Sandy victims get first dibs at new HPD buildings

HPD Commissioner Mathew Wambua and a rendering of Coney Island Commons
HPD Commissioner Mathew Wambua and a rendering of Coney Island Commons

The city Department of Housing Preservation and Development will now offer up apartments in its new developments to Hurricane Sandy victims who lost their homes when the storm made landfall, Crain’s reported. Those eligible must fall within each project’s income restrictions; the low- and middle-income families whose homes were damaged will now get first call for up to one quarter of the units.

The first development that will offer such units to victims is the 195-unit Coney Island Commons. Here, 25 percent of units are being reserved for victims who make no greater than $49,800 annually for a four-person family. Families can move in this summer.

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The Coney Island development, which has studios, one- and two-bedroom units, is located in storm zone A. Despite its location, Sandy’s storm surge left minor damage on the property and construction was not delayed, in part thanks to modern building techniques.

City officials say that the program could offer housing to hundreds of displaced victims. [Crain’s]Zachary Kussin