Sunnyside renters who have given up on ever seeing a truly low number on a lease might want to take another look. A new affordable-housing lottery at 50-25 Barnett Avenue is offering some of the city’s cheapest advertised rents this month, with studio apartments starting at just $545 a month. The newly completed building has opened applications for income-restricted units ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, a rare chance for many locals who have been priced out of private-market apartments in Queens.
The lottery lists two studio units at $545 per month, eight one-bedrooms at $693, six two-bedrooms at $814 and two three-bedrooms at $925, according to PIX11. Those rents are reported to include heat and hot water, and the listing says there are no application or deposit fees. PIX11 also describes the property as a newly constructed, 146-unit building in Sunnyside.
Applications are being accepted through Housing Connect, the city’s official portal for affordable-rental lotteries, which lays out the full income bands, eligibility rules and deadlines tied to this offering. Prospective tenants are encouraged to create or update a Housing Connect profile and review required documents before applying. The Housing Connect listing also confirms that utilities are included and that brokers' or application fees do not apply to this lottery.
Building features and neighborhood context
The building’s marketing materials promise a bit more than just a cheap set of keys. Residents will have access to a fitness center, a children’s playroom, a landscaped outdoor courtyard, in-unit dishwashers and microwaves, and a card-operated laundry room, per PIX11. The site at 50-25 Barnett Avenue has been wrapped up in Sunnyside affordable-housing plans for years, and coverage of approvals and local debate appears in New York YIMBY. That long backstory has turned the project into a neighborhood talking point about growth, density and who actually gets to stay in the area.
How to apply and what to watch for
Because Housing Connect lotteries are randomized, applicants need to make sure their income and household information are accurate and that they submit only one complete application per household. The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development walks through documentation requirements, eligibility rules and common mistakes in its monthly roundup and help pages, according to NYC HPD. Local community groups and elected officials’ offices may also be available to help residents navigate the forms and paperwork, especially first-time lottery applicants who find the process confusing.
