New York Construction Report staff writer
The City of New York has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) to find development partners to build a state-of-the-art library and 100 percent affordable housing at the Grand Concourse Library in the Bronx.
The project aims to provide much-needed affordable housing while enhancing community resources through a newly-renovated library, located just blocks from Claremont Park and the BronxCare campus.
Submissions are due no later than 4 p.m. on May 2.
An online pre-submission conference will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Interested organizations are strongly encouraged to attend this conference. To access the pre-submission conference, register for the event using this link to receive a registration confirmation email. Questions can be sent to Gr*******************@hp*.gov in advance of the conference.
“To make New York City the best place to raise a family, we have to build affordable housing that surrounds families with everything they need to thrive in our city — and the Grand Concourse Library is that exact kind of project,” said Mayor Adams. “The Grand Concourse Library will provide 100-percent affordable housing and a newly-renovated, state-of-the-art facility that’s just blocks away from a public park and health care facility — a model for the kind of thoughtful, holistic housing project our city is capable of building.’”
The library will occupy the first and second floors of the new building, with affordable apartments constructed above. Development teams are encouraged to submit proposals that align with community input and maximize the number of affordable homes on the site.
As part of the RFP process, development teams can review the Grand Concourse Community Visioning Report, which outlines the priorities identified through extensive community engagement. This report summarizes the input gathered from local residents, including responses to a project website, public meetings, and tabling events held throughout the neighborhood. The city’s outreach efforts reflect a commitment to ensuring that the project reflects the needs and desires of the community.
Similar projects include the recently opened Inwood Library, which houses 174 affordable homes, and the Sunset Park Library development, which includes 49 affordable units. These projects are part of the broader “Living Libraries” initiative, which integrates libraries with affordable housing to create vibrant, community-centered developments.
Submissions for the RFP will be accepted from January 29 through May 2, 2025. Proposals will be evaluated based on their quality, feasibility, and responsiveness to the community’s vision. The existing Grand Concourse Library will remain open to the public until construction begins.
For more information about the project and how to participate in the RFP process, visit the Grand Concourse Library and Affordable Housing project website.
