The city will hold a hearing Nov. 19 on rewriting the terms of a 2020 land sale to East Harlem’s community land trust, swapping planned storefronts for community space. Plus: $20.4 million in contracts, including one emergency demolition in Brooklyn.
East Harlem: Land Trust Project Trades Shops for Community Space
On Nov. 23, 2020, the city conveyed four Manhattan properties to CLT East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust Housing Development Fund Corporation.
The addresses: 53 East 110th Street, 304 East 126th Street and 201 East 120th Street in Community District 11, and 204 West 121st Street in Community District 10.
The original deal called for about 36 rental apartments, two commercial spaces and one community facility space. The project is now being built with about 38 apartments and three community facility spaces, no commercial.
The City Council already approved the revised project summary on July 16, 2026 (Res. No. 579). HPD’s hearing is about amending the deed and land disposition agreement to match.
The buildings came through HPD’s Division of Property Disposition and Finance program, where sponsors buy and gut-rehab City-owned buildings for affordable rentals.
📅 November 19, 2026
🕐 11:30 AM
📍 125th Street Library, 224 East 125th Street, Manhattan
📧 Accommodations: disabilityaffairs@mocs.nyc.gov or (212) 788-0010, at least 3 business days ahead
Documents will be available for review at the Manhattan Community Board 11 office at least 20 days before the hearing.
The Money Moving
$13,000,000 — Emergency water main reconstruction, citywide. The Department of Design and Construction awarded Project EC-WMC27 to Inter Contracting Corp through competitive sealed bids from a pre-qualified vendor list. “Emergency” here describes the pipe work, not the contracting method.
$4,944,200 — Deep soil and marine borings. DDC picked AARCO Environmental Services Corp, the lowest bidder, for geotechnical and environmental borings on land and water to support DOT and DEP capital projects citywide.
$956,837 — DEP boiler upkeep. A renewal for Control Systems Services Inc. to maintain and repair hot water boilers at multiple DEP facilities.
$947,466 — FDNY safety gear. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services renewed a brand-specific catalog contract with Arbill Industries, Inc. for 3M Scott Fire & Safety products for the FDNY. It’s the one-year renewal of an original three-year deal, and the last one available.
$502,882 — Emergency demolition at 55A Jefferson Ave., Brooklyn. HPD hired Statewide Demolition Corp through an emergency purchase, meaning no competitive bidding. The notice does not say what prompted the demolition.
What the notices do not say
The El Barrio notice doesn’t say why the commercial spaces were dropped or what the community spaces will be used for. The water main contract doesn’t list specific streets.
Related coverage
Tip about a hearing or contract in your neighborhood? howard@nycinfocus.com
Details as filed. Verify times and locations before attending.
