Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect the project's finalized approval status. A previous version contained outdated information regarding the timeline of the City Planning Commission and City Council votes.
A high-stakes West Harlem housing fight just got a mayoral boost and a final legislative green light.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani visited the former health center at 1727 Amsterdam Avenue on Wednesday and said the city hopes the site will become about 200 affordable and supportive homes alongside a new community center. City Hall framed the stop as part of his administration's push to build permanent housing with on-site services in neighborhoods facing high need.
Mamdani shared the visit on X and publicly thanked Councilmember Shaun Abreu for helping advance the plan, calling the property a site he hopes will soon deliver housing and community space. According to X, the post signaled his support as the project moved through the final stages of the city's review process.
This morning, I visited 1727 Amsterdam Ave, a site I hope will soon become 200 affordable and supportive homes and a community center. Grateful for @CMShaunAbreu’s partnership on this critical project. https://x.com/i/status/2036809665745449462
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@nycmayor) March 25, 2026
What the Hill Top Plan Would Include
The project, branded Hill Top Apartments, would take the place of the existing Heritage Health Care Center and bring roughly 200 apartments plus ground-floor community facility space for the Emma L. Bowen Community Service Center. According to the Bowery Residents' Committee, about two-thirds of the apartments are planned as studios, and the building would include on-site case management and other supportive services for tenants identified through NYC Health + Hospitals.
Proposal Clears City's Review
The city successfully steered the plan through the public land use process, which required several approvals so the lot could be transferred and a nine-story building could rise on the site. Following prior recommendations from the Manhattan Borough President and approval from the City Planning Commission, the Urban Development Action Area and disposition approvals have officially cleared the way for Hill Top Apartments and the community facility space.
Neighbors and Elected Officials Have Pushed Back
Community Board 9 and neighborhood groups have repeatedly objected that the proposal has moved forward without enough local input and that losing a Federally Qualified Health Center could leave service gaps. As reported by NY City News Service, residents have called for a different mix of apartment sizes, more detail on clinical staffing and more family-sized units.
Timeline and Next Steps
The Bowery Residents' Committee says the construction period would likely stretch several years, with about four years expected before the first tenants move in, and that the Emma L. Bowen Community Service Center would be accommodated in the new building. A state environmental notice for the project shows that HPD determined the proposal would not have a significant adverse environmental impact, clearing a procedural hurdle for ULURP, according to NYSDEC.
Final Approvals Secured
The ULURP application (C260071HAM) officially passed its final political test when the City Council voted to approve the project on Thursday, March 26. With the City Planning Commission and City Council approvals now secured, the focus shifts away from the legislative calendar and toward the multi-year construction process.
