New York City’s affordable housing policy has created attractive low-cost housing, but the price of success has been high.
In November, an affordable-housing development designed by renowned British architect David Adjaye opened in Manhattan's Sugar Hill neighborhood. The building's unique, cantilevered design, along with its ground-floor school and children's museum was hailed for its beautiful, unique design.
The problem: The nonprofit that built the Sugar Hill Development has asked the City Council to cover $4 million in construction cost overruns on the now $70 million residential portion of the building, bringing the per-unit price to more than $550,000, according to Crain’s New York Business.
The 124-unit structure is one of several financed under the Bloomberg administration that have gone well beyond the average cost for affordable housing in the city, which industry experts say has rarely exceeded $400,000 per unit, Crain’s says.
Though recent affordable housing projects, which have included neighborhood amenities, have been well received, the cost of these projects has reportedly become an increasingly contentious issue.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Jun 2, 2021
San Antonio senior living community benefits from HUD 221(d)(4) funding
Cadence McShane Construction Company has completed the construction of Brookwood Senior Apartments, San Antonio, Texas, for repeat client Mission DG.
Multifamily Housing | May 25, 2021
A new condo tower in Brooklyn lets residents swim in the clouds
Brooklyn Point features an infinity pool that’s nearly 700 feet above the street.
Digital Twin | May 24, 2021
Digital twin’s value propositions for the built environment, explained
Ernst & Young’s white paper makes its cases for the technology’s myriad benefits.
Mixed-Use | May 19, 2021
Salt Lake City mixed-use residential community will feature micro units
KTGY is designing the project.
Multifamily Housing | May 18, 2021
Multifamily housing sector sees near record proposal activity in early 2021
The multifamily sector led all housing submarkets, and was third among all 58 submarkets tracked by PSMJ in the first quarter of 2021.
Multifamily Housing | May 13, 2021
Florida’s first LGBTQ+-focused affordable housing project for seniors opens
The project is located on The Pride Center’s five-acre Equality Park campus in Wilton Manors.
Multifamily Housing | May 12, 2021
Affordable mixed-use housing complex completes in South Los Angeles
KFA designed the project.
Mixed-Use | May 7, 2021
Mixed-use development tops out in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood
The project will bring 160 affordable housing units to the area.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 22, 2021
The Weekly Show, Apr 22, 2021: COVID-19's impact on multifamily amenities
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C's Robert Cassidy speaks with three multifamily design experts about the impact of COVID-19 on apartment and condo amenities, based on the 2021 Multifamily Amenities Survey.
