Sept. 5, 2014 By Christian Murray
The application period for the affordable rental units at Hunters Point South is expected to begin next month and Community Board 2 leaders are in the process of setting up a number of local meetings to guide residents through the application process.
The applicants will be aiming to snag one of the 925 affordable apartments that are expected to be completed early next year.
Community Board 2 residents—who currently live in Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City—will be given priority over outside applicants on 50 percent of the units. Priority will also be given to city employees such as teachers.
The income requirements are broad and tailored more toward middle income earners. For example, units have been set aside for families who make up to $191,000, based on numbers released last year by the Bloomberg administration.
The developer, Related Companies, is expected to send out marketing materials early next month, which will announce the lottery as well as the application deadline.
Once the marketing campaign begins, applicants will have a 60 day window to submit their applications through the NYC Housing Connect website. (click website)
“If the marketing period begins Oct. 1, then applicants have a 60 day window to apply from that date,” said Lisa Deller, the chairwoman of Community Board 2’s Land Use committee.
Community Board 2 Chairman Joe Conley, who helped negotiate the 50% priority for local residents with Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, wants to make sure that Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City residents take advantage of their increased odds. This has been a contributing factor in why the meetings are being held.
A series of meetings have been tentatively scheduled throughout the district. For instance, a meeting has been scheduled in Sunnyside at the Sunnyside Community Services Center (43-31 39th Street) on Sept 29 at 7:00 pm.
Meanwhile, another meeting is scheduled to take place at the Woodside Library, 54-22 Skillman Avenue, on Oct. 1 (time still to be determined); and in Long Island City on Oct. 6 (time and venue yet to be confirmed).
The meetings aim to educate residents on how to apply; what the eligibility requirements are and how the housing lottery works.
“This is a great opportunity for folks who live in our community that want to live on the waterfront,” said Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer. “I’m proud of the role we have played with the community board in getting the set asides for local residents.”
“There is a lot of interest for this,” Van Bramer said. “We have been getting calls on it even before construction started.”
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