NEW YORK – In a significant stride towards addressing housing challenges, New York City has inaugurated 90 Sands, a pioneering development at 90 Sands Street in Brooklyn. This innovative project, spearheaded by Mayor Eric Adams and key city agencies in collaboration with Breaking Ground, has converted a former Jehovah’s Witnesses hotel into 491 units of affordable and supportive housing. Located in the high-cost neighborhood of Dumbo, Brooklyn, 90 Sands is set to provide much-needed relief, with 185 apartments designated as rent-restricted for extremely low- to moderate-income New Yorkers, and 305 units reserved for individuals transitioning out of homelessness.
“Housing Our Neighbors,” Mayor Adams’ blueprint for tackling the city’s housing crisis, gains tangible momentum with the opening of 90 Sands Street. “Safe, stable, and affordable housing is the bedrock of a thriving and inclusive city, and that’s precisely what we are delivering at 90 Sands,” stated Mayor Adams. He emphasized the project’s efficiency, highlighting the successful advocacy for hotel conversion legislation in Albany. “90 Sands exemplifies the speed and efficiency of hotel conversions in creating affordable housing, outperforming ground-up construction. We made a commitment to celebrate housing placements, not just deals, and with our groundbreaking referral pilot, we successfully housed 80 individuals here within a single week.”
A distinctive feature of the 90 Sands development is its pilot program, a collaborative effort between the Adams administration and Breaking Ground. This program streamlines the process of housing placements by directly referring clients from street outreach and transitional housing programs to supportive apartments within 90 Sands. This inter-agency cooperation has effectively reduced the typical permanent housing placement time by over two months, marking a significant improvement in efficiency.
The conversion of vacant hotels into affordable and supportive housing is a core strategy within Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors” blueprint. 90 Sands Street serves as a model for this approach, demonstrating how underutilized properties can be repurposed to create vital housing options. Despite its suitability for conversion, the 90 Sands project initially faced a protracted and expensive land use review process. However, a newly enacted state law, championed by Mayor Adams, now streamlines such conversions, potentially slashing development timelines. Had this law been in effect earlier, it could have shaved off two years from the 90 Sands project. Furthermore, state funding is now more readily available to expedite and reduce the costs of similar conversion projects.
“As a long-time advocate for supportive housing, celebrating the opening of 90 Sands with Breaking Ground, CUCS, and our new residents is deeply gratifying. This project, though complex with its rezoning process, stands as a testament to what we can achieve to house all New Yorkers,” remarked Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. She underscored the project’s alignment with the “Housing Our Neighbors” blueprint, focusing on serving vulnerable populations and removing administrative hurdles to housing access. “The direct referral pilot at 90 Sands, a collaboration between Breaking Ground and CUCS with the city, is an exceptional achievement. We aim to explore this model further to accelerate the transition from shelters to permanent housing.”
HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión echoed this sentiment, stating, “In line with the ‘Housing Our Neighbors’ blueprint, prioritizing our most vulnerable New Yorkers and expanding affordable housing across all neighborhoods are key objectives. 90 Sands Street exemplifies this vision, transforming a former hotel into 491 beautiful, affordable homes in Dumbo. Crucially, supportive services will empower over 300 formerly homeless New Yorkers to rebuild their lives. We commend Breaking Ground and our partners for realizing this ambitious project.”
New York City Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin added, “90 Sands provides hundreds of households with safe, affordable housing and comprehensive support services, from case management to healthcare and career guidance. We congratulate the residents on their new homes and thank our partners for their unwavering commitment to providing stable housing for New Yorkers in need.”
New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins emphasized the project’s broader impact: “This administration prioritizes affordable and supportive housing creation and expanded access for vulnerable populations. 90 Sands is crucial to efficiently connecting New Yorkers in need, including those formerly homeless, with housing and vital supports. We thank Breaking Ground, CUCS, and all partners for their dedication to this remarkable project.”
Brenda Rosen, president and CEO of Breaking Ground, highlighted the significance of 90 Sands: “We are delighted to open 90 Sands at this critical time, offering essential housing for low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers. Despite pandemic challenges, the 90 Sands redevelopment remained on schedule, enabling over 300 individuals to overcome homelessness and secure a stable home. As our first hotel conversion in over two decades, 90 Sands advances equity and inclusion, adding 185 affordable apartments in a high-cost area. We thank Mayor Adams, HPD, and all partners for their invaluable collaboration.”
