The former NYPD parking garage in Jamaica will soon be the home of a mixed-use building that will include nearly 400 affordable housing units.
Officials broke ground on Sept. 21 on Archer Green Apartments, located at the site of the former parking garage at the corner of 168th Street and 93rd Avenue. When completed, the building will feature more than 380 affordable apartments, a 15,000-square-foot community facility and 68,800 feet of retail and commercial space.
It’s the latest development to rise in Jamaica in conjunction with the Jamaica NOW action plan, a concerted effort to boost business and real estate development in the neighborhood. The Archer Green project will create nearly 350 construction jobs and another 300 permanent positions when completed.
Among the officials taking part in the groundbreaking were New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO James Patchett, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Councilman I. Daneek Miller, state Senator Leroy Comrie and Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman and representatives of Omni New York, which is spearheading the project.
“Archer Green Apartments is a game-changing project that will help spur economic growth in the heart of downtown Jamaica,” Patchett said. “Together, with our partner agencies HPD (the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, HDC (the Housing and Development Corporation), and the development team, we’re delivering 380 units of 100 percent affordable housing, over 300 good-paying jobs, and dedicated community space.”
“The 168th Street corridor is being reborn with much-needed affordable housing, community space and retail for the residents of Jamaica and southeast Queens,” said Hope Knight, president and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. “The redevelopment of this long underutilized lot perfectly demonstrates the City’s commitment to Jamaica’s future.”
According to the NYCEDC, Omni New York LLC and Lettire Construction Corporation, the project’s construction management team, have committed to a 25 percent minority/women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) participation goal and 35 percent minority and female workforce participation in construction jobs and new staff positions created.
Additionally, the NYCEDC noted, the development team will take part in HireNYC, which connects New Yorkers with workforce development services and job opportunities for various investment projects.
“Jamaica’s transformation continues as we break ground on a long-awaited development that delivers on our promise to expand opportunities in Jamaica including affordable housing,” Katz added. “A hallmark of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan is to revitalize one of Queens’ most critical commercial and cultural hubs, this mixed-use complex will provide the community with the affordable housing, community facility space, retail and employment opportunities it needs — and deserves — going forward.”
The Jamaica NOW plan, created in 2015 by the de Blasio administration along with Katz and the EDC, aims to invest $153 million toward revitalizing Jamaica through development, job creation and the creation of thousands of housing units.
“Housing is a major component to the economic revitalization of Jamaica, Queens,” said Ian Harris, chair of the Jamaica NOW Leadership Council. “The Jamaica NOW Leadership Council is proud to see one of its action items come to fruition with the redevelopment of the NYPD garage. This project brings jobs, affordable housing and community space making it a win for the whole community.”
Editor’s note: An earlier version incorrectly identified HDC as the Historic Districts Council. It has since been corrected. We regret any confusion which may have resulted.
