NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) has launched a housing lottery, described as affordable, for units at 66 East 177th Street, a 12-story, residential building in the Mt. Hope section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY.

 

Designed by Badaly Architects, and developed by Aglin Zefi of A2Z Construction Group, the structure yields 55 residential units. Available on NYC Housing Connect, HPD’s online portal, are 11 units for those residents at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $76,595 to $140,000.

 

Amenities include bike storage lockers, an elevator, and laundry service. Residential units are equipped with intercom, air conditioning, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Tenants are responsible for electricity.

 

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are four studios available with a monthly rent of $2,027 for residents earning incomes ranging from $76,595 to $103,680; five one-bedroom units with a monthly rent of $2,167 for those on incomes ranging from $82,389 to $116,640; and two two-bedroom units with a monthly rent of $2,585 for residents earning incomes ranging from $99,395 to $140,000.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments, according to HPD, and applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than Aug. 5.

 

According to HPD, pets are not allowed, though service animals are an exception. Electricity includes stove and air conditioning. Heat and hot water are included in the rent. The building is also anticipated to receive a tax exemption through HPD’s 485X ax incentive program. No deposits or application fees apply.

 

Click here for more information about this lottery. Note HPD sometimes extends the deadline for receipt of applications.

 

HPD officials say affordable housing is based on a household’s percentage of Area Median Income (AMI), which is set by the federal government on a yearly basis. Housing is considered affordable if it costs about one-third or less of household income, and is regulated so the rent can’t go up dramatically over time.

They said in order to be eligible for affordable housing, residents must be 18 years old, and their household income needs to be in a specific range for each affordable housing opportunity. Applicants are required to meet additional guidelines, including asset limits, and tenant selection criteria to qualify.

 

The AMI for all cities across the country is defined each year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The 2025 AMI for the New York City region is $145,800 for a three-person family (100% AMI). We have previously asked HUD to provide the AMI for the New York City region for a single person and have not received a clear response. We’re following up with HUD and will share any further feedback we receive. For more background on this, click here.

 

Various graphs which show Bronx demographics are attached, courtesy of New York City University (NYU)’s Furman Center.

 

According to the center, between 2019-2023, the largest share of studios had gross rents of between $1,000 and $1,500 (32%), the largest share of one-bedroom units had rents between $1,000 and $1,500 (33%), the largest share of two-bedroom units had rents between $1,500 and $2,000 (29%), the largest share of three bedroom units had rents between $1,500 and $2,000 (21%).

Affordable Housing Lottery Helpline: 212-863-7990
Email: nychousingconnect@hpd.nyc.gov

 

For information on applying for affordable housing for people with disabilities, please submit accessibility inquiries to:
Phone: 212-863-6486
Email: accessibility@hpd.nyc.gov

 

HPD Housing Ambassadors
Email: ambassadors@hpd.nyc.gov