City unveils plan for 600 affordable homes, soccer field, and STEM center on vacant Inwood lot
Renderings courtesy of MAP Architects / HPD
A plan to build hundreds of affordable homes on a vacant lot in Inwood is moving forward. The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on Wednesday announced Slate Property Group, Xenolith Partners, and Comunilife Inc. will develop “La Ostra” at 4095 9th Avenue. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning, PC (MAP), the Harlem River waterfront development will feature more than 600 affordable homes for low-income New Yorkers and seniors and a marine science and STEM education center operated by the Billion Oyster Project and BioBus.
The former parking lot measures roughly 93,000 square feet and sits between 220th Street and 218th Street, at the northeastern tip of Inwood. According to The Real Deal, the city acquired the site from Spectrum’s parent company, Charter Communications, in 2021.
La Ostra, Spanish for “The Oyster,” will feature 625 units, with 224 apartments for seniors. The remaining 400 apartments will be for low-income residents. The development will include a large recreation room on the ground floor and multiple terraces.
In addition to affordable housing, the development will feature a new indoor–outdoor soccer field for both residents and community members, mental health services from Comunilife, and one acre of publicly accessible waterfront open space. An outdoor classroom, a pavilion with seating, a central lawn, and an amphitheater are also part of the project.
La Ostra will feature sustainable and climate-resilient features, including raised landscaping, solar arrays, and other technologies.
“Many great housing proposals were brought forth for the Inwood 9th Avenue site, demonstrating the diverse needs of our community and creative solutions driven by the expertise and dedication of many community-based organizations,” Council Member Carmen De La Rosa said.
“This proposal is thoughtful, considering the reality of climate change, opening up the waterfront and additional green space for Uptown, and providing much-needed mental health services on site. We are excited to see this team, including Comunilife, materialize this proposal, and look forward to eventually moving our seniors and low-income families into the 600 units at La Ostra.”
The project falls under Mayor Eric Adams’ “24 in 24” plan, which advanced 24 affordable housing developments on 24 publicly-owned sites. The request for proposals was released last fall. According to the HPD, the winning bid responds to the community’s need for deeply affordable housing for families and seniors and access to the waterfront.
The 2018 Inwood rezoning called for 1,600 new affordable homes, prioritizing projects on city-owned land, waterfront parks, a new cultural center, and a new public library. The immigrant-centered People’s Theatre will open at the Miramar development in 2026, and the new public library, which anchors the affordable development The Eliza, opened last June.
“At HPD, we have been focused on thinking creatively and acting boldly to build more housing and tackle the affordability crisis head-on — with the urgency that New Yorkers expect and deserve,” Ahmed Tigani, acting commissioner of HPD, said.
“Inspired by the Inwood Neighborhood Plan, today’s announcement is a testament to the power of that creative thinking: by combining access to the waterfront, a hub for science and community education, and over 600 units of affordable housing, we are showing that we are focused on building not just units, but affordable homes and communities, equipped with world-class amenities, for hard-working New Yorkers.”
The project needs to obtain public approvals and financing before construction can begin.
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