Housing lottery launches for 155 rent-stabilized apartments in Far Rockaway, Queens

Housing lottery applications are open for 155 rent-stabilized apartments at a new development in Far Rockaway, Queens. New Yorkers who earn $16,972 to $140,080 are eligible to apply, depending on the size of the household. Rents start at $410 for a studio.

The pet-friendly building at 1605 Village Lane has bike storage lockers, a party room, playground, and a rooftop terrace. It’s located between the Far Rockaway train station on the Long Island Rail Road and the Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue subway station that serves the A train.

Developed by Phipps Houses, the 15-story building is part of a massive project to bring 1,700 new affordable apartments, a public plaza, and commercial space to Far Rockaway, following the neighborhood’s rezoning in 2017, according to architect Marvel Designs. It’s the largest project yet from not-for-profit developer Phipps Houses,The Architect’s Newspaper reported. 

The apartments are set aside for New Yorkers earning no more than 80 percent of the area median income (AMI)—a metric that depends on how many people you live with. Currently the AMI for New York City is $113,000 for a two-person household. The apartments available include studios as well as one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. 

There are 33 two-bedroom apartments available for households earning between $59,143 to $122,000. The rent for these apartments is $1,597 per month. 

The developers have set aside 50 percent of the rent-stabilized apartments for applicants who already live in the area. Future lotteries will use a lower ratio as a result of a lawsuit settlement, which claimed the practice of community preference perpetuates segregation and violates the Fair Housing Act. Read: "NYC agrees to cut percentage of housing lottery units set aside for nearby residents."

Another 5 percent of the apartments will be preferentially given to NYC employees, and a small percentage of the apartments are also set aside for residents with mobility, vision, and hearing needs. 

Applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than May 14th.

If you’re interested and think you might qualify for one of these apartments, you can create a profile and apply online via NYC Housing Connect. For details on this particular lottery, click here. Don’t apply more than once, or you could be disqualified.

Winning a rent-stabilized apartment can be life changing: Rent increases are capped and lease renewals are automatic, providing long-term stability for NYC renters. Need more information on how the housing lottery works? Check out “6 steps for applying to NYC's affordable housing lottery.”

For some advice from successful applicants read “How to land a rental apartment through NYC's affordable housing lottery.” And if you or someone you know is having trouble with the application process, consider reaching out to a housing ambassador in the community.

Note: Brick Underground is in no way affiliated with New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development or the Housing Development Corporation. If you are interested in applying to these or other affordable housing developments, please go to NYC Housing Connect for information and instructions.

Have you successfully won an apartment through the affordable housing lottery? If you have first-person advice to share about the process, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us an email. We respect all requests for anonymity.