Development Plans Selected for new Resilient Homes in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island

January 23, 2020

Press Office: hpdmedia@hpd.nyc.govHPD announces details of plans to develop new affordable homeownership opportunities across eight New York City neighborhoods

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announces the selection of M/WBE development teams Urban Ecospaces and D Handy, to create high-quality, elevated, flood-resistant, affordable homeownership opportunities across 19 sites that lie within the FEMA 1 percent annual chance floodplain. The sites were originally occupied by Hurricane Sandy-damaged homes and many were purchased through the Build It Back Acquisition and Buyout Program. The one- to two-family homes will create housing for 37 low-income and moderate-income households while supporting neighborhood stabilization and resilience efforts in storm affected areas across Staten Island, Queens, and Brooklyn.

“As a coastal city, we must adapt and take precautions to strengthen our shorefront communities and protect our residents. These new reinforced homes will help rebuild and reinvigorate communities across the city that continue to be vulnerable to the effects of climate change, ensuring that they remain sustainable for years to come,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “I would like to congratulate Urban Ecospaces and D Handy on their thoughtful and innovative proposals. We look forward to bringing these resilient homes to life.”

“Through the Build It Back Acquisition and Buy-Out Program, the City has focused on improving resiliency and long-term affordability for our coastal communities. The announcement of development teams to provide resilient housing for 37 families across these neighborhoods provides an opportunity to demonstrate a new approach to housing recovery,” said Amy Peterson, Director, Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations.

“Preparing New York City for climate change means building resiliency into everything we do, including our housing stock,” said Jainey Bavishi, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Resiliency. “These reinforced and elevated homes will embody the principles of resilient design at a price point accessible to low- and moderate-income New Yorkers.”



The homes built as a result of this RFP will be financed through HPD’s Open Door Program, which was first introduced as part of Housing New York 2.0, the Mayor’s accelerated and expanded plan to produce 300,000 affordable homes by 2026. Open Door finances the construction of new affordable homes for first time buyers.

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