East Harlem Gets $225M Affordable Housing Project
A $225 million mixed-use development named Timbale Terrace is planned for East Harlem. The 20-story project will include 341 affordable housing units and a cultural center. The development aims to address local housing needs while preserving the neighborhood's heritage.
- The development is a joint venture between Mega Group Development, the Lantern Organization, and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. It is being built on a former NYPD parking lot on Park Avenue between 118th and 119th Streets. - Of the 341 affordable units, 97 are designated as supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals and young adults, who will receive on-site social services from Lantern Community Services. - The project will offer apartments for households with very low to low incomes, with specific units reserved for those earning between $30,000 and $50,000 annually, and others for those earning up to $130,000. - The building is designed to meet Passive House standards for energy efficiency and will feature a green roof and solar array. Amenities are set to include a fitness center, rooftop terraces, a children's library, and a playroom. - The integrated cultural center will be the new 20,000-square-foot home for the Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance, named Casa Belongó. It will feature a performance hall, rehearsal and recording studios, art galleries, and a café. - Funding for the nearly $225 million project comes from various sources, including the city's Extremely Low & Low Income Affordability (ELLA) program and grants from the Manhattan Borough President and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. - The project is part of the 2017 East Harlem rezoning plan, with a Request for Proposals issued in 2019 and final city approval in 2024. Construction officially broke ground in February 2026, with an anticipated completion date in 2028.
