HPD seeks amendment to convert one building in Union Avenue cluster from cooperative to rental; hearing laid over

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development asked the New York City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings, and Dispositions to amend a 2021 urban development action area project so one building in the 993–995 Union Avenue cluster could operate as a rental rather than convert to a cooperative.

Justin Donlin, a representative of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, told the subcommittee that "the 993995 Union Avenue cluster was originally approved by council as an urban development action area project in 2021, and it's composed of 4 buildings," and that the property at 1042 Wongfell Avenue is the subject of the requested amendment. He said renovations were completed as part of the Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program (ANCP) but that "none of the tenants at 1042 Wong Fellow Avenue had chosen to relocate back into the building" and so the agency proposed operating the building as a rental to "ensure financial and operational feasibility."

Donlin also said that, under the ANCP conversion process, roughly 80% of residents typically must opt in to convert to a cooperative and that the threshold had not been met for this building. He told the subcommittee the amendment would permit a rental option "pursuant to section 694 of the general municipal law," as stated during the presentation.

Council Member Camilla Hanks, chair of the subcommittee, asked whether any members of the public wished to testify; none did. After public comment was closed, the subcommittee laid the item over for later consideration; no vote on the amendment was recorded at the hearing.

The item remains under consideration by the subcommittee. No formal approval or denial occurred at the meeting; the public hearing record was closed and the application was laid over for a future meeting.