A former Watchtower hotel property in DUMBO is set to be
transformed into a 508-unit affordable apartment property.
Breaking Ground, the city’s largest supportive housing
developer, announced today the City Council’s approval of its 90 Sands ULURP
application for the former Watchtower Society Residences at 90 Sands Street in
DUMBO.
The non-profit will convert the former residential hotel
building into 100 percent affordable and supportive apartments, bringing an
affordable solution to one of New York City’s most desirable and expensive
neighborhoods. 90 Sands will bring 508 units with rents starting as low as $492
per month for a studio, along with approximately 30,000 s/f of community
facility or commercial space, and a newly activated public plaza to enliven the
area and welcome the community.
“Now, more than ever, New York City needs new supportive and affordable housing for the homeless and lower-income individuals,” said Brenda Rosen, president and CEO of Breaking Ground.
“With the City Council’s approval of Breaking Ground’s ULURP
application for 90 Sands, we are on our way to bringing 500 much-needed
affordable units to DUMBO, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the
borough. We are especially grateful for the leadership of Speaker Corey Johnson
and Council Members Stephen Levin and Rafael Salamanca in championing the
development of new supportive housing for the most vulnerable New Yorkers.”
The Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) will provide
onsite social services to residents of 90 Sands. Breaking Ground and CUCS have
a longstanding partnership and 90 Sands marks their 10th building together to
provide housing and onsite supports for formerly homeless individuals and
families. Services will include case management, primary medical care, mental
health services, employment readiness guidance, and benefits counseling, among
others.
Of the 508 apartments at 90 Sands, 203 will be affordable to
a wide range of New Yorkers, from extremely low income to moderate-income
households. 305 units will be for formerly homeless individuals. The building
will feature a 24-hour attended lobby, security camera system throughout,
multipurpose room for community events and meetings, a digital library, a
fitness room, and plaza space for public use. Breaking Ground seeks to bring in
community-serving uses for community facility and commercial spaces on the
lower levels.
90 Sands was previously a residential hotel operated by the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society until August 2017, and Breaking Ground
purchased the hotel in August 2018. Breaking Ground began in the early 1990s by
converting two large historic Manhattan hotels into stable affordable and
supportive housing, including the Prince George residence (415 units) in NoMad
and the Times Square residence (650 units) at 43rd Street and Eighth Avenue.
“Creating stable and secure homes for vulnerable communities
during this national wide emergency goes to the heart of our work,” said Louise
Carroll, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation
and Development. “We are breathing new life into this landmark building
providing hundreds of new affordable housing units for working class people and
others who have beat homelessness. I thank our partners at Breaking Ground, the
Center for Urban Community Services and the City Council for remaining
committed to the city’s affordable housing goals. With the housing we are
building now, we’re laying the foundation to help people when they need it
most. We’re proud of the work they are doing.”
For the acquisition of 90 Sands, Breaking Ground received $2
million from the New York City Council, a $155 million loan from the NYC
Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and a $10 million
grant from Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. Breaking Ground also provided a
$6.7 million sponsor loan to finance the acquisition.
