NYPD parking lot in East Village set to become affordable new homes

Manhattan, NY HPD’s mission is clear: build more housing in every neighborhood and every borough so that all New Yorkers have a safe, affordable place to call home. Nestled in Manhattan, an NYPD parking lot on Department of Education land is set to become affordable housing. New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking proposals to transform the lot. 

HPD is focused on transforming parking lots into homes all across New York City – from Third Avenue in Brooklyn where they recently designated a developer team to the Mott Haven neighborhood in the Bronx where a parking lot will be transformed into affordable apartments, including for seniors and those in need of supportive housing – and we are always exploring additional options to transform parking lots into permanent homes. 

“The housing crisis can only be solved if every neighborhood is able to create its fair share of healthy affordable housing,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrion Jr. “This underutilized parking lot provides a vital opportunity to provide modern affordable housing that will enrich the lives of all residents in the East Village for generations to come. This administration looks forward to receiving ideas and proposals for transforming this site into a beacon for affordability and community.” 

"Every single day, New Yorkers are counting on us to rise to the challenge—and on East 5th Street, we are doing just that,” said Acting HPD Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “With this RFP, we're continuing to press forward on our commitment to use every tool at our disposal—public land, public dollars, and public input—to deliver truly affordable housing in every corner of our city. Thanks to feedback of residents and stakeholders who shared their ideas—from the types of housing programs to the very design of the buildings—we are confident this proposal will help turn a simple parking lot in the East Village into something extraordinary: a place of opportunity, community, and accessible homes for fellow New Yorkers.” 

“Our community has been tirelessly fighting to protect and expand affordable housing in our neighborhoods to make sure families and older adults can afford to stay here. Our district has formed a strong coalition to welcome much needed homes into the area and we have secured a commitment to transform this underutilized parking lot into affordable housing. Our office has been proud to support HPD’s public engagement process and we will continue to work closely with the administration, advocates, and neighbors to secure resources to expand affordability and strengthen our communities,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02).

324 East 5th Street: The Site Details 

324 East 5th Street is an over 11,000 s/f lot between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue in the East Village. Located in Manhattan Community District 3, the lot is currently being used as a parking lot for the NYPD’s 9th Precinct. As recommended by the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan, the lot will become affordable housing and will continue to provide parking spots for the NYPD. The site also presents an opportunity for the inclusion of a small community facility. 

The lot is just a few blocks away from Tompkins Square Park which has green space, sports courts, and space that is used for community programming like farmers markets. Also in the neighborhood are a number of schools, including The Neighborhood School, PS 19 East Village Community School, and George Jackson Academy. 

The site is just blocks away from the 2nd Avenue subway station, and about half a mile from Bleecker Street, Astor Place, and Broadway-Lafayette stations. 

Before the RFP: Community Engagement 

Before announcing the RFP, HPD underwent an extensive community engagement process. Nearly 400 New Yorkers filled out the site questionnaire or came to a public workshop to share their visions and ideas for the site. 

From flyering with materials in English, Spanish, and Chinese to tabling at the Ottendorfer and Tompkins Square Libraries to hosting a community workshop, the feedback that HPD received has shaped the RFP that HPD is releasing today and will shape the eventual housing when it is built.  

HPD heard the community’s ask for deeply affordable housing and a community center, childcare, or senior center on the ground floor. There was also a strong preference that the future building incorporate green space. To read more about the community’s priorities and what we heard throughout the community visioning phase, please check out the 324 East 5th Street Community Visioning Report. 

How to Submit an RFP 

Interested parties can visit the project website at nyc.gov/east5th-rfp and head over to the “Submit an RFP” tab. Scroll down and fill out the contact information form to download the RFP and its accompanying forms and appendices. 

What Happens Next 

After a proposal is selected, HPD and the development team will continue to provide regular updates to local stakeholders as the selected plan makes its way through the city’s public approvals process. Once the plan receives final approval through the New York City Council, it will move forward to financing and construction. New Yorkers may continue to stay up to date and engaged with the process by following the progress of the site on the HPD website and on social media @NYCHousing across platforms.??