Joe DeGenova, president and CEO of the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS), emphasized the partnership’s impact: “CUCS is proud to collaborate again with Breaking Ground to deliver social, medical, and psychiatric services to 90 Sands residents. Our core mission is to help people exit homelessness through dignity, trust, and high-quality care. Permanent supportive housing is the optimal path for formerly homeless individuals to achieve healthy lives. In 2021, CUCS served over 2,000 supportive housing clients, thanks to collaborations like this with Breaking Ground.”
The 30-story 90 Sands building offers a range of amenities, including a 24/7 attended lobby, security system, multipurpose room, digital library, fitness center, and ample bike storage. A newly created public plaza at Sands Street and Jay Street enhances the Downtown Brooklyn and Dumbo communities with green space. Breaking Ground intends to activate over 20,000 square feet of community facility and commercial space on the ground floor and lower level to further serve the community.
CUCS will provide comprehensive onsite social services at 90 Sands, available to all residents. These services encompass case management, primary medical care, mental health services, employment readiness, and benefits counseling. The longstanding partnership between Breaking Ground and CUCS is exemplified by 90 Sands, their 12th joint project providing housing and support for formerly homeless individuals and families. This marks Breaking Ground’s fourth successful hotel conversion project in New York City.
Prior to August 2017, 90 Sands operated as a residential hotel by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. The project team included Monadnock Construction, Inc. as the general contractor, Beyer Blinder Belle as the project architect, and W Architecture and Planning for the public plaza design.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso celebrated the project’s local impact: “90 Sands reinforces our commitment to ensuring Brooklyn remains accessible to all. Addressing our profound housing crisis requires creativity and persistence. These hundreds of homes for formerly homeless and low- to moderate-income New Yorkers set a model for creating stability and growth. Thank you to Breaking Ground and everyone involved in bringing these affordable and supportive apartments to Dumbo.”
New York City Councilmember Lincoln Restler hailed 90 Sands as a major achievement: “Celebrating the opening of 90 Sands and 491 affordable and supportive apartments in Dumbo is thrilling. Congratulations to Breaking Ground on opening the largest new supportive housing development in NYC in decades. Housing is the solution to homelessness, and 90 Sands is a significant victory.”
Baaba Halm, vice president and New York market leader, Enterprise Community Partners, emphasized the holistic benefits of housing: “Good homes provide the foundation for families to thrive. Enterprise was proud to contribute a $10 million grant to 90 Sands, providing nearly 500 low- and moderate-income and formerly homeless tenants with affordable homes and crucial support services. Thank you to Breaking Ground, CUCS, the city, and all partners for making this development a reality.”
Greg Maher, executive director, Leviticus Fund, highlighted their early support: “We were pleased to assist Breaking Ground with predevelopment architectural and engineering expenses for 90 Sands through a loan. We are happy to provide flexible capital to help this vital project move from concept to reality.”
David Walsh, managing director, community development banking, Chase, and board member of Breaking Ground, reaffirmed their long-term partnership: “Chase has partnered with Breaking Ground for over 30 years to address affordable housing needs in NYC. We are proud to support 90 Sands and remain committed to community development projects like this, providing high-quality housing and support services to vulnerable New Yorkers.”
William M. Daley, vice chairman of public affairs, Wells Fargo, emphasized the collaborative effort: “90 Sands exemplifies the positive outcomes of public-private partnerships in improving lives. Affordable and accessible housing is crucial for economic stability, well-being, and long-term growth for individuals, families, and neighborhoods across New York City. We commend Breaking Ground, Mayor Adams, the city, and its partners for making 90 Sands a reality.”
Lisa Talma, vice president of philanthropic initiatives, Community Development Finance Group, Deutsche Bank, celebrated the project’s transformative potential: “Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation is proud to have supported Breaking Ground on the unique 90 Sands development through our SHARE program. Breaking Ground has re-envisioned 90 Sands as a place of healing and rebuilding lives. We are excited about the potential of this property and its onsite services to help so many.”
Carlos Cardoso, AIA, partner, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners, concluded, “Beyer Blinder Belle is honored to have partnered with Breaking Ground on 90 Sands, contributing to its mission of ending homelessness through adaptive reuse.”
