Across from Citi Field, Willets Point development opens lottery for 880 affordable apartments
All images courtesy of QDG, unless otherwise noted
A housing lottery opened this week at the Willets Point development, a massive project that will bring thousands of apartments, the city’s first professional soccer stadium, and open space next to Citi Field. The first phase includes 880 apartments at two buildings in Willets Point Commons, designated for New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 60, 80, 120, and 150 percent of the area median income. Apartments are priced from $486/month studios to $4,244/month three-bedrooms.
Developed by Queens Development Group (QDG), a joint venture between Related Companies and Sterling Equities, Willets Point Commons offers thoughtfully crafted homes, complemented by a full suite of amenities and programming.
“At a time when everyone is talking about affordability and the need for more affordable housing in New York, Willets Point is proof of what can happen when the public and private sector come together – we are delivering on the largest all affordable housing development in 40 years,” Bruce A. Beal, Jr., president of Related Companies, and Gregory Katz, partner at Sterling Equities, said on behalf of QDG.
Formerly known as the “valley of ashes,” as described in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” Willets Point served as a dumping ground for decades and was long neglected by the city, lacking sewer systems and other basic infrastructure.
Plans to redevelop the neighborhood have circulated for decades. In 2007, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled a mixed-use development with apartments, offices, and a shopping mall, but the project was stalled and eventually scrapped due to a lawsuit.
In 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio revived the plan, incorporating affordable housing and site remediation. Since then, a majority of the area’s more than 200 businesses have been evicted or bought out, according to the New York Times.
The “Willets Point Transformation” plan, an effort pushed by Mayor Eric Adams starting in 2022, includes 2,500 homes across seven affordable housing buildings that anchor the neighborhood, as 6sqft previously reported.
The development includes a new public school, over 150,000 square feet of public open space, a new hotel, and Etihad Park, which will serve as the home of the New York City Football Club when it opens in 2027. It will be the city’s first professional soccer-specific stadium and Major League Soccer’s first fully electric stadium in the United States.
“Willets Point has been part of Queens’ story for generations, and today we move one step closer to transforming the former ‘valley of ashes’ into a dynamic new neighborhood centered around affordable housing and anchored in opportunity,” City Council Member-Elect Shanel Thomas-Henry said.
“With the opening of the housing lottery for 880 affordable homes, families now have a real path to stability. I encourage all eligible residents to apply and look forward to working with this historic partnership to ensure Willets Point’s future meets the needs of the residents of our community and all of Queens.”
Common spaces include two landscaped inner courtyards, a tenant lounge, outdoor terraces with BBQs, a community garden, a fitness center, a children’s playroom, a co-working space, ground-floor retail, and other shared amenities.
The buildings are being developed with sustainability in mind, aiming for LEED Gold certification and compliance with Local Law 97. Features include high-performance glazing, energy-efficient HVAC systems, an electric hot water plant, an insulated building envelope, Energy Star appliances, and low-emission mobility options such as bike storage and electric vehicle charging.
The project’s next phase will deliver 220 additional affordable homes for low-income seniors.
Residents will have direct access to the 7 subway line, the Long Island Rail Road, and the Q19, Q66, and Q90 bus routes, with LaGuardia Airport just a five-minute drive away.
The other side of Citi Field will also soon be transformed. Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park casino was officially awarded a license by the state this week. The development includes an entertainment complex with a gaming facility, hotel, music venue, restaurants, public park space, and more, on 50 acres of parking lots next to the baseball stadium.
Qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the apartments until February 25, 2026. Complete details on how to apply are available here. Preference for 20 percent of the units is given to residents of Queens Community Board 7.
Questions regarding this offer must be referred to NYC’s Housing Connect department by dialing 311.
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