June 29, 2023
An appellate court in Manhattan this week cleared a development team that includes Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester (Habitat), represented by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, in collaboration with The City of New York, to proceed with the development of Haven Green, a planned 123-unit affordable housing rental complex for low- and extremely-low-income seniors, including 30% formerly homeless seniors, with services available for LGBTQ+ seniors.
Located in Little Italy, Manhattan, the development will also include publicly accessible garden space (designed and programmed through a community engagement process) and a wide variety of enhanced programming and flexible community activity space. Onsite and community services will be provided by development team member RiseBoro Community Partnership and Habitat.
The project faced lawsuits from groups arguing that the City's environmental review process was flawed and that the development would reduce open green space. This week, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and unanimously rejected these legal challenges, removing a significant hurdle for development to proceed.
Habitat was represented in the case, pro bono, by Stroock Partners James L. Bernard, Ross F. Moskowitz, and Joshua Sohn; Special Counsel and Director of Pro Bono, Kerry T. Cooperman; and Associate Lee C. Rarrick.
Karen Haycox, CEO of Habitat for Humanity NYC & Westchester County, stated, “Habitat for Humanity has generally been a welcomed contributor to neighborhood development. However, it’s no secret that real estate development in our most expensive and exclusive neighborhoods is a complex process. When we undertook the Haven Green project alongside our development partners, we knew that opposition from some of the community would make the project contentious. We are so grateful to the partners at Stroock, Stroock & Lavan LLP for agreeing to support our response to the lawsuits that sought to derail this important project that will advance equity, sustainability, and housing security for more than 123 very low income seniors who will one day call Haven Green home.”
Cooperman says, “I am proud of our representation of Habitat in this case. Both open green space and affordable senior housing are important to the NoLita neighborhood and to New York City more broadly. Haven Green will simultaneously preserve—and extend public access to—green space while expanding affordable housing and services for low-income seniors (including LGBTQ+ seniors) in a neighborhood where affordable housing has long been in short supply.”
The grand opening of the Haven Green building and public spaces, and commencement of ongoing delivery of high-quality services to members of the community, is anticipated in Summer 2025.
Learn more about Haven Green.
June 29, 2023
An appellate court in Manhattan this week cleared a development team that includes Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester (Habitat), represented by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, in collaboration with The City of New York, to proceed with the development of Haven Green, a planned 123-unit affordable housing rental complex for low- and extremely-low-income seniors, including 30% formerly homeless seniors, with services available for LGBTQ+ seniors.
Located in Little Italy, Manhattan, the development will also include publicly accessible garden space (designed and programmed through a community engagement process) and a wide variety of enhanced programming and flexible community activity space. Onsite and community services will be provided by development team member RiseBoro Community Partnership and Habitat.
The project faced lawsuits from groups arguing that the City's environmental review process was flawed and that the development would reduce open green space. This week, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and unanimously rejected these legal challenges, removing a significant hurdle for development to proceed.
Habitat was represented in the case, pro bono, by Stroock Partners James L. Bernard, Ross F. Moskowitz, and Joshua Sohn; Special Counsel and Director of Pro Bono, Kerry T. Cooperman; and Associate Lee C. Rarrick.
Karen Haycox, CEO of Habitat for Humanity NYC & Westchester County, stated, “Habitat for Humanity has generally been a welcomed contributor to neighborhood development. However, it’s no secret that real estate development in our most expensive and exclusive neighborhoods is a complex process. When we undertook the Haven Green project alongside our development partners, we knew that opposition from some of the community would make the project contentious. We are so grateful to the partners at Stroock, Stroock & Lavan LLP for agreeing to support our response to the lawsuits that sought to derail this important project that will advance equity, sustainability, and housing security for more than 123 very low income seniors who will one day call Haven Green home.”
Cooperman says, “I am proud of our representation of Habitat in this case. Both open green space and affordable senior housing are important to the NoLita neighborhood and to New York City more broadly. Haven Green will simultaneously preserve—and extend public access to—green space while expanding affordable housing and services for low-income seniors (including LGBTQ+ seniors) in a neighborhood where affordable housing has long been in short supply.”
The grand opening of the Haven Green building and public spaces, and commencement of ongoing delivery of high-quality services to members of the community, is anticipated in Summer 2025.
Learn more about Haven Green.
