Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $45 Million to Create and Improve More Than 420 Rental Homes

Includes $24 Million in Funding for Vacant Rental Program to Transform Uninhabitable Apartments into 291 Affordable Homes

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $44.7 million in funding has been awarded across three New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) programs to create and rehabilitate more than 420 rental homes. The investment includes $24 million for 291 homes as part of HCR’s Vacant Rental Program, which transforms vacant and uninhabitable apartments into affordable homes.

“New York is committed to using all tools in its toolbox when it comes to housing affordability,” Governor Hochul said. “The Vacant Rental Program is a great example of how we can transform underutilized spaces to create homes that hundreds of households in communities across New York will be able to afford.”

The Vacant Rental Program was created as part of the FY25 Enacted Budget to support renovations of buildings with up to five vacant and distressed rental units into viable affordable housing for low- and moderate-income tenants in communities outside of New York City. The funding was awarded to 19 non-profits and local governments to assist property owners with the renovations.

Property owners that provide apartments for households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income will receive up to $50,000 in subsidy per unit, and up to $75,000 per unit for apartments for households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Today’s announcement is the final round of funding for the program during Fiscal Year 2026 – an earlier investment of $16.2 million was awarded during the previous fiscal year.

The awarded partners are:

• $300,000 to Allegany County Community Opportunities and Rural Development for four units across Allegany County.
• $1.57 million to Affordable Housing Partnership of the Capital Region for 19 units across Albany County.
• $1 million to Albany County Rural Housing Alliance for 12 units across Albany County.
• $2.3 million to Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services for 28 units in the city of Buffalo.
• $1.11 million to Broome County Land Bank Corporation for 14 units across Broome County.
• $2.3 million to Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency for 28 units across the city of Buffalo.
• $1 million to Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation for 12 units across Chautauqua County.
• $654,000 to the City of Elmira for eight units across Elmira.
• $645,000 to the City of Glens Falls for eight units across Warren County.
• $300,000 to the City of Jamestown for four units across Jamestown.
• $750,000 to Development Chenango Corporation for nine units across Chenango County.
• $2.3 million to East Buffalo Development Corporation for 28 units across East Buffalo.
• $2.3 million to Home HeadQuarters for 28 units across the city of Syracuse.
• $300,000 to Onondaga County for four units across Onondaga County.
• $300,000 to Ontario County Economic Development Corporation for four units across Ontario County.
• $1.7 million to Oswego Housing Development Corporation for 21 units across Oswego County.
• $1.9 million to PRIDE of Ticonderoga (d.b.a. North Country Rural Development Coalition) for 23 units across Warren, Washington, Essex, Hamilton, and Clinton Counties.
• $2.3 million to RUPCO for 28 units across Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Westchester, and Sullivan Counties.
• $750,000 to Tioga County Property Development Corporation for nine units across Tioga County.

The investment also includes $10.7 million for 62 homes as part of HCR’s Small Rental Development Initiative, which supports the creation and preservation of multifamily rental developments with five to 20 apartments. Funding is awarded to non-profit organizations that own, develop, and manage small rental development housing. The homes will be affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income.

The awarded partners are:

• $1.6 million to Shore/iCare for 19 Greenridge Avenue, a six-unit building in the city of White Plains.
• $1.3 million to Sisters of Charity for 200 Tremper Avenue, a six-unit building in the city of Kingston.
• $2.5 million to Nazareth Housing for 406 E 184th Street, a 20-unit building in the Bronx.
• $833,669 to Blue Mountain for 7 Katonah Avenue, a 4-unit affordable building in Katonah, Town of Bedford.
• $2.5 million to FAC Inc. for 573 Warren Street, a 16-unit building in Brooklyn.
• $1.9 million to RUPCO for The Wellington, a 10-unit building in Pine Hill, Town of Shandaken.

More than $10 million was also awarded for three projects as part of HCR’s Small Buildings Participation Loan Program, which assists in financing buildings with between five and 50 units. All of the projects will be affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income.

The awarded projects are:

• $2 million for Church House on Seneca, which will transform a former church complex in the city of Buffalo into 15 homes.
• $4.8 million for Salina 1st, a new 32-unit building in the city of Syracuse.
• $3.3 million for renovations at 40-42 South Street, a 22-unit building in the city of Auburn.

The Vacant Rental Program, Small Rental Development Initiative, and Small Buildings Participation Loan Program are part of Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide. 

Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul and FIFA World Cup 2026 ™ NYNJ Host Committee Announce Free Fan Events Across Five Boroughs

 

City expands World Cup programming with free events in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the FIFA World Cup 2026 ™ New York New Jersey Host Committee today announced a free, citywide slate of Official NYNJ Fan Events across all five boroughs, bringing live match viewings, cultural programming, local businesses and interactive experiences directly to New Yorkers at no cost.  

