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Permits Filed for Two Affordable Housing Buildings and Parking Garage in Forest Hills

Forest Hills Co-op (Photo: Google Maps)

April 24, 2018 By Tara Law

A nonprofit housing developer has filed plans to construct two mixed-used buildings and a parking garage in Forest Hills.

Phipps Houses, the oldest and largest nonprofit developer in New York City, will construct the buildings on a vacant area at 62-27 108th St. The property is also home to 430 affordable housing units–known as the Forest Hills Co-op.

The first residential building, 17-story “Building A,” will be 198,911 square feet and 174 feet tall. The building will contain 183 apartment units. Outpatient medical offices will be located on the first floor.

The building’s cellar will have storage space for 92 bicycles, a playroom and an exercise room. A lobby and outdoor terrace will be located on the first floor.

The second structure, 13-story “Building C,” will be 131,889 square feet and 140 feet tall. The building will have 115 apartment units and a first-floor community center.

A storage room for 58 bikes and a residential lobby will be located on the first floor. An exercise room, two outdoor terraces and a playroom will be located on the second floor.

The third structure, “Building D,” will be a 4-story parking garage. The building will be 110,400 square feet and 40 feet tall.

The tenants at the Forest Hills Co-op voted to leave NYCHA in December and form the Forest Hills Mutual Housing Association, the New York Post reported. The tenant organization then joined forces with Phipps Houses, a nonprofit property manager.

As part of the agreement to join with Phipps, the tenants agreed to sell three acres of vacant land to the developer for $8 million, which will fund upkeep and rent subsidies for the Forest Hills Mutual Housing Association. The developer intended to construct three affordable housing buildings on the property, according to the New York Post.

The property was still held under the housing association’s name as of the filing of the building permits.

A spokesperson for Phipps said that his organization was not ready to discuss the plans in greater detail. He did not say whether plans for a third affordable housing building will be filed.