NYC Fast-Tracks First Affordable Housing Deal at 351 Powers Ave as Lemle & Wolff Team Moves Forward

Key Points

• NYC launches its first Expedited Land Use Review project for an 80+ unit affordable building in the Bronx
• Approval timeline drops from about 7 months to 90 days, reducing entitlement risk
•  Lemle & Wolff, Help Development Corp., and True Development NY selected to develop the site

The First Test of NYC’s Fast Track Housing Plan

New York City has officially initiated the first project under its newly approved Expedited Land Use Review Procedure, signaling a serious attempt to accelerate housing production. The eight-story building planned for 351 Powers Ave in Mott Haven will include more than 80 affordable rental units. Around 30 of those units will be set aside for homeless residents. The project also includes 4,000 square feet of community facility space for a theater and workforce training center. Previously, projects like this would move through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, a process that typically takes around seven months. Under the new system, the City Council must vote within 90 days. For developers and capital partners, that time savings directly lowers risk.

The Developers Positioned to Deliver

The city selected a development team in 2024 that includes:

• Lemle & Wolff Development Cos.
• Help Development Corp.
• True Development New York.

True Development was founded by a former NYC Housing Development Corp. senior project manager, giving the team direct experience navigating public financing channels. For landlords and affordable housing investors, that matters. Strong institutional knowledge often determines whether projects close smoothly, especially when layered with tax credits and city subsidies.

Why This Matters for Bronx Multifamily

Mott Haven has been one of the Bronx’s most active development corridors over the past decade. Mid-rise residential projects have steadily replaced underutilized lots and industrial space. Speeding up approvals changes the math. A shorter entitlement timeline reduces carrying costs and exposure to shifting interest rates. It also makes public land deals more attractive for experienced operators. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also launched a Land Inventory Fast Track Task Force, targeting at least 25,000 new homes on city-owned sites. If executed, that could significantly expand the affordable housing pipeline across multiple boroughs.

The Bigger Takeaway

This project is not just about 80 units in Mott Haven. It is a proof of concept. If the 90-day review requirement becomes standard practice, New York could materially accelerate city-backed housing production. That would create more RFP opportunities, tighter competition for development sites, and faster deal cycles. For investors who understand public-private partnerships, this shift could unlock a more predictable and scalable pipeline of affordable housing assets. Execution will determine whether this becomes a symbolic reform or a real acceleration engine for NYC housing supply. If the city maintains momentum, 2026 could bring a noticeable uptick in shovel-ready projects across the boroughs.