East Harlem Housing Proposal on City-Owned Lot Expands to 762 Units
By Emily Davis August 24, 2026 2:17 pm
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An affordable and supportive housing complex slated for a city-owned site in Manhattan’s East Harlem neighborhood just got 62 units larger.
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) submitted plans on Friday to rezone the city block surrounding 22 East 119th Street. The requested amendments will facilitate a housing project spanning three buildings with a total of 762 units. PincusCo first reported on the filing.
The site is currently occupied by a six-story, 174-unit single room occupancy building where Volunteers of America–Greater New York hosts supportive housing for formerly homeless, single adults, many of whom are veterans.
In accordance with a city policy that avoids “spot zoning” individual tax lots, the rezoning proposal would impact the entire East Harlem block, bounded by East 118th and East 119th streets, between Madison and Fifth avenues.
In addition to the site’s designation as an urban renewal area and the disposition of city-owned property, HPD’s requested amendments would label the block as a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing area, ensuring affordable housing will be a part of any future redevelopments of the block’s privately owned buildings.
A prior iteration of the project, sponsored by nonprofit Volunteers of America–Greater New York, planned 700 units across two buildings. Those included a 23-story supportive housing tower and a 25-story affordable housing tower. Plans also incorporated community space and commercial facilities for the nonprofit, with funding sought through HPD and the New York City Housing Development Corporation.
Land use documents accompanying the newest proposal at 22 East 119th Street are not currently available. The change in site plans, and how surrounding buildings or project timelines will be impacted, is unclear. Spokespeople for HPD and Volunteers of America–Greater New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new filing.
The 762-unit project is a short walk from 101 East 118th Street, another city-owned site where a transformative housing project is already underway. The upcoming development, Timbale Terrace, will rise 20 stories with 341 units of affordable housing. The $225 million project is being developed by nonprofit Lantern Organization in coordination with HPD.
Emily Davis can be reached at edavis@commercialobserver.com.
