A. Philip Randolph Houses

Harlem, NY

The Randolph Houses project contains 36 five story Old Law tenement buildings, 14 of which are on the north side of the street (collectively, the “North Side") and 22 on the south side of the street (collectively, the “South Side"), and together comprise the public housing development known as “Randolph Houses." This exciting project involved the creation of a historic district and the subsequent rehabilitation of the newly historic designated existing structures into two phases of interconnected and fully accessible buildings. The building facades have been restored, and the interior of the buildings have been completely demolished and rehabilitated.

The redevelopment of the "South Side"– phase one of the two-phased HUD mixed-finance and LIHTC project – included a $95 million gut rehabilitation of 307 previously vacant units in the 22 Old Law tenement buildings on the south side of the street. The project now contains 168 units in two interconnected buildings with central circulation and elevator access, each comprising 11 of the 22 tenements. The newly reconfigured units are a mix of studio, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom apartments designed to accommodate family living. The rehabilitated buildings contain laundry facilities on every floor, community space, a teaching kitchen, computer lab, children's afterschool/arts room, fitness room, and storage for residents. There are also site improvements, which include two children's play areas for different age groups and active and passive outdoor spaces for residents to enjoy.

The subsequent $51 million "North Side" redevelopment (the second phase) included the gut rehabilitation of 145 previously existing units in the 14 Old Law tenement buildings on the north side of the street. The project now includes 115 rehabilitated units combined into one single building with central circulation and elevator access. This historic rehabilitation contains a mix of studio, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units. The second phase's amenities include several community rooms, laundry facilities on every floor, tenant storage, and a fully programmed backyard with play equipment, tenant garden plots, ping-pong tables, and gas-grill barbecue stations.

No. of Units
283

Total Development Costs
$146 Million

Type
Public Housing Revitalization, Mixed-Income, Transit-Oriented Development, Historic Preservation

Completed
Phase I: 2016
Phase II: 2018

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Awards and Certifications

• The New York Landmarks Conservancy's Lucy G. Moses Preservation Project Award 2017
• Preservation League of New York's Excellence in Historic Preservation Award 2017
• New York State's Historic Preservation Award 2018
• NALHFA's Award for Redevelopment Excellence 2022
• Urban Land Institute (ULI) - Terwilliger Award for Innovation for Innovation in Attainable Housing 2022