Lawsuit To Recover $80M, DOJ Case Suspension, Bronx Quality of Life, Child Care Center Leases, New Housing
Lawsuit To Recover $80M, DOJ Case Suspension, Bronx Quality of Life, Child Care Center Leases, New Housing
Editor’s note: Any time someone authorizes a company or other entity to use direct deposit, this always opens up the possibility of the same entity directly debiting the account up to any amounts that have been deposited at any time in the past. Regarding the matter of the missing $80 Million, which was removed from the City’s bank accounts by the federal government, the following statement was issued by the comptroller of the city:
Statement from NYC Comptroller Lander on the Trump Administration’s Illegal Reversal of FEMA Funding:
“This morning, my financial team shockingly uncovered that President Trump and his crony Elon Musk illegally executed a revocation of $80 million in congressionally-appropriated FEMA funding from New York City’s bank accounts late yesterday afternoon. This is money that the federal government previously disbursed for shelter and services and is now missing. This highway robbery of our funds directly out of our bank account is a betrayal of everyone who calls New York City home.”
“New York City cannot take this lying down. I call on the Mayor to immediately pursue legal action to ensure the tens of millions of dollars stolen by Trump and DOGE are rightfully returned. If instead Mayor Adams continues to be President Trump’s pawn, my Office will request to work in partnership with the New York City Law Department to pursue aggressive legal action.”
There have been similar quality of life issues to those described in the Bronx in parts of Queens where prostitution is a large issue. We also covered previous childcare center’s expansion of access to subsidies.
NEW YORK CITY LAW DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR UNLAWFUL $80 MILLION “MONEY-GRAB” INVOLVING MIGRANT FUNDING
Suit Outlines How Federal Government Grabbed Back Funding for Migrant Crisis Without Following Agency Procedures and Federal Regulations
Lawsuit Would Require Federal Government to Return $80 Million in Migrant Funding and Prevent Them from Clawing Back Additional Funding in Future
City Government Has Already Spent $7 Billion to Manage National Migrant Crisis, While Federal Government Assistance Has Been Minimal
NEW YORK – The New York City Law Department today announced its federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful seizure of over $80 million previously applied for, awarded, approved, and paid by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the City of New York. These funds were paid to reimburse expenses already spent on the asylum seeker international humanitarian crisis that came to New York City’s doorstep in the spring of 2022 under a FEMA program to assist localities bearing the brunt of costs of providing shelter and services to individuals released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into U.S. communities. The suit, motion for a preliminary and permanent injunction, and motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO)against the federal government argues that the funds that were previously reviewed, approved, and paid out by FEMA were removed out of a city bank account on February 11, 2025, without notice or administrative process of any kind, violating federal regulations and terms of the Shelter and Service Program (SSP) grant terms, as well as abusing the federal government’s authority and obligations to implement congressionally-approved and funded programs. The city seeks to recoup the funds and ensure the federal government does not, again, improperly withdraw disbursed funds or hold future funds that the city is entitled to receive.
“Without a doubt, our immigration system is broken, but the cost of managing an international humanitarian crisis should not overwhelmingly fall onto one city alone,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “With very little help from the federal government, our administration has skillfully managed an unprecedented crisis, which has seen over 231,000 people enter our city asking for shelter. The $80 million that FEMA approved, paid, and then rescinded — after the city spent more than $7 billion in the last three years — is the bare minimum our taxpayers deserve. And that’s why we’re going to work to ensure our city’s residents get every dollar they are owed. Thank you to Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant and the entire team at the Law Department for working to ensure New York taxpayers can start to be made whole again.”
“As alleged in the complaint, the Trump administration, without any notification or administrative process, and in violation of federal regulations and grant terms, unilaterally took back more than $80 million, which they attempted to justify in a belated ‘noncompliance’ letter,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “We are seeking relief to recoup the money and prevent this from happening again.”
