Against the backdrop of soaring rents, affordable housing has become a significant issue. Following affordable housing projects in Rego Park with a minimum monthly rent of $545 and Willets Point with a minimum monthly rent of $486, New York has now welcomed a milestone achievement – the city’s first affordable apartments converted from a hotel have officially been completed and opened to the public.
The project, named “Baisley Pond Park Residences,” is located in South Jamaica, Queens, near John F. Kennedy International Airport. The site was formerly the Hilton JFK Airport Hotel, which was left vacant for many years before undergoing a complete transformation into residential housing.
New York Governor Hochu announced on December 18th that the $167 million investment project had been officially completed. The project offers a total of 318 units, including 125 affordable housing units and 191 supportive housing units for qualifying homeless individuals to reside in. The building is also fully compliant with accessibility standards, catering to the needs of individuals with mobility, hearing, and visual impairments.
The 12-story building is located at 144-02 135th Ave. Lottery applications for these units were opened as early as March this year, with monthly rents starting at $784 and reaching up to $1,493 for a two-bedroom unit.
Baisley Pond Park Residences is an all-electric building equipped with rooftop solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and advanced heating and cooling systems, significantly reducing carbon emissions. It has also received the “Enterprise Green Communities” low carbon building certification.
Residents can enjoy various shared amenities, including a gym and yoga room, a computer lounge, laundry facilities, and indoor/outdoor garden spaces.
Governor Hochu expressed that this project showcases New York’s creativity and efficiency in utilizing existing buildings to expand housing supply and provide tangible assistance to low-income and vulnerable populations amidst the housing crisis.
Although the lottery for Baisley Pond Park Residences has closed, the city government has indicated that this is just the beginning. Moving forward, efforts will continue to identify more vacant hotels for conversion into residential use to achieve the Governor’s goal of constructing or preserving 100,000 units of affordable housing statewide.