The Eliza. Image Credit: HPD.
On June 26, 2024, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development celebrated the grand opening of The Eliza, a new affordable building and public library, with a ribbon cutting. The Eliza, located at 4790 Broadway in Inwood, is named after Eliza Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton.
The Eliza has 174 apartments, which are all affordable. The apartment building has studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units for residents with rents set to 30 to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). The amenities include energy-efficient appliances in the units, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, a recreation room, a gym, rooftop gardens, remote working spaces, an all-weather lounge a terrace with views of the Hudson River, and an on-site resident manager. The Eliza received over 80,000 applications from prospective tenants, highlighting the ongoing need for affordable rental options for New Yorkers.
The new Inwood Library is 20,000-square-foot library and is located within the first two floors of the Eliza building. The library includes dedicated spaces for adults, children, and teens (including a new Teen Center), quiet study spaces, flexible programming rooms for workshops and classes, and new books for all ages.
The housing component of this building furthers the efforts of the Inwood Rezoning Plan, which aims to build 1,600 new affordable homes and preserve 2,500 units in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said, “80,000 New Yorkers applied for the Eliza’s 174 affordable apartments, showing how deep our need for affordable housing is and how important developments like the Eliza will be to ending the city’s housing crisis.”
Council Member Carmen De La Rosa said, “The Eliza is emblematic of the power of community-building, bringing the voice of the people into a physical manifestation that addresses some of the deepest needs Uptown. The Eliza brings 174 units of 100% affordable housing, updated library facilities for the Inwood Branch, and additional amenities for the community to enjoy.”
NYS Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos said, “The Eliza is a collaboration that shows the kinds of creative and effective solutions that are possible to address the needs of the community. Residents occupying 174 units will have affordable housing and they will have access to resources with the help of an NYC Public Library, a universal Pre-K facility, and a community learning space. This kind of holistic approach will allow Inwood residents to thrive, whether through education, wellness, or professional development, and simply by living in a cost-effective home.”
By: Chelsea Ramjeawan (Chelsea is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2025.)