On February 4, 2025, FEMA disbursed $80,481,861.42 to the City of New York to reimburse the city under a program that Congress funded to “support sheltering and related activities provided by non-federal entities, in support of relieving overcrowding in short-term holding facilities of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.” FEMA awarded the city the grants to ensure “the safe, orderly, and humane release of noncitizen migrants from DHS short-term holding facilities.” But on February 11, 2025, the federal government, without any notice or explanation, clawed back those funds. On February 19, 2025, the federal government belatedly provided the city a “noncompliance” letter that did not identify any noncompliance by the city. Rather, it announced “concerns,” which are unfounded and do not comport with how the city has managed the unprecedented crisis brought to its doorstep.
Today’s suit — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — argues that the letter is a mere cover to mask the real purpose of defendants’ “money-grab,” which — as many have stated publicly — is to withhold the funds permanently because they oppose the purposes for which the funds were appropriated, awarded, approved, and paid.
The Law Department is further arguing that the federal defendants’ withholding of these funds is arbitrary and capricious, contrary to law, ultra vires, and in excess of authority, without observance of lawful procedures. Further the Law Department claims that the actions by these defendants violate the Due Process Clause, the separation of powers doctrine, and the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The city is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction, as well as a TRO from the court 1) ordering the defendants to return the $80 million to the city’s bank account, 2) enjoining defendants from taking any further money from any city bank account in connection with these SSP grants, and 3) enjoining them from withholding SSP funds.
The City of New York has already spent $7 billion to successfully manage the asylum seeker crisis and has achieved great success. There are currently less than 45,000 migrants receiving city shelter services, down from a high of 69,000 in January of 2024 and out of the more than 231,000 that have arrived in New York City seeking city services since the spring of 2022. The city’s efforts have directly resulted in approximately 24,000 fewer asylum seekers in the city’s care on a day-to-day basis, and allowed the city to announce multiple additional site closures inDecember 2024, January 2025, and, most recently, in February 2025, marking the end of tent-based emergency response shelters.
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR ADAMSON SUSPENSION OF CASE BY DOJ
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement:
“I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never.
“I am solely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers that I represent and I will always put this city first.
“Now, we must put this difficult episode behind us so that trust can be restored, New York can move forward, and we can continue delivering for the people of this city.”
MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT FOLLOWING GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S ADDRESS
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement after New York Governor Kathy Hochul provided an address:
“I was elected by the people of New York City and its working-class communities to uphold their values — and that is what our administration has done. While there is no legal basis for limiting New Yorkers’ power by limiting the authority of my office, I have told the governor, as we have done in the past, that I am willing to work with her to ensure faith in our government is strong. I look forward to continuing those conversations.”
MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES MULTI-AGENCY OPERATION TO ADDRESS URGENT PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE CONCERNS ALONG MELROSE AVENUE IN BRONX, AKA “THE HUB”
Led by NYPD, Joint-Agency Operation Focuses on Public Health and Safety Concerns
Part of Mayor Adams’ “Community Link Initiative,” Intensive Government Response Effort That Has Already Responded to Over 1,200 Complaints and Conducted Over 1,200 Operations
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse today announced a multi-agency response aimed at addressing public safety and improving quality of life in “The Hub,” a major commercial center along Melrose Avenue in the South Bronx. To maintain quality-of-life and public safety on the corridor, the Adams administration launched the effort under its “Community Link” initiative, a collaborative, multi-agency response to chronic problems.
“Every day, we are working to make our city safer and the best place to raise a family, and today’s announcement will now bring our successful ‘Community Link’ model to ‘The Hub.’ Through this multi-agency operation, we’ll work to address substance abuse, mental health, homeless outreach, sanitation, and other quality-of-life issues that prevent this part of the South Bronx from reaching its full capacity,” said Mayor Adams. “Over the last 19 months, ‘Community Link’ has responded to over 1,200 complaints and conducted 1,200 operations — making these neighborhoods safer one action at a time. Through these joint operations, we will continue to improve quality of life on every block, in every neighborhood, and in every borough across our city.”
