Sydney House

Organization Name: Habitat for Humanity New York City

Project Title: Sydney House

Project Location: Williamsbridge section of the Bronx

Project Description:
Sydney House is a 100% affordable, 56-unit cooperative development in Williamsbridge, in the north central Bronx. The building, which is a partnership between Habitat for Humanity NYC and the Almat Group, will create affordable homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income households and feature 26 one-bedroom, 23 two-bedroom, and 7 three-bedroom apartments. Onsite amenities include a shared 2,000 square foot recreation space, homeowner storage, car and bicycle parking, a community room, and multiple green roofs. Located near the 2 and 5 subway lines with an easy commute into Manhattan, Sydney House is also close to neighborhood activities and green spaces like the Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Park, and City Island. Project partners include: NYC Councilmember Andy King; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.; NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development; NYS Homes & Community Renewal; and the State of New York Mortgage Agency.

Community Impact:
In New York City, rentals often dominate the conversation about affordable housing. Sydney House brings affordable homeownership opportunities to the Bronx – the borough with the lowest homeownership rate (19.3%) - allowing residents to build equity and invest in their homes and the larger community. Homeownership has been shown to produce better health outcomes, higher educational attainment, and higher levels of civic engagement than renting. Sydney House is the result of years of advocacy highlighting the sector’s dramatic lack of investment in affordable homeownership development at scale. It is the first project financed under HPD’s Open Door program, announced as a part of Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York 2.0 plan to create and preserve 300,000 affordable homes by 2026.

Sydney House will create ownership opportunities for 56 Bronx families, solidifying their access to equity-building, self-determination and long-term stability in the face of an ongoing housing crisis.

Organization Description:
Habitat for Humanity New York City transforms lives and communities by building and preserving affordable homes with hardworking families and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing and homeownership. With the help of thousands of volunteers each year, Habitat NYC builds and repairs homes for families across the five boroughs. Founded in 1984 as an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat NYC has served more than 700 families in the five boroughs through home construction and preservation.

Team Members:

Almat Group; NYC Councilmember Andy King; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.; NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development; NYS Homes & Community Renewal; SONYMA; Mega Contracting Group