Slate Property Group, Xenolith Partners, and Comunilife Inc. chosen to develop La Ostra - 600 affordable homes

Manhattan, NY The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has selected Slate Property Group, Xenolith Partners, and Comunilife Inc. as the development team for their proposal, “La Ostra,” turning a currently vacant site in Inwood into a new development with over 600 affordable homes. The development will also deliver a marine science and STEM education center operated by the Billion Oyster Project and BioBus, a new indoor–outdoor field house, suicide prevention and mental health services, and nearly one acre of publicly accessible waterfront open space along the Harlem River. 

La Ostra will also offer a publicly accessible waterfront open space to the broader community. After extensive community engagement and a months-long competitive review process, this selected proposal responds to community needs for deeply affordable housing for families and seniors, an engaging marine-focused science hub tied to the Harlem River, new commercial space, and access to the waterfront. Once constructed, La Ostra will be home to over 400 households of low-income New Yorkers and 200 households of older New Yorkers. 

In addition to affordable housing, this project will make use of the site’s close proximity to the Harlem River, offering nearly an acre of waterfront public access and open space. 

Anchored by a STEM partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, BioBus, and NPower, the development places marine science and STEM education at its core, equipping residents and the broader community with tools to engage with and restore the natural environment. 

Once constructed, this site will help connect New Yorkers in the community directly to the Harlem River. Proposed facilities include an outdoor classroom, a pavilion with a large seating area with movable furniture, a large central lawn, and a stone amphitheater. 

The project will also feature the “Oyster Field House,” an indoor-outdoor soccer field where both residents and community members can come together to play and socialize. Additionally, Comunilife will provide on-site supportive services to residents of both buildings, and the project will include dedicated space for their Life is Precious program, offering easy access to mental health resources to teenagers and their families. 

“At HPD, we have been focused on thinking creatively and acting boldly to build more housing and tackle the affordability crisis head-on — with the urgency that New Yorkers expect and deserve,” said acting commissioner of HPD Ahmed Tigani. “Inspired by the Inwood Neighborhood Plan, today’s announcement is a testament to the power of that creative thinking: by combining access to the waterfront, a hub for science and community education, and over 600 units of affordable housing, we are showing that we are focused on building not just units, but affordable homes and communities, equipped with world-class amenities, for hard-working New Yorkers.” 

“Many great housing proposals were brought forth for the Inwood 9^th Ave. site, demonstrating the diverse needs of our community and creative solutions driven by the expertise and dedication of many community-based organizations. This proposal is thoughtful, considering the reality of climate change, opening up the waterfront and additional green space for Uptown, and providing much-needed mental health services on-site. We are excited to see this team, including Comunilife, materialize this proposal, and look forward to eventually moving our seniors and low-income families into the 600 units at La Ostra,”said council member Carmen De La Rosa. 

The Development Team:

Slate Property Group, LLC is a property owner, developer, and lender, with a focus on multifamily assets in the New York metropolitan area. Slate has developed 3,300 units of affordable, workforce, supportive, and transitional housing. 

Xenolith Partners, LLC is a certified WBE affordable housing development company founded in 2016. The company focuses on the development of affordable, mixed-income, and mixed-use projects in New York and Connecticut.

Comunilife Inc. is a nonprofit developer and social services provider committed to providing vulnerable communities with housing and culturally sensitive supportive services. In 2024, they served more than 4,000 low-income and vulnerable New Yorkers, focusing on African American and Latino clients. 

Magnusson Architecture and Planning PC is an architecture firm that has designed more than 100 affordable, supportive, and senior housing developments accounting for 13,000 new homes.