A former juvenile detention center in the Bronx is now offering something very different: New York City has opened a housing lottery for 303 apartments at a new 14-story building in Hunts Point, with the lowest-cost studios listed at $465 per month. The units are part of The Peninsula, the long-planned redevelopment built on the site of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center. Applications for the lottery are open through July 7, 2026.
The building, located at 1221 and 1225 Spofford Avenue, is part of Phase Two of The Peninsula, a multi-phase, 100 percent affordable mixed-use campus. According to a press release from NYCEDC, the project is being developed by Gilbane Development Company in partnership with the Hudson Companies and the Mutual Housing Association of New York, and was designed with WXY Architecture and Body Lawson Associates.
What the lottery includes
The lottery spans five income bands at 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 percent of Area Median Income, with 32, 43, 49, 83 and 96 units set aside in each band respectively for a total of 303 apartments. Studios at the 30% AMI level are listed at $465 a month, while rents increase across the tiers to a top of about $2,936 for some four-bedroom units. Those unit counts, income limits and sample rents are detailed by the Bronx Times.
Every apartment includes a dishwasher, energy-efficient appliances, intercom devices and complimentary high-speed broadband, and the monthly rent includes heat plus gas for cooking. Assigned parking and laundry are available for additional fees. Communal amenities for the building include a community room, tenant lounge, fitness rooms, children’s playroom, outdoor terraces and bike storage. These features are reflected in the property listing on CityRealty.
Neighborhood context and food access
The Peninsula sits on the former Spofford site and will join existing neighborhood anchors, with nearby transit options that include the 2, 5 and 6 subway lines and several Bx bus routes, according to coverage by 6sqft. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also announced that the development will house one of the city’s new municipal grocery stores, a roughly 20,000-square-foot, city-run supermarket slated to open in 2027, a move city officials say will boost food access in the South Bronx. The mayor’s announcement appears on the Mayor’s Office website.
How to apply
Prospective renters can apply online via NYC Housing Connect or request a paper application by mail. The Bronx Times notes that mail requests should be sent c/o Cornell Pace, 542 Main St., New Rochelle, NY 10801. All applications must be postmarked or submitted online by July 7, 2026, and applicants must meet household-size and income requirements listed on the official posting.
