Renderings courtesy of Type A Projects
A plan to bring more than 300 affordable and supportive homes, along with a new health clinic and community space, to Morrisania just cleared a key hurdle. Part of the city’s “Housing for Health” initiative, NYC Health + Hospitals announced Wednesday its board of directors approved the advancement of Morrisania River Commons, a 17-story building with 328 affordable and supportive units, a clinic, community facilites, and green space planned for a parking lot on the NYC Health + Hospitals/ Gotham Health Morrisania campus.
The city’s Housing Preservation and Development selected Type A, Bronx Works, and L+M to develop River Commons on the 26,000-square-foot lot. The development team, Rivers Commons Owners LLC, will sign a 99-year ground lease, concurrent with future city financing.
Morrisania River Commons will replace the hospital’s existing parking lot and annex, with patient care continuing uninterrupted during construction.
The building will offer a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. A majority of the units will be set aside for New Yorkers earning 30 to 80 percent of the area median income, with a third set aside for supportive housing for H + H patients.
Amenities include a fitness center, playroom, community room, 15th-floor community terrace, 24/7 security, and on-site offices for management and supportive services.
The project also includes 6,000 square feet for the African Resource Center and BronxWorks Empowerment Center, 7,500 square feet of public green space, 43,000 square feet of expanded clinical space for Gotham Health Morrisania, and a 75-car parking garage.
“As a doctor, I know there isn’t always a treatment for every illness, but the prescription for homelessness is clear,” NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD, said.
“Housing has an outsized benefit in helping patients experiencing homelessness improve their health. The Morrisania River Commons project will impact the lives and health of hundreds of New Yorkers.”
The project falls under the 2018 Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan, which rezoned 92 blocks between East 165th and 184th Streets. The rezoning aims to create roughly 4,600 new apartments and encourage commercial development in an area previously zoned for auto-related uses.
According to NYC Health + Hospitals, adults experiencing homelessness have three times as many hospital and emergency department visits as the general population. The Housing for Health initiative aims to not only connect these individuals with stable housing, but also reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits.
The initiative addresses a key barrier to treating chronic health issues among unhoused patients: that meaningful improvements require access to stable housing. As of late June, the program has helped more than 3,000 patients and their families access housing navigation and medical respite services, with nearly 1,500 households placed in stable housing.
Other Housing for Health projects include Woodhull Residences in Bed-Stuy, which opened in March with nearly 100 affordable and supportive homes at Woodhull Hospital; Just Home at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi in the Bronx, and 1727 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan.
“We know that smart housing policy is smart health policy,” Tigani said