a high-quality community. Among other services, Parker Jewish will provide health screenings, medical referrals and specialized care services for frail elderly New Yorkers. The Parker Jewish Institute, based in New Hyde Park, NY, is a non-profit organization that offers inpatient short term rehabilitation, sub-acute care and nursing home care, as well as a comprehensive network of community health care services for adults.
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- In addition, HANAC will expand the capacity of its existing Weatherization Program to better serve the Flushing and Eastern Queens community. The program aims to reduce heating and electrical costs while increasing comfort for low-income individuals and families by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. HANAC will provide this service from their second floor community facility space, in addition to the extended senior services being offered in partnership with the Parker Jewish Institute.
During the winter of 2013/2014 HPD conducted a community visioning process with Queens Community Districts 3, 4 and 7, as well as the area’s local elected officials to help shape the development program in this RFP. During this process the community expressed a strong desire for affordable housing for families and seniors, at a variety of income levels. They also expressed a desire for community facilities, neighborhood services, and commercial uses. The development of Flushing Municipal Lot 3 compliments the goals of Housing New York by providing this growing and thriving Community District with much needed affordable housing that is transit-oriented and that furthers economic and neighborhood development through the creation of new commercial and community space.
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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD):
HPD is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and viable neighborhoods for New Yorkers through education, outreach, loan and development programs, and enforcement of housing quality standards. HPD is tasked with fulfilling Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York: A Five-Borough Ten-Year Plan to build and preserve 200,000 affordable units for New Yorkers at the very lowest incomes to those in the middle class. For more information visit www.nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us via www.facebook.com/nychpd and www.twitter.com/nychousing.
About Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE):
Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) was founded in 1974 to advocate for equal rights, and has evolved in the past four decades to become one of New York’s preeminent housing, social service, and community development organizations. With multiple offices in LES/Chinatown Manhattan, Sunset Park Brooklyn, and Flushing Queens, AAFE is committed to creating and preserving affordable housing throughout New York City. AAFE provides new opportunities for the city’s diverse immigrant communities through a wide range of multilingual counseling services, including education, financial assistance, and training to empower people, local small businesses, and revitalize neighborhoods. In all, AAFE has preserved and developed 86 buildings, creating more than 700 units of housing by leveraging $100 million in public and private financing. AAFE has also secured almost $250 million in mortgage financing for home buyers through AAFE CDF and disbursed $33 million in loans to hundreds of small businesses through Renaissance EDC.
About HANAC:
HANAC, Inc., was founded in 1972 by George T. Douris with the purpose of serving the increasing number of immigrants that were settling in the Astoria community of Western Queens. Since then, the organization has vastly diversified its target populations while greatly expanding its geographic catchment area to include all of Queens, and other New York City communities within the five boroughs. These programs consist of affordable housing development and preservation; property management; counseling services for families, youth, and victims of crime and substance abuse; senior centers and transportation; employment and education programs for both youth and adults; weatherization services; immigration legal services; information and referral, case assistance and crisis intervention. Presently, HANAC sponsors over 40 programs at 12 sites across NYC, serving over 30,000 clients annually.
About Monadnock:
Established in 1975, Monadnock has steadily grown over the years into one of the largest and most reputable multi‑family contractors and developers in the New York area. In that time Monadnock has built and developed over 14,000 units of housing, including luxury hi-rises, modular and site-built town homes, mid-rise affordable housing, dormitories, supportive housing, and senior housing. Regardless of the size of the job, Monadnock delivers a commitment to quality and a focus on practical problem solving. For more information, please visit www.moncon.com and www.monadnockdevelopment.com.
Contact:
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Juliet Morris (HPD): morrisj (at) hpd.nyc (dot) gov
