Rendering of the Powerhouse Apartments. Image Credit: HPD.
On February 16, 2024, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced that the city-owned parking lot at 351 Powers Avenue in the Bronx will be converted into “Powerhouse Apartments” and accompanied by a community theater. The apartments will be deeply affordable, and the theater will be housed in an electric powered building in Mott Haven. Lemle & Wolff Development Co., HELP Development Corp., and True Development New York, LLC will develop the properties. The project comes considering the city’s initiative to advance affordable housing projects on publicly owned land.
The Powerhouse Apartments are named after both Power Avenue and the development’s commitment to relying completely on electric power and preparation for carbon neutrality to achieve Passive House standards. To combat heat and rain the development will be using highly efficient heat pumps, light-colored materials, an airtight building envelope, angled windows, solar panels, green roofs, and plantings.
Additionally, the apartments will set aside both homes from older New Yorkers and formerly homeless as well as family apartment accommodations. The building will host 90 apartments from extremely low income to those earning up to 80 percent the median area income. There will also be community rooms, communal events spaces, a fitness room, and an outdoor green space. The ground floor will include a 4,000 square foot theater with seating for 150 people. A non-profit partner will operate the theater and offer workshops in the arts such as music, dance, and film. There will also be a workforce development space within the building which will provide for economic mobility programs such as skills workshops for construction and landscaping among others.
Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer said, “Powerhouse Apartments in Mott Haven is a great example of our commitment to creating housing that’s affordable, sustainable, and rich in amenities for residents and neighbors. Powerhouse will convert a parking lot into 90 affordable homes that meet our carbon neutrality goals while providing a theater, community space, and a workforce development center. We are excited to add this project to the ’24 in 24′ commitment, advancing 24 projects to create or preserve over 12,000 homes citywide.”
HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. said, “Today marks an electrifying start to transforming this parking lot into high-quality, sustainable, affordable housing here in the heart of the South Bronx. The driving forces behind this announcement are a testament to the future of housing in New York City – sustainable, affordable housing will not only benefit the residents of Powerhouse Apartments but helps reverse environmental injustices and moves the city closer to carbon neutrality and healthier neighborhoods for generations to come.”
Dan Garodnick, Director of the Department of City Planning said, “Building deeply affordable housing on city-owned land is exactly the kind of step we need to take to tackle our city’s housing crisis. With a 1.4% vacancy rate, it’s critical that we do all we can to urgently create the housing that New Yorkers need. From developments like the Powerhouse Apartments to zoning reforms like City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we are making real progress.”
By: Meg Beauregard (Meg is the CityLaw intern, and a New York Law School student, Class of 2024).
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development: “From Parking to ‘Powerhouse’: Fully Affordable, Fully Electric Apartments to Replace Bronx Lot in Latest 24 in 24 Development” (Feb. 16, 2024).