“Through our ‘Community Link’ initiative, the city has been guided by comprehensive, community-driven solutions to ensure that no neighborhood is overlooked or underserved,” said Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Administration Camille Joseph Varlack. “We are proud to expand this program to directly confront the longstanding quality-of-life issues in ‘The Hub.’ For too long, the South Bronx has had to deal with their challenges alone, but by working alongside our community partners and this broad coalition of agencies, I am confident that we will drive real change, and continue our work making New York the safest big city in the nation.”
“When neighborhoods are plagued by quality-of-life issues, New Yorkers simply don’t feel safe,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “This multi-agency strategy will address the problems that people are seeing every day on Melrose Avenue that contribute to this sense of disorder without unduly punishing people who are struggling with mental health crises. We know this model works and have seen the results in communities across the city.”
“At the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, we are committed to meeting New Yorkers where they are and supporting access to evidence-based services,” said DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Morse. “I’m grateful to all of our partners on the ground for their tireless work.”
“We took a crucial step forward last week with the launch of our ‘Recovering Together’ initiative, a bold and targeted effort to inform, invest in, and directly intervene in the communities hardest hit by the opioid crisis,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Nowhere is the urgency clearer than in the South Bronx — particularly ‘The Hub’ — where the devastating impact of this crisis has been deeply felt. We stand with the residents, families, and businesses of this vital commercial corridor, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to heal and rebuild. Through ‘Recovering Together,’ in partnership with the Adams administration’s ‘Community Link’ initiative, we are strengthening our city’s commitment to public health and safety, ensuring none of our communities are left behind. But this is just the beginning. The challenges we face are systemic, and while this announcement is a significant step forward, we will not stop fighting for the long-term solutions our residents and families deserve.”
Alongside the NYPD and DOHMH, the multi-agency effort also includes the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), and the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), with all agencies focused on homeless outreach and maintaining street cleanliness. Additionally, the city works closely with non-profit providers that have long-standing roots in the community to deliver services and deepen community trust.
This announcement builds on an intensive surge by Community Link in The Hub between October 3, 2024 and November 3, 2024. During that time, DHS had 880 engagements and placed over 45 individuals in shelter. DHS outreach teams continue to canvass the neighborhood every Tuesday through Thursday and DHS’ non-profit provider Bronx Works operates in the area multiple times a day between Tuesday through Saturday, ensuring there is always sustained outreach by DHS in the neighborhood. DHS has also assigned crisis coordinators to the area to offer homeless outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness.
DOHMH has been working closely with community partners and service providers to engage New Yorkers in the area who are struggling with substance use disorder by connecting them to care and resources to lead a healthy life. DOHMH funds four contracted syringe service programs to conduct community engagement and daily outreach in the area, and partners with local providers to promote referrals to care. There are seven syringe service program sites in the Hunts Point-Mott Haven neighborhood, offering sterile syringe access, overdose prevention education, naloxone training, and a broad range of other health and social services. In the Hunts Point-Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx — home to The Hub — DOHMH has distributed more than 16,500 naloxone kits in 2024.
In addition to supporting syringe service programs near The Hub, DOHMH also funds substance use disorder treatment options. Last fall, Mayor Adams announced the administration’s plan to ramp up annual support for opioid prevention and treatment to $50 million, using funds from major settlements secured by the city and New York Attorney General Letitia James against opioid manufacturers and distributors. With the support of these funds, DOHMH is working to expand access to low-threshold medications for opioid use disorder treatment, with a focus on prioritizing expansion among populations at highest risk of fatal overdose, and has released a Request for Proposals for licensed outpatient and opioid treatment programs citywide. These efforts are just part of DOHMH’s larger overdose response strategy in The Hub and throughout the Bronx. More than 56,000 naloxone kits have been distributed across 288 opioid overdose prevention program sites across the Bronx in 2024. There are 12 opioid overdose prevention programs in the Hunts Point-Mott Haven neighborhood, providing naloxone, overdose education, and other resources, serving 55 sites around The Hub.
