New York City has announced an ambitious initiative to develop a mixed-use community featuring almost 1,000 affordable homes along the Bronx waterfront. On Friday, Mayor Eric Adams revealed that the city would proceed with the ‘Fordham Landing South’ project, which is set to bring approximately 927 homes to a previously underutilized area of the Harlem River, located just south of the University Heights Bridge.
This development will be entirely affordable, with 15 percent of the units earmarked for formerly homeless households. The project encompasses two buildings that will include public waterfront space, parking facilities, and easy access to the Metro-North Railroad.
Dynamic Star and Lettire are at the helm of the project, with architectural design provided by Perkins Eastman. Funding will come partly from the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development and a substantial $55 million state grant, overseen by Empire State Development, aimed at enhancing the site’s infrastructure.
A particularly significant feature of the Fordham Landing South project is a community facility that spans 350,000 square feet, which will cater to various local institutions. According to the project’s website, this facility is expected to host essential services, including medical offices, as well as academic institutions and organizations related to religion, culture, and social services.
In a recent announcement, Dynamic Star indicated a partnership with Carlo Schiattarella, the founder and CEO of Schoolhouse Project, to establish a charter school within the community facility at Fordham Landing South.
The development plans also include innovative environmental features. Fordham Landing South will be among the first projects in the Bronx to implement geothermal heat pumps, which will fulfill 60 percent of the building’s energy requirements, while high-efficiency boilers will supply the remaining energy.
Additionally, the design integrates View Smart Windows that utilize artificial intelligence to adapt to sunlight exposure, promoting cooler indoor climates and enhancing energy efficiency. All lighting will be Energy Star-rated, while exterior fixtures will comply with Dark Sky standards to mitigate light pollution.
Enhancements to the nearby Metro-North University Heights station are also part of the project, which will feature an expanded platform and a new pedestrian bridge linking to the development. Plans for the waterfront space include recreational opportunities, both passive and active, such as a bike and pedestrian path that will connect to the Harlem River Greenway.
U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat expressed his support for the project, stating, ‘I applaud the steadfast commitment to create safe and affordable housing for Bronx residents through the Fordham Landing South project, securing nearly 1,000 new homes to our community.’
He added, ‘Investing in affordable housing is an investment in a more vibrant, inclusive future along our borough’s waterfront. I look forward to continuing our work to ensure every New Yorker has a place to call home.’
Earlier in January, Dynamic Star initially announced its intent for the project, indicating it would encompass 405 multi-family units, with 153 designated as affordable, and anticipated construction to begin in the spring.
The Fordham Landing South initiative aligns with Mayor Adams’ broader strategy to enhance housing availability across all five boroughs. Just last week, he highlighted that his administration has created, preserved, or planned roughly 426,800 new residential units to date, achieving a record high in the production of permanently affordable homes for homeless New Yorkers and successfully housing a record number of homeless residents.
‘This stretch of the Bronx waterfront has led many lives but will soon be home to over 900 families,’ stated Adams.
He noted, ‘Our vision for Fordham Landing South will create nearly a thousand 100-percent affordable units along with a vibrant mixed-use community and new access to the Metro North transit hub.’
Adams concluded, ‘When we took office three years ago, our housing situation was at a breaking point: too many families were being pushed out of the housing market and too many plots of land like this one lay empty. So, our administration turned inaction into initiative, shattering affordable housing records year after year after year and passing the first citywide rezoning in six decades to unlock new housing across every neighborhood.’
image source from：6sqft
