CSC has sponsored the renovation and development of nearly 600 units of low income housing at 24 different sites since the early 1980s. We have also participated in community based planning efforts that have directly resulted in over 350 additional low income housing units developed by other entities.

Affordable Housing:

Our Housing staff works to identify opportunities to develop low/moderate or middle income housing as well as community/cultural spaces on the Lower East Side.

In December, 2007, we and our development partner, Community Access, obtained a temporary Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for 29 E. 2nd Street, a 53-unit building with supportive housing services. It was fully rented up by mid-2008.

We are seeking new development opportunities on the Lower East Side, either as a General Partner in a low income housing development or as Marketing Partner for the low income housing units in an 80/20 development project.

Community and Cultural Spaces:

Streetscape Project: We are partnering with (Fourth Arts Block) to implement a streetscape project for the East 4th Street Cultural District. We jointly retained Starr Whitehouse to create a Master Plan for the block in 2008. With FAB, we paid for installation of Fourth Arts Block banners on and around East 4th Street. Phase 2 will begin in 2009.

Façade and Building Improvements: We are administering façade and building improvement funds provided by the NYS Housing Trust Fund for 5 cultural buildings on East 4th Street. A $16 million capital renovation project, largely funded by the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Councilperson Rosie Mendez, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg is underway for these historic buildings which contain over a dozen theaters, 2 dance companies and several visual arts organizations.

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