New affordable housing development opens
with ribbon-cutting in downtown Jamaica
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Southeast Queens lawmakers and
community members celebrated the
opening of Archer Green, a new affordable
housing complex to benefit
residents and families in downtown Jamaica,
with a ribbon-cutting ceremony
on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
The New York City Economic Development
Corporation (NYCEDC), Department
of Housing Preservation and
Development (HPD), Housing Development
Corporation (HDC) and Omni
New York LLC were also in attendance
for the opening of the building, located
at 92-23 168th St.
The transformational project born
out of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan
delivers a 387-unit apartment complex
that includes a 15,000-square-foot community
facility and a 70,000-square-foot
commercial space, which will be home
to Aldi, a low-cost grocery store that
will bring high-quality fresh food and
produce to the neighborhood.
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards and Councilman I. Daneek
Miller spoke about their work to help
the project across the finish line.
Richards said Archer Green will
make a massive difference in the lives
of hundreds of Queens families.
“The opening of Archer Green is
nothing short of a tremendous victory
for the families of Jamaica as we welcome
nearly 400 units of 100% affordable
housing, as well as a much-needed
grocery store and significant community
space, to one of Queens’ most historic
and fastest-growing communities,”
Richards said.
The ribbon-cutting of Archer Green
represents years of hard work and negotiations,
according to Miller, who said
they worked to ensure that the development
featured 100% affordable units,
using all of the tools at their disposal at
the Council to secure financing for the
project.
“We appreciate the partnership
with the city and EDC to ensure that
MWBE participation was a priority for
this project, and are incredibly excited
about adding more affordable housing
to Downtown Jamaica,” Miller said.
“With the impacts of the pandemic, it’s
more important than ever that folks
have access to apartments like these,
which are not only affordable, but offer
top-of-the-line amenities as well.”
The residential building includes a
variety of amenities such as a fitness
room, outdoor terrace, community
lounge, children’s playroom, media and
co-working space, package lockers and
bike storage.
The building will also achieve LEED
Southeast Queens elected officials and community members cut the ribbon at Archer Green, a new affordable housing
development in downtown Jamaica, on Dec. 1. Photo courtesy of NYCEDC
gold status and incorporate several
green technologies that will improve
building operations and increase resiliency,
including a state-of-the-art
battery energy storage system that can
provide backup power in the event of
a black out; solar panels; a Combined
Heat and Power (CHP) system that generates
electricity and captures heat that
would otherwise be wasted; electric vehicle
charging stations; and energy efficient
appliances and fixtures.
The redevelopment project arose
from the Jamaica NOW Action Plan, a
$153 million neighborhood revitalization
initiative announced in 2015 by
the de Blasio administration, former
Queens Borough President Melinda
Katz and NYCEDC. The plan aimed to
economically revitalize Jamaica by
increasing access to quality jobs and
small business support, promoting commercial
growth, improving livability
and increasing awareness of Jamaica.
Justin Rodgers, interim president
and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development
Corporation, said Archer Green
demonstrates the great things that
come from public-private partnerships.
“The revitalization of this long-underutilized
lot begins the transformation
of the 168th Street corridor with affordable
housing, jobs, community space
and retail. Hats off to the city officials
and the development team at Omni New
York for their great collaboration,” Rodgers
said.
2 TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 10 - DEC. 16, 2021
Eugene Schneur, managing director
of Omni New York LLC, said they’re
thrilled to celebrate the completion of
the 100 percent affordable housing and
mixed-use development.
Construction on the project began in
2018 to redevelop the former New York
Police Department parking garage and
created more than 1,900 construction
jobs. It is also expected to create more
than 200 permanent jobs.
“What was once an NYPD garage, is
now nearly 400 affordable homes, plus a
new grocery store and additional retail
— yet another example of how the city
has been pushing to use public sites to
develop affordable housing,” said Louise
Carroll, HPD commissioner.
Rachel Loeb, president and CEO of
NYCEDC, thanked their city partners,
local elected officials, the development
team, community members, and all
who helped NYCEDC in reaching the
tremendous milestone.
“Archer Green will create muchneeded
affordable housing and goodpaying
jobs, which will help spur a
thriving local economy in Jamaica,
Queens,” Loeb said.
Senator Leroy Comrie, who recalled
standing with his colleagues at the
groundbreaking in 2019, said despite the
challenges posed by the past 18 months
due to the pandemic, it is encouraging
to see that the city agencies continue to
find find a way to move forward working
in collaboration with the private
sector to provide much-needed affordable
housing.
“The development of downtown Jamaica
with affordable housing, a community
facility and commercial space is
critical to our economic recovery, and I
commend everyone that took the recommendations
of the Jamaica NOW Action
Plan and helped make them a reality,”
Comrie said.
Councilwoman Adrienne Adams
said the opening of Archer Green marks
a major milestone in the revitalization
of downtown Jamaica.
“The addition of nearly 400 units
of affordable housing, community facility
space, a new grocery store and
environmental benefits will be a boon
for our community,” Adams said. “As
a former co-chair of the Jamaica NOW
Leadership Council, I am excited that
the Action Plan we announced in
2015 is already delivering results and
benefits for the residents of southeast
Queens.”
Community Board 12 District Manager
Yvonne Reddick thanked their
partners, city agencies and elected officials
for their collaboration and continued
support to bring new affordable
housing and commercial space to the
neighborhood.
“We are thrilled to see Archer Green
go from a proposal to a reality,” Reddick
said. “The new buildings are beautiful
and will make a big difference in this
community.”
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