Here’s a little information for those interested in the latest on the Hunters Point South affording housing development, which we’ve picked up from various sources over the last few weeks. First of all, move-in dates for the smaller south tower (attached to the high school), will begin in mid-May and stretch through September. The north tower will commence move-ins in July and probably fill out accordingly.
There will be an Equinox Gym (Related Companies owns Equinox) available to both towers. Units will have furnishings on par with those in other rental buildings along Center Boulevard, and will contain washer-dryers. Similarly, there will be numerous common rooms open to residents, including roof decks, all of which can be rented for private functions. In fact, many of the people I’ve heard from who were selected for HPS, already live in Avalon, Rockrose, and TF Cornerstone apartments nearby.
What differs from being a tenant in those big buildings, is most obviously the discounted price. But of equal significance in years to come, is that rent increases will be capped. Possibly best of all, is that once you’re in you’re in. Unlike all other affordable housing in NYC, there won’t ever be follow-up annual audits to document your income, and any future income(s) you derive are allowable. Which is a good thing for all those investment banking associates hoping to make managing director in a few years.
NYC Subway Ridership Jumps – “In Long Island City, Queens, weekday ridership grew by an average 12%, or 1,500 customers a day, at the Vernon-Jackson Avenue 7 station, and by 9.7%, or nearly 2,000 customers at the Court Square E, G, M and 7 station. Ridership has more than doubled since 2000.”
Dozens of Zoned Students Waitlisted at PS78 – “getting a seat at the local school will only get harder, as residential development is expected to bring even more families to the area in the coming years”
not poor but not rich says
April 22, 2015 at 5:56 amequinox gym
increase caps
no reassessment of income
unreal – do they get food stamps too
and what do i get?
more crowded trains schools and streets
Anonymous says
April 22, 2015 at 8:46 amits been beaten to death…but this is unreal.
furnishings on par with others on center blvd?
equinox?
increases are capped?
no audits?
jesus christ…
the audit thing is the most puzzling – if these building are to allow people to live in LIC who dont make enough money to pay market rate…then why not audit and make sure people arent milking the system…make sure waves of people can keep moving into the area and getting a chance to live here.
f*cking stupid.
LICer says
April 22, 2015 at 12:47 pmWhy give people reasons to commit fraud?
confused says
April 23, 2015 at 6:42 amHas anyone seen *any* news at all about phase 2 of HPS? It was announced back in 2013(!) that TF Cornerstone had been chosen as the developer and at that time renderings had been release. Fast forward to April 2015, the empty lot is being used as a parking lot, and all of the other parcels are undeveloped as well. If affordable housing is such a huge commitment of the current administration, why is it taking so long to build here? I get that development doesn’t happen over night and that funding takes a while coordinate but at the pace they’re moving, this entire project should be done in about 100 years. Meanwhile, de Blasio has commissioned a study to cover over the Sunnyside railyards to make way for affordable housing, which would ironically cost billions of dollars and take years. And all of the remaining parcels at HPS are just sitting there. Am I missing something here?
Ed says
April 23, 2015 at 4:54 pmPerhaps TF Cornerstone and the DOE are reworking their plans to include a middle school, to replace the one they are proposing to phase out at PS 78………….
no I’m just delusional.
Anonymous says
April 25, 2015 at 8:34 amWhen a large portion of apartments are allotted to folks with incomes around & above $200,000, “affordable housing” is a questionable term. Very few units are available for low incomes as published on the “rents” tab of their website. The neighborhood demographic will not be effected. The only thing effected will be the huge profits in Related bottom line from : tax credits, free city waterfront property, tax abatements & relatively high rents in comparison to breaks.
Anonymous says
April 28, 2015 at 6:37 pmDoes anyone know what the deal is, if you apply for a 2 bedroom with 2 applicants on the application, and an additional person comes to live with you after you’ve signed the lease? If the income is never re-verified [as mentioned above], I do not see the problem, but I wonder if front desk staff will begin to become suspicious, and what the potential consequences could be. Any input on this would be appreciated. Thanks!
Anonymous says
May 10, 2015 at 8:38 amIf you have a 2 bedroom, 2 applicant and you bring in another person the new person must also qualify under the cap if the person is not claimed as a dependent (i.e. if you have a child you do not need to re-qualify).
In the case of bringing in a roommate it is permissible, but the additional person would be counted toward the total amount of income, essentially you must re-qualify the entire apartment since that person must be added to the lease since the lease states you can only have guests up to 30 days without notifying the landlord, after that the landlord could remove the guest, or potentially evict the tenants for breach of contract. It would be up to management to enforce the terms of the lease. It does not appear that if the roommate qualifies there would be a future audit.
Of course it would actually be better for management to not put the additional tenant on the lease since they would have no greater rights than the original leasee who qualified, since a housing court would likely find that rights were granted to the new tenant, and that tenant could actually bring in more tenants such as dependents or a spouse under the law. As a guest with permission they would merely be kicked out under the breach scenario above, but a court could also view that fact that the guest was ignored an issue allowing them to remain, if the landlord had knowledge.
The key with any lease is knowledge and enforcement. Once the lease is signed (or even if they signed it and reliance is created such as breaking the current lease or not renewing) and especially once tenants are in the building it becomes more difficult to enforce the rules for so many situations.