DSNY has increased trash collection of public garbage cans in the area to three times per day, and vending enforcement teams are visiting the area on a weekly basis, conducting enforcement of unlicensed or improper vending. The DOT — which is responsible for the maintenance of Roberto Clemente Plaza — is conducting surveys of neighborhood roadways and sidewalks to determine if any maintenance, lighting, or other repairs are needed. The DOB will identify owners of problematic buildings and conduct enforcement on any buildings violating building codes. DOB will also assist in the removal of any long-term scaffolding sheds.
Today’s announcement adds The Hub to Mayor Adams’ Community Link initiative — launched in 2023 to bring together various city departments and agencies to collaborate with local communities and business leaders as they address complex and often chronic community complaints that require a multi-agency response. Since its inception, Community Link has already convened five community improvement coalitions throughout the five boroughs. Focused in “hot spot” areas, Community Link is active at 125th Street, on the 110th Street Corridor, in Midtown West, on East 14th Street, and in Washington Square Park in Manhattan, as well on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. Over the last 19 months, Community Link has responded to over 1,200 complaints and conducted over 1,200 operations to address quality-of-life concerns raised by the communities they serve.
Mayor Adams has made supporting New York City’s most vulnerable, including those experiencing serious mental illness and homelessness, a top priority. The Adams administration recently announced unprecedented action to curb homelessness and support people experiencing severe mental illness with a $650 million investment in outreach, safe haven and runaway homeless youth beds, and more. The announcement — which was first unveiled as part of Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City — also includes the creation of ‘Bridge to Home,’ a first-of-its-kind model that will provide a supportive, home-like environment to patients with serious mental illness who are ready for discharge from the hospital but do not have a place to go. The Adams administration has made the largest investment in New York City history in creating specialized shelter beds to address street homelessness. The city has opened 1,400 Safe Haven and stabilization beds since the start of the administration and doubled the number of street outreach teams.
Today’s announcement also builds on recent achievements in seizing guns and reducing crime across New York City. In 2024, New York City concluded with a nearly 3 percent reduction in overall index crime. Overall index crime continued to decrease January 2025, with a 16.8 percent drop, the largest one-month decrease since before Mayor Adams came into office. In January 2025, the Adams administration also announced the NYPD had removed more than 20,500 illegal firearms from New York City streets since the beginning of the administration — approximately 3,000 more guns off city streets than the previous three-year period from 2019 to 2021. Because of the Adams administration’s steadfast focus on eradicating gun violence, homicides and shootings have consistently declined over the last three years — with homicides decreasing a total of 22.7 percent and shootings decreasing 42.2 percent since Mayor Adams was sworn in on January 1, 2022. Additionally, 2024 was the fourth lowest year in recorded history for shooting incidents citywide.
MAYOR ADAMS, CHANCELLOR AVILES-RAMOS ANNOUNCE INCREASED OUTREACH EFFORTS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN ACCESSING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONS OF FIVE COMMUNITY-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS THAT WERE FACING LEASE EXPIRATIONS
Part of Administration and City Council’s Historic $100 Million Plan, Effort Focuses on Outreach to Communities with Historically-Low Application Rates for Early Childhood Education Programs
Adams Administration Has Served Record 150,000 Children Across City, Reduced Out-of-Pocket Costs for Subsidized Child Care for Families by More Than Ten-Fold
Agreements Follow Expeditious Negotiations Between City of New York, Private Landlords, and Child Care Providers on Leases That Were Facing Expired or Expiring Lease Dates and Increasing Rents to an Average of $1 Million a Year All Five Centers Now Available on MySchools to Receive Applications
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos have launched a joint effort to expand access to high-quality early childhood education programs for families across the city. As part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget, Mayor Adams and the New York City Council agreed to a historic 10-point plan to make high-quality child care more affordable and accessible for all New York families, including through $5 million in funding for a targeted outreach effort to support families in communities that have traditionally seen low application rates, despite demonstrating need.
Mayor Adams and Chancellor Aviles-Ramos also announced the city has reached tentative agreements with five community-based early childhood education centers to negotiate leases that were set to or near expiration. The agreement to continue lease agreements comes after the Adams administration engaged in positive conversations with stakeholders, including the landlords and providers of the sites, parents, elected officials, and other community members.
The five early childhood education centers include:
- All My Children Day Care and Nursery School, Queens
- Fort Greene Council Young Minds Day Care, Brooklyn
- Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center, Inc., Brooklyn
- Grand Street Settlement, Brooklyn
- Nuestros Ninos Day Care Center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
“For too long, families have faced challenges accessing early education programs due to mismatched seats and gaps in funding caused by building a system that was propped up on temporary stimulus dollars. Our administration is doing the work of developing a sustainable early childhood education system that meets the needs of New York City families, especially working-class parents, who often do not have the resources they need to access these opportunities,” said Mayor Adams. “We have heard the concerns of parents, community partners, and elected officials, which is why we have met with all five programs facing lease expirations and with the respective local elected officials to create a collective plan that will offer them the opportunity to operate for the upcoming school year. Although details are still being finalized, we are proud to announce that we are headed toward a positive outcome, and by working closely with all stakeholders we are confident all different parties will have an agreed-upon path forward to share in the coming days that benefits families. We continue to work closely with the City Council to secure the resources necessary to ensure no family is left behind. Together, we’re delivering on our promise to make sure every family who wants a seat will have access to one, that child care is more affordable and accessible, that we are serving our most vulnerable families, and that we are making New York City the best place to raise a family.”
“Every child deserves a strong start, and these efforts ensure families have the resources they need to take the first step,” said Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos. “Through collaboration with the City Council, we’re reaching families where they are and ensuring equitable access to programs that set our youngest learners on a path to success.”
Targeted Email Campaigns
New York City Public Schools is spearheading robust efforts to ensure families are informed, supported, and empowered to apply for early childhood education by taking the following actions:
- Nearly 100,000 families have been engaged through email communications, providing critical information about application processes, program options, and deadlines.
- Families who started applications but have not submitted them are receiving step-by-step instructions to complete the process.
- Spotlight emails highlight program options, including dual language and disabilities-inclusive offerings, income-eligible seats, and general program details.
- MySchools instructional emails guide families on how to use filters to find newly added programs.
- Families with infants, toddlers, and three-year olds currently enrolled in early childhood programming are reminded to apply, ensuring continuity in their child’s education journey.
In-Person and Virtual Information Sessions
- Families have access to detailed admissions explanations, application guidance, and live Q&A sessions. These sessions are interpreted in the nine most common primary languages spoken in New York City, ensuring accessibility for all communities.
- Starting tomorrow, Saturday, February 15, 2025, the Adams administration will host a series of five events — one in each borough — in communities that have historically low application rates to boost access where it’s needed most. New York City Public Schools officials will provide resources and help families to apply directly on-site.
Community Engagement and Partner Support
- New York City Public Schools’ “train the trainer” events equip community partners, city agencies, and libraries to assist families with the application process.
- A digital toolkit has been shared with community partners to amplify outreach efforts.
- Application sprints across the city and “Day of Action” events with supportive housing teams will provide direct, hands-on support to families applying for early education programs.
- As part of the administration and city council’s $5 million investment last summer, the administration is funding 21 organizations to help families find, apply, and enroll in child care seats across New York City Public Schools’ early childhood system.
- Phone call and texting campaigns to families who have not yet applied, led by the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, have already resulted in calls to 16,000 families asking if they need child care.
Social Media and Digital Outreach
- New York City Public Schools is leading a robust social media campaign to raise awareness, share key deadlines, and provide program highlights.
This outreach effort builds on the work the Adams administration has done to dramatically increase early childhood education and build a sustainable program where demand matches supply. Thanks to these efforts, a record 150,000 children are enrolled across the system today, the out-of-pocket costs of child care subsidies have been reduced from $55 per week in 2022 to $5 per week today, and the Adams administration met its commitment to offer a seat to every child who applied for 3-K on time — the first time this has ever been done in the city’s history. The administration also invested $514 million to protect programs that were previously only temporarily funded with federal stimulus dollars.
“Reaching a tentative agreement to keep these five early childhood education sites open is a critical step forward for our children, families, and communities,” said New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph. “This agreement is a testament to the tireless advocacy of early childhood providers, community-based organizations, and families. As Chair of the Committee on Education, I remain deeply committed to addressing the root causes of these crises so that no family has to experience this uncertainty again; alongside the leadership of Speaker Adams, we are making early childhood education a top priority in the City Council—not just in moments of crisis, but through long-term, sustainable solutions. To truly support our youngest learners, we must take a holistic approach, ensuring fair funding, strengthening provider support, and increasing transparency so that our early childhood system is stable and accessible to all. I remain committed to prioritizing and expanding these vital programs because every child in New York City deserves a strong foundation for their future.”
“Thanks to the tireless advocacy of impacted residents across Brooklyn, the Fort Greene Council site in my district, along with the other four early childhood education sites, will remain open for at least one more year and provide high-quality early childhood education to our youngest residents,” said New York City Council Member Crystal Hudson. “I applaud the New York City Department of Education for coming to the table and working in earnest to save these beloved sites. We must continue to support existing child care centers so our city can live up to its promise to provide high quality early childhood education for all who need it. I will be working hand in hand with the New York City Department of Education and Fort Greene Council over the next twelve months to ensure their presence remains in our community for years to come, beyond this one-year extension.”
MAYOR ADAMS, DEP, HPD, AND PARKS ANNOUNCE NEXT STEPS ON DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF CRITCALLY-NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, DEVELOP STATE-OF-THE-ART RECREATION CENTER
Request for Proposals Outline Bold, Multi-Agency Vision to Transform Underutilized Site in Hudson Square Neighborhood Into Mixed-Use Development
Announced in Mayor Adams’ Fourth State of the City Address, Project Part of Ambitious “Manhattan Plan” That Will Add 100,000 New Homes in Borough Over Next Decade
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrion Jr., and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue today announced the next steps with the 388 Hudson development that will result in a combination of hundreds of more affordable housing units for New Yorkers and a new, state-of-the-art recreation center for local residents in Lower Manhattan. The city is releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to advance a bold, multi-agency vision to transform an underutilized site in the Hudson Square neighborhood into a vibrant, community-focused mixed-use development. The 388 Hudson Street development is a component of Mayor Adams’ “Manhattan Plan,” first announced in his fourth State of the City address last month. The Manhattan Plan will include the Adams administration’s Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, Gansevoort Square, public sites, and more to unlock opportunities to create 100,000 new homes in the borough, bringing the total number of homes in Manhattan to 1 million over the next decade.
“To be the best city to raise a family, we need to build neighborhoods that have everything a family needs — starting with accessible public space and affordable housing,” said Mayor Adams. “388 Hudson highlights our administration’s bold, forward-looking version to transform our city into a ‘City of Yes for Families.’ With critically, needed affordable housing, a state-of-the-art recreation center, and a new public plaza, we are transforming Hudson Square into a model neighborhood that will be replicated throughout our city.”
“This Hudson Square and West Village project is about making sure New York City works for everyone, everywhere,” said HPD Commissioner Carrion. “This area has almost no affordable housing, and we’re changing that by building homes that working people, families, and older adults can actually afford. At the same time, we’re bringing back space for the community to gather, stay active, and build connections by creating a top-tier recreation center. 388 Hudson is exactly how we develop a more inclusive and livable city.”
“DEP is proud to partner with HPD and NYC Parks in reimagining this site to meet the needs of the neighborhood,” said DEP Commissioner Aggarwala. “This project will deliver much-needed affordable housing, recreation facilities, and public open space to the community. DEP is honored to play a role in revitalizing this corner of Hudson Square for New Yorkers.”
“By combining affordable housing with a brand-new recreation center, this visionary project at 388 Hudson Street exemplifies how we can create a more affordable, equitable, and connected New York City,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Donoghue. “We’re not only addressing the urgent need for housing but also building a new recreation center where families can prioritize health, wellness, and community without added financial stress. This first-of-its-kind development reflects our commitment to ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We’re proud to work alongside our partners at HPD to bring this transformative project to life.”
The 388 Hudson mixed-use development is on the northern portion of a DEP-owned lot in the Hudson Square neighborhood, located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hudson Street and Clarkson Street. Separately, the southern portion of the lot is currently in design with NYC Parks, DEP, and the Hudson Square Business Improvement District to build a new, public plaza with greenery, seating, and community gathering space. Currently zoned for manufacturing, the future mixed-use development site will undergo a rezoning to unlock its potential for residential use — maximizing affordable housing opportunities and dedicating significant space of approximately 45,000 gross square feet to the recreation center, which will span the cellar, first, second, and third floors of the new building. The recreation center will include an indoor pool, gymnasium, and a variety of other amenities and programming to provide recreation, as well as health and wellness opportunities year-round for community members of all ages and abilities. NYC Parks’ recreation center will be a distinct operating unit within the residential building, with dedicated street front access for recreation center members that will be separate from the residential entrance to the building.
City agencies led a robust community engagement process that culminated with the creation of a Community Visioning Report that was released in April 2024. The community visioning process included both in-person and virtual workshops, tabling events around the neighborhood, and meetings with the community board and other stakeholders. Over 500 community members answered the project questionnaire and largely responded by asking for a modern, multi-story indoor recreational facility with the potential to offer amenities and programming that have been unavailable at the nearby Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, which had been closed due to the building’s condition. In response to the community’s vision, HPD and NYC Parks are now seeking proposals that will address that need by advancing the new, state-of-the-art recreation center. Throughout the process, the community will have an opportunity to provide input on recreation center programming through a community input meeting once a development team is awarded and on board.
This RFP is open to all interested developers, from February 14, 2025, until May 9, 2025. Development teams responding to the RFP are strongly encouraged to consult the Community Visioning Report in preparing their submissions. RFP submissions will be evaluated on the quality and feasibility of the proposals in addition to how well they respond to the community’s vision. For specific details on requirements, evaluation criteria and how to participate, candidates should refer to the 388 Hudson Street RFP.
The 388 Hudson project is part of the Adams administration’s commitment to creating more affordable housing on publicly-owned land. Thanks to a multi-agency effort, Mayor Adams recently celebrated surpassing the city’s ambitious “24 in 24” plan to advance 24 affordable housing projects on public sites in 2024, ultimately creating or preserving over 13,000 units of housing. Delivering on a key promise in Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City address, the city advanced 26 projects across all five boroughs in 2024 as the city continues to face a generational housing crisis and 1.4 percent rental vacancy rate.
Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city is fulfilling additional 2024 State of the City housings commitments, including by creating the Tenant Protection Cabinet to coordinate across agencies to better serve tenants. The city has also taken several steps to cut red tape and speed up the delivery of much-needed housing, including through the “Green Fast Track for Housing,” a streamlined environmental review process for qualifying small- and medium-sized housing projects; the “Office Conversion Accelerator,” an interagency effort to guide buildings that wish to convert through city bureaucracy; and other initiatives of the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Taskforce.
Mayor Adams had made historic investments toward creating affordable housing and ensuring more New Yorkers have a place to call home over the last three years. In June 2024, City Hall and the City Council agreed on an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invests $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to HPD and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed a record $26 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. In July 2024, Mayor Adams announced back-to-back record breaking fiscal years in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. Earlier this month, Mayor Adams celebrated another back-to-back record-breaking calendar year for producing critically-needed affordable housing across the five boroughs as the city faces a generational housing crisis. Last spring, the city celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.
Further, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Mayor Adams announced multiple new tools, including a $4 million state grant, to help New York City homeowners create accessory dwelling units that will not only help them to afford to remain in the communities they call home, but also to build generational wealth for their families. In August 2023, Mayor Adams announced the issuance of Executive Order 43, requiring city agencies to review their city-owned and controlled land for potential housing development sites.
Mayor Adams and members of his administration also successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently-needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.
Banner Image: New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosts a reception celebrating Black History Month at Gracie Mansion on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Image Credit – Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office
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