Violations & compliance · Permits & development · Deals & development · 10/20/2026
HPD seeks deed changes for 222-unit affordable building at 1678 Park Ave
HPD wants to amend the 2001 deed and land disposition agreement for 1678 Park Avenue in East Harlem. The old urban renewal plan barred housing within 100 feet of Park Avenue and limited the site to parking. A 2017 plan amendment allows residential use, and the new terms would require a 100% affordable building with 222 units.
CPublished by The City RecordRead the original ↗
What happened
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will hold a public hearing on November 18, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at The Harlem Library, 224 East 125th Street, Manhattan. The hearing concerns proposed changes to the deed and land disposition agreement (LDA) for 1678 Park Avenue in East Harlem. The notice was published in The City Record on October 20, 2026.
The City conveyed the site to NYC Partnership Housing Development Fund Company, Inc. on December 13, 2001. The deed and LDA require compliance with the original Milbank Frawley Circle-East Urban Renewal Plan. The City Planning Commission approved that plan on August 19, 1992 and the City Council approved it on October 8, 1992. The plan bars residential development within 100 feet of Park Avenue and limits the sites to parking. On November 30, 2017, the City Council amended the plan (Reso. No. 1743) to allow residential use within 100 feet of Park Avenue.
The sponsor now plans one 100% affordable residential building financed by NYCHA, with 222 total units and 80 parking spaces. HPD intends to amend the deed and LDA to remove the parking-only restriction and require compliance with the 2017 amendment, which is in effect until December 14, 2057. HPD would also add new restrictions requiring that the site be developed as a 100% affordable project. HPD is acting under Section 1802(6)(j) of the City Charter.
A public file with the calendar document and other public documents will be available at the office of Manhattan Community Board 11 no later than 20 days before the hearing. People who need an accommodation, such as sign language interpretation, can contact the Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) at [email protected] or (212) 298-0734. Requests should be made at least three business days before the hearing.
Key facts
- Address
- 1678 Park Avenue, Manhattan (Block 1745, Lot 134)
- Hearing
- November 18, 2026, 11:00 a.m., The Harlem Library, 224 East 125th Street
- Agency
- HPD
- Units
- 222 total units, 100% affordable, plus 80 parking spaces
- Financing
- Financed by NYCHA, per the notice
- Current owner of record
- NYC Partnership Housing Development Fund Company, Inc. (conveyed December 13, 2001)
- Plan in effect until
- December 14, 2057 (2017 Second Amendment)
- Accommodation deadline
- Contact MOCS at least 3 business days before the hearing
What it means
Tenants and voucher holders
This is an early step toward 222 affordable apartments in East Harlem, but no rents, income limits or application dates have been announced. There is nothing to apply for yet.
Caseworkers
Clients interested in East Harlem housing may want to watch this site for a future lottery. Anyone who wants to speak at the hearing and needs an accommodation should contact MOCS at least three business days ahead.
Landlords
Nearby owners and residents can review the public file at Community Board 11 and speak at the November 18 hearing about converting this parking site to housing.
The highlights
- Hearing set for Nov. 18, 2026, 11 a.m., at Harlem Library, 224 East 125th Street.
- Changes would lift a parking-only limit and require a 100% affordable project.
- NYCHA is financing the building, which would include 80 parking spaces.
Why it matters
A parking site in East Harlem could become 222 affordable units, adding to the city's supply of income-restricted housing.
What to do: Attend the Nov. 18 hearing or review the public file at Community Board 11.
Not known yet
- Rent levels and income limits for the 222 units
- Whether any units will be set aside for formerly homeless households or voucher holders
- When construction would start and when a lottery might open
- Whether written comments will be accepted in place of speaking at the hearing
Background
In New York City, when HPD wants to sell City-owned land or change the terms of land it sold in the past, the City Charter generally requires a public hearing before the change can move forward. Old urban renewal plans and land disposition agreements often restrict how a site can be used, so a change in plans can require amending the deed as well. Affordable rentals in HPD-supported projects are usually marketed through NYC Housing Connect lotteries once a building nears completion, with rents and income limits set as a share of the Area Median Income.
Summary written by Bulwark from the The City Record’s announcement. The original story is at a856-cityrecord.nyc.gov. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0