Mayor Zohran Mamdani and community leaders gathered in East Harlem on Wednesday to celebrate the start of construction on Timbale Terrace, a development project intended to deliver 341 units of affordable housing and a major cultural hub to the area. The 19 story building is rising on a site at East 118th Street and Park Avenue that previously served as an asphalt parking lot for the New York Police Department. The project is a central piece of administration efforts to utilize city owned land for public benefit rather than vehicle storage, a specific pledge Mamdani made during his campaign to reclaim municipal property for residential use.
The development represents an early milestone in the Mamdani administration New York for All housing agenda, which seeks to triple the production of publicly subsidized homes. During his run for office, Mamdani vowed to create 200,000 new affordable units over the next decade to address the persistent housing shortage. By transforming an underutilized police lot into a residential tower, the Mayor is signaling a shift toward his promise of prioritizing people over parking.
A primary feature of the development is a 21,000 square foot permanent home for the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, which recently rebranded as Belongó. The space will offer a performance theater with 300 seats alongside recording studios and education rooms designed to preserve the musical traditions of El Barrio. Mayor Mamdani told the crowd that the city is not just building apartments but is instead creating a sanctuary for the culture that makes the neighborhood iconic. This focus on cultural preservation aligns with his broader goal of treating public spaces as essential social infrastructure that connects New Yorkers to their heritage.
Of the 341 apartments, 97 units are reserved for formerly homeless individuals who will receive on site social services. This component of the project directly addresses Mamdani campaign commitment to prioritize those with the greatest needs and move vulnerable residents out of the shelter system. The remaining homes are available to households with incomes ranging from 30 to 80 percent of the area median income, providing options for both very low income and moderate income New Yorkers.
The design of the tower follows strict standards for energy efficiency to lower carbon emissions and reduce utility bills for those living there. Such sustainable features support the Mayor vision for a greener city and his promise to integrate climate resilience into all new public housing projects. Developers expect the work to be completed by the end of 2027.
Project partners include the Lantern Organization and Mega Development. Funding for the $255 million project comes through a combination of city housing bonds and private investment along with support from the Manhattan Borough President and the City Council. Arturo O’Farrill, the founder of Belongó, said the new center will allow the organization to expand its reach and provide a stable stage for world class musicians. He called the groundbreaking a historic moment for the jazz community and a victory for cultural equity in New York.
The project is part of a broader city plan to increase housing density near transit hubs while providing dedicated space for local non profit groups. Officials said the transformation of the site from a gated lot to a community resource is a model for future developments across the five boroughs as the administration works to fulfill its long term affordability targets.
