171 New 100% Affordable Homes Arrive in the South Bronx

October 28, 2024

HPD, NYCHA, and Partners Celebrate New Deeply Affordable Housing at Melrose North, Bringing 171 Homes, Stability, and Support to Vulnerable New Yorkers Amid the Housing Crisis

The Bronx, New York - In a life changing moment for hundreds of low-income New Yorkers who will soon have permanently affordable, newly constructed homes, the City opened 171 deeply affordable apartments in the South Bronx, at NYCHA's Morrisania Air Rights campus. The apartments were officially opened in a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony led by the City's housing agencies, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), along with partners Services for the Underserved (S:US), Bronx Pro Group, and elected officials, today celebrated the opening of 171 affordable homes in the South Bronx, known as "Melrose North."

This development marks a major milestone in addressing the urgent need for affordable housing, as many New Yorkers-particularly those in the South Bronx-struggle to find stable homes amid a housing crisis and a historically low vacancy rate of just 1.4%, leaving little availability for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households. In a borough where the median rent is $1,280 and more than half of households make less than $50,000 a year, more than half of residents are rent-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on housing. Homelessness has also hit the South Bronx disproportionately hard, with many single adults and families either displaced or at risk. Developments like Melrose North are crucial in addressing these challenges, providing 171 affordable homes, including 103 supportive housing units for formerly homeless individuals and families. By offering safe, stable housing, Melrose North is helping to ease the housing burden and reduce the growing displacement risk in this community.

"Developments like Melrose North are key to tackling New York City's housing crisis and demonstrate why we must continue saying YES to deeply affordable housing in every neighborhood. With 171 affordable homes, this project addresses a critical need in the South Bronx, where too many long-time residents are at risk of displacement. Melrose North sets a high standard model we need to see across the city. Thank you to our creative mix of partners for making this possible," said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr.

"Melrose North effectively addresses the housing needs of vulnerable New Yorkers by providing over 170 deeply affordable and supportive homes, coupled with modern amenities, educational programming for children, and comprehensive on-site supportive services," said HDC President Eric Enderlin. "Congratulations to our partners on delivering such a transformative development that will further improve the wellbeing of every resident and the surrounding community."

"With the City's affordable housing crisis continuing to affect families most in-need in the Bronx, I am grateful to the Department of Housing Preservation (HPD), Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) for working together to bring 171 new, 100% affordable homes at Melrose North," said Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. "With my District taking on the brunt of the burden of our City's housing crisis, my office worked closely with NYCHA residents and HDC to bring this project to fruition - ensuring that the concerns of my constituents were addressed, and that the urgent need for stable housing in the South Bronx was met."

"Melrose North will provide 171 families in the South Bronx the affordability and services they need to truly grow and prosper in New York City," said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. "Melrose North will provide best-in-class amenities, such as bicycle storage, laundry facilities, a playground, as well as an education facility operated by DreamYard that will provide summer camps, after-school programs, and other programs to children in the Bronx community. This partnership between HPD and NYCHA shows that this administration is laser focused on using innovative solutions to provide homes and support for all New Yorkers."

"We are excited to celebrate this significant milestone for Melrose North and its residents," said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. "We thank"Melrose North is the type of affordable housing development that not only benefits future residents, but also the entire community," said Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg, "This project will not only provide 171 homes for formerly homeless individuals but will also give residents access to on-site professional counseling and resources to ensure they are on the best path to succeed and thrive.our partners for working with us to build apartments on previously underutilized NYCHA land so that we can continue to do the important work of creating affordable housing for those who need it most."

"NYCHA is proud to join our partners today to welcome home 171 residents into this new, thoughtfully designed building," said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia. "Melrose North and our partnership with BronxPro and S:US shows how NYCHA can continue to deliver on our mission, by using under utilized land to provide supportive, permanently affordable housing to New Yorkers in the midst of a housing crisis."

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