New 100 percent affordable development brings nearly 500 new units to the Hub neighborhood of The Bronx
$335 million project features a state-of-the-art YMCA, BronxNet studio space and dynamic new retail options
Upon completion of the final phase La Central will bring more than 1,000new affordable apartments to the South Bronx
La Central A and B consist of two 100 percent affordable, mixed-income, mixed-use buildings in the borough’s Melrose neighborhood. In addition to nearly 500 units of new housing, the development features a state-of-the-art YMCA, a production studio for BronxNet and a fully programmed rooftop farm operated by GrowNYC as well as dynamic retail tenants. The buildings were thoughtfully designed by MHG Architects in collaboration with FX Collaborative and Future Green Studio. Apartments range from studios to four-bedrooms and are affordable to residents earning between 30 percent and 100 percent of Area Median Income.
“Our vision for La Central ‘To leave no square foot unturned’ becomes reality starting today,” said Aaron Koffman, Managing Principal of The Hudson Companies. “With affordable housing powered by sustainable energy generation, community and educational space for all ages and vibrant recreational space for the neighborhood, La Central will be a hub within The Hub for the South Bronx community. Congratulations to this new wave of New Yorkers to call La Central home. We thank our elected officials, Community Board 1 and our partners in government and the private sector for their commitment to and investment in La Central.”
“Today is a very special day as we open the doors to buildings A and B of our La Central development, delivering 500 brand new affordable rental housing units to the Melrose community as well as social and shared community spaces for the neighborhood,” said Andrew Cohen, Managing Director at BRP Companies. “We’re very proud to work alongside The Hudson Companies, ELH-TKC, Breaking Ground and Comunilife on this development, which will have a tremendous impact on the lives of so many local residents and will help to revitalize this great neighborhood.”
“La Central represents the kind of mixed-use, place-making developments this administration is committed to creating through our YOUR Home NYC. This phase brings nearly 500 affordable homes to the Melrose neighborhood of the Bronx, along with a new YMCA, a rooftop farm, and dynamic retail that will add to the health and vibrancy of the community far into the future,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “I want to thank our local elected officials, The Hudson Companies, BRP Companies, ELH-TKC, Breaking Ground, Comunilife, and all of our partners for working with us to make this dynamic project a reality, and to help us welcome the new residents home.”
“La Central is a monumental project that will bring more than 1,000 affordably and sustainably built units to The Hub and will transform not only the neighborhood, but the borough and the City by serving as a model of how to do affordable development right," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “In addition to affordable and supportive housing, Buildings A & B will start off this development right with a state-of-the-art YMCA, retail space, and a newly renovated BronxNet Television production studio coming to Melrose. I am proud to have supported the larger La Central development with a contribution of $1.6 million in capital funding. Thank you to Hudson Companies, BRP Companies and ELH-TKC, and the State and City agencies and elected officials who came together to make this project come to life.”
“This development represents our efforts to promote economic opportunity, healthy living, sustainable design, and lasting affordability on the City's remaining public sites,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “La Central will provide housing, retail, community facility space, and supportive services that are needed more than ever as the South Bronx community recovers from the impacts of the pandemic. Thanks to all our partners for their vision and dedication to this transformative project.”
“The YMCA of Greater New York is proud to be a partner of the La Central development,” said Sharon Greenberger, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. “Our new state-of-the-art YMCA facility, featuring two swimming pools, is scheduled to open for membership in the Fall of 2021. We look forward to welcoming Bronx families and friends to the YMCA at La Central.”
Once complete, La Central will consist of five individual buildings, which will include more than 1,000 affordable residences, a fully programmed rooftop farm, operated by GrowNYC, 80,000 square feet of community facility space, 45,000 square feet of retail, a public skatepark, and a roof-mounted telescope to be controlled by the Bronx High School of Science. Breaking Ground and Comunilife, completed development of a 160-unit supportive housing and low-income building (Building D) as part of the overall La Central development in 2019.
The development will also feature several retail options that La Central tenants and the surrounding community will be able to take advantage of. In November 2020 the development team announced several new tenants had leased space in La Central A & B. They include the Taste of The Bronx Cafè, an innovative community-driven space created from the operators of The Bronx Beer Hall in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, and Sustainable Snacks, that will feature gourmet menus prepared by a rotating roster of borough-based chefs; Metate Authentica Comida Mexicana, a Bronx-owned Mexican restaurant with an existing location in Riverdale; and a small organic grocery operated by Hamood A. Alsaedi, that will stock fresh fruits and vegetables, smoothies and other healthy food options, with an existing location in Long Island City.
The $334 million development was financed through the City’s housing plan, a critical pillar of YOUR Home NYC, Mayor de Blasio’s comprehensive approach to helping New Yorkers get, afford, and keep their homes. ,The plan aims to build or preserve 300,000 affordable homes by 2026. Since 2014, the City has financed nearly 178,000 affordable homes.
The Hudson Companies, BRP Companies, ELH-TKC, Breaking Ground, and Comunilife were selected from a very competitive request for proposals by previous New York City Mayor Bloomberg to develop the Bronxchester Urban Renewal sites in the Melrose neighborhood, one of the last large assemblages of City-owned vacant land in the South Bronx. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for La Central A & B in April 2018.
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
The Hudson Companies Incorporated is a private real estate development company started in 1986 that has grown into a leading developer of new housing for all market segments in the New York metropolitan area. The firm is experienced in both new construction and rehabilitation, and is active across the luxury, affordable, and institutional housing markets. Hudson prides itself on seeking out and successfully completing a broad array of complex and exciting residential projects, many of which are joint ventures or public-private partnerships. Reflecting its longstanding commitment to quality, Hudson’s newest projects are designed to meet or exceed green building standards such as LEED, EnergyStar, and Enterprise Green Communities. Hudson also has extensive experience working with government agencies in planning and executing complicated residential developments on underutilized government-owned properties. To date, Hudson has completed more than 5,300 housing units and has almost 5,000 additional units currently in construction or predevelopment.
BRP Companies is a New York-based real estate firm that is at the forefront of mixed-use development and acquisition of urban, multi-family properties. The firm offers a full complement of development, acquisition, construction, property, and investment management. With an experienced staff of 70, a $3.7 billion portfolio and over 9.1 million square feet of current and completed development, BRP is uniquely positioned to meet the demands of urban housing consumers. The firm is an innovator in developing mixed-use, mixed-income, “walkable” urban housing with high-quality, and energy efficient properties throughout the city of New York and beyond. Please visit: www.brpcompanies.com
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