Harlem bus depot will give way to affordable housing, African Burial Ground memorial

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) along with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) have announced plans to convert a former MTA bus depot on East 126th Street and First Avenue in East Harlem into approximately 730 apartments and a permanent memorial for the historic African Burial Ground.

According to HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer, approximately 150 apartments will be “deeply affordable” to families of three earning $24,500 or less. About another 220 units will be allocated to families making 80 percent of East Harlem’s area median income (AMI) or less. The redevelopment also plans to honor the historic African Burial Grounds that occupies a portion of the land by adding an outdoor memorial along with an indoor cultural center

Details for the redevelopment haven’t been fine-tuned just yet but the project is in the process of going through the city’s public land use review process. Once this stage is complete, the city will announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) and move forward with the developer who submits the winning design.