  

All together, these five FIFA World Cup 2026 ™ Fan Events in New York City will be one of the largest free fan events in the country.   

  

“When I think back on my first World Cup, some of my most meaningful memories weren’t in the stadium, they were in the fan zones, surrounded by thousands of people brought together by a pure love of the game,” said Mayor Mamdani. “That’s what we’re building here: a World Cup that belongs to New Yorkers. By bringing these free fan events to every borough, we’re making sure everyone can be part of that joy.”   

  

“New Yorkers are ready to welcome fans from across the world for the 2026 World Cup and we’re making sure everyone who calls this city home is part of this historic event,” said Governor Hochul. “These free fan events across all five boroughs bring the excitement of the game to every New Yorker in every community — supporting our small businesses and bringing New Yorkers together.”  

  

“The World Cup is an opportunity to celebrate all of the diverse cultures and people that call New York City home,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “In the past, host cities have been criticized for failing to ensure their own workers and residents benefit and get to participate in the opportunities this global game presents. Under Mayor Mamdani, we are charting a new model where New Yorkers across the five boroughs are prioritized with free events, activations, and celebrations like these.”  

  

“These free fan events show our commitment to making New York City the best host city in North America,” said World Cup Czar Maya Handa. “By expanding free programming across all five boroughs, we are ensuring that local restaurants and small businesses share in the benefits of the World Cup.”  

  

“These events are about welcoming the world to New York New Jersey and showcasing the very best of our region,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ 2026 World Cup Host Committee. “As the sports and entertainment capital of the world, we’re creating fan experiences that are affordable, accessible, and authentically New York New Jersey—for visitors and, just as importantly, for the residents who call this region home. We’re grateful to Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani for their leadership and partnership in bringing these experiences to life.”    

 

Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, where the announcement took place, received a new LED scoreboard, funded through the Economic Development Corporation and a donation from the FIFA New York New Jersey Host Committee. The collaborative effort between the City and the Host Committee not only readies the Stadium to host FIFA Fan Fest watch parties this summer but will also serve as a permanent critical equipment upgrade for baseball seasons well beyond the end of the 2026 World Cup.   

  

Free Official NYNJ Fan Events Across the Five Boroughs  

  

QUEENS | NYNJ World Cup 26 Queens Group Stage HQ | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows | June 11–27 | Daily programming and match viewings  

  

MANHATTAN | NYNJ World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village at Rockefeller Center | Rockefeller Center | July 6–19 | Daily programming; extended hours during Finals Week  

  

THE BRONX | NYNJ World Cup 26 Bronx Fan Zone | Bronx Terminal Market | June 13–14 | Matchday programming and local cultural programming  

  

BROOKLYN | Brooklyn Fan Zone | Brooklyn Bridge Park | June 13 - July 19 | Daily Programming and match viewings  

  

STATEN ISLAND | NYNJ World Cup 26 Staten Island Fan Zone | Staten Island University Hospital Community Park | June 29–July 2 | Daily programming and evening match viewings  

  

Together, these events form a 39-day, citywide celebration – spreading economic opportunity and World Cup energy across every corner of the city, not just its busiest destinations.    

Additional details on programming, partners and talent will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit nynjfwc26.com.  

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Join us for Pinkster on Saturday, May 2

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VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE (VNNA)–WEDNESDAY MAY 6–MONTHLY MEETING—7PM

 

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE (VNNA)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026

7:00 PM

MONSIGNOR FIORENTINO SENIOR APTS.

1830 AMETHYST STREET

Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance

www.facebook.com/VanNestNeighborhoodAlliance

Permits Filed for 3142 Park Avenue in Melrose, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 3142 Park Avenue in Melrose, The Bronx. Located between East 159th Street and East 160th Street, the lot is near the 161 Street – Yankee Stadium subway station, served by the 4, B, and D trains. Jacob Zicherman of Happy Living Management is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 53-foot-tall development will yield 7,437 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 15 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 495 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a penthouse and a 25-foot-long rear yard.

Ariel Golshan of AG Engineering is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

McLean Place Tops Out At 1139–1145 Webster Avenue in Morrisania, The Bronx

 

Construction has topped out on McLean Place, a 15-story residential building at 1139–1145 Webster Avenue in Morrisania, The Bronx. Designed by Magnusson Architecture & Planning and developed by New Destiny Housing, the structure will yield 72 supportive housing units in a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. Forty-three of the apartments will be set aside for domestic violence survivors and their children exiting the shelter system. The property is located near the corner of Webster Avenue and East 167th Street.

The project is named after New Destiny’s founding executive director and long-term board member, Charles E. McLean, Jr., who died in July 2023.

McLean Place topping out ceremony. Photo courtesy of New Destiny Housing.

The renderings in the main photo and below depict the main eastern elevation, showing a multifaceted massing incorporating setbacks topped with landscaped terraces. The design will feature multiple fenestrations, including an irregular grid of floor-to-ceiling windows grouped in two-story increments with protruding metal frames and bronze-hued spandrels. Behind the setbacks, the building will be clad in dark gray brick with a more conventional grid of square windows. The structure will culminate in a landscaped roof deck topped with a photovoltaic canopy

McLean Place. Rendering courtesy of Magnusson Architecture & Planning.

The rear western profile, pictured below, will be clad primarily in dark gray brick. The roof terrace will offer panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline to the south.

Residential amenities will include a community room, a common kitchen, a library lounge, an outdoor courtyard, a fitness room, and security. On-site supportive services will include mental health counseling, case management, and recreational activities for adults and children alike.

McLean Place was designed to achieve Passive House certification and will be fully electric

Financing for McLean Place includes a mix of public and private funding, including $25 million from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Supportive Housing Loan Program, $9.7 million from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, and a $14 million construction loan from Capital One. Hudson Housing Capital syndicated $16 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for the project, and acquisition and pre-development funding was made possible thanks to the Corporation for Supportive Housing and Deutsche Bank’s Supportive Housing Acquisition and Rehabilitation Effort.

The project will receive operating funds from Section 8 project-based vouchers as well as New York’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative.

The closest subways from the project are the B and D trains at the 167th Street station to the west along the Grand Concourse. The Melrose station on the Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem Line is also about a 10-minute walk to the south along Park Avenue.

McLean Place’s anticipated completion date is slated for early next year.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $30 Million in Highway and Bridge Construction Projects Beginning Across Upstate New York

New Bridges and Rehabilitated Roadways Will Enhance Safety and Mobility Along Key Highways in North Country, Western and Central New York

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that work is set to begin on three highway and bridge construction projects that will provide travelers with enhanced safety and smoother rides on several key roadways across upstate New York. Totaling an over $30 million investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure, the project’s will replace aging bridges, resurface roadways and make other improvements along highways in Franklin, Onondaga, and Niagara counties. The projects are part of an unprecedented effort announced by Governor Hochul to restore roadways across New York State.

“Now that winter has finally loosened its grip on Upstate New York, we are moving full speed ahead with vital investments that will help build back our infrastructure to reconnect communities and meet the demands of the 21st century,” Governor Hochul said. “These highway and bridge projects will ensure the smooth flow of people and goods along vital travel arteries in the North Country and in Western and Central New York, which will further economic growth and make life easier for the tens of thousands of motorists who travel these routes every day.”

Overseen by the New York State Department of Transportation, the projects include:

Replacement of Three Bridges on U.S. Route 11 in Franklin County

The $10 million project will replace three existing bridges on U.S. Route 11 in the Town of Moira and Village of Brushton that were originally built tin 1928, improving travel on this critical artery that connects the communities of Potsdam, Malone, and Plattsburgh. The highway also provides access to Interstate 87 and such popular destinations as SUNY Potsdam, Clarkson University, SUNY Plattsburgh, and Clinton Community College.

Bridges being replaced are:

• U.S. Route 11 over Little Salmon River, Town of Moira/Village of Brushton – A 90-foot, multi-girder bridge will be constructed in 2026. U.S. Route 11 will remain open to traffic with an alternating one-way traffic pattern in place during construction.
• U.S. Route 11 over Lawrence Brook, Town of Moira – A 75-foot, multi-girder bridge will be constructed in 2027. This location will be closed to traffic during construction. A signed detour will be in place utilizing County Route 55, State Route 11B, and County Route 16.
• US Route 11 over Farrington Brook, Town of Moira – A 60-foot, multi-girder bridge will be constructed in 2027. This location will be closed to traffic during construction. A signed detour will be in place utilizing County Route 55, State Route 11B, and County Route 16.

The new structures will all feature 12-foot travel lanes and enhanced shoulders to accommodate cyclists along this signed bicycle route. Other improvements include new guiderail, reconstructed approaches, improved intersection geometry, and a new closed drainage system. The project over Little Salmon River will also include improvements to the sidewalk on either side of the bridge approaches. This project is anticipated to be completed by December 2027.

Transit Road Rehabilitation in Niagara County

The $8.92 million project will rehabilitate Transit Road (State Route 78) from the Lockport South City Line to the Niagara County Line in the towns of Lockport and Pendleton, Niagara County, with a small portion extending into the towns of Clarence and East Amherst, Erie County.

This section of Transit Road connects the City of Lockport - Niagara County’s seat - directly to Erie County and serves as a major link for regional travel in Western New York. The project will include a complete milling and resurfacing of the road, installation of new pavement markings, replacement of corridor signs as needed, repairs and replacement of drainage structures including culverts, and enhancements to pedestrian facilities. Additionally, this includes reconstruction of sidewalk and installation of a new ADA-compliant curb ramp along the eastern side of Transit Road in front of the City of Lockport’s Children’s Memorial Park, between Lincoln Avenue and Lincoln Drive. Recent pothole patching has already been performed to maintain ride quality in advance of the full resurfacing.

The rehabilitation work will restore pavement, improve drainage and resiliency, enhance accessibility and safety for motorists and pedestrians, and provide a better overall traveling experience. The culvert replacements and milling and paving work will be done during the night and two-way traffic is expected to be maintained at all times. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

A separate $4.35 million highway rehabilitation project along Transit Road and State Route 31 in the City of Lockport will begin later this summer with an expected completion date in 2027.

I-81 Resurfacing in Onondaga County

Work is getting started on a $11.2 million project that will resurface a key stretch of Interstate 81 in Onondaga County to provide smoother rides and enhanced safety for travelers headed to and from the City of Syracuse. The project will add new pavement and make other improvements to nearly 20 lane miles of this critical highway stretching north from the Syracuse city line to the hamlet of Mattydale in the Town of Salina.

Pavement renewal will occur along I-81 from exits 5B-5A-4B (Hiawatha Blvd/Destiny USA/Bear St) to Exit 8 (U.S. 11/Mattydale). The I-81 corridor is a vital north-south artery that connects Syracuse with Hancock International Airport, Onondaga County’s northern suburbs, the North Country and Canada. Paving work will take place outside of the areas where construction is already underway in the Town of Cicero and the City of Syracuse as part of the I-81 Viaduct Project.

Crews will mill four inches of worn pavement along three lanes of traffic in each direction and replace it with a new layer of warm mix asphalt. Additionally, resurfacing will also take place along a portion of the I-81 southbound off-ramp to Hiawatha Boulevard and sections of other on-and-off ramps, including 7th North Street, the New York State Thruway and U.S. Route 11. New, reflective pavement markings will also be installed to improve visibility for motorists.

To minimize traffic disruptions, paving operations are expected to occur at night. Motorists should expect traffic shifts and lane and ramp closures during construction.

Work is anticipated to be completed this fall.

As was recently announced by Governor Hochul, NYSDOT has launched the most ambitious road resurfacing agenda in its history, totaling more than 4,000 lane miles of renewed pavement to give New York drivers a smoother, safer ride. Other upcoming initiatives in the Capital Region include two projects on the Adirondack Northway, spanning a combined 113 lane miles from Western Avenue in Albany to Exit 11 in Round Lake, scheduled for substantial completion this year. 

TEENAGER CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR SHOOTING DEATH OF 15-YEAR-OLD JADEN PIERRE IN ROY WILKINS PARK

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Zahir Davis was arraigned and remanded on charges of murder in the second degree, gang assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon for the shooting death of 15-year-old Jaden Pierre in Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans on April 16.

District Attorney Katz said: “This murder has shocked and outraged our city. As alleged, unarmed 15-year-old Jaden Pierre was mercilessly beaten by a group of teens in Roy Wilkins Park when defendant Zahir Davis pulled out a silver handgun and – without provocation – shot the victim once in the chest, killing him. The defendant then allegedly took a flight to the island of Jamaica to evade responsibility. This senseless act of gun violence will not go unanswered. No parent should ever have to bury their 15-year-old child, and my office will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure justice for Jaden and his loved ones.”

Davis, 18, of Springfield Gardens, was charged in a criminal complaint with murder in the second degree, gang assault in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He was arraigned this morning before Judge Michael Hartofilis, who remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court on April 29. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

Davis was also arraigned on a separate criminal complaint charging him with two counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree and harassment in the second degree for allegedly threatening to shoot his ex-girlfriend, who is the mother of his child, on April 12.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges, on April 16, at approximately 6:15 p.m., Jaden Pierre was at Roy Wilkins Park with a large group of teenagers who gathered for a water fight advertised on social media.

During the gathering a group of boys attacked Jaden, punching and kicking him repeatedly. As the group of boys continued to surround Jaden, the defendant allegedly approached the victim, pulled out a silver firearm from his bag and shot Jaden in the upper chest.

Jaden fell to the ground and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Davis then fled to the island of Jamaica after the shooting and returned to the United States on Friday evening. He surrendered to members of the NYPD’s 113th Precinct.

The investigation into the gang assault remains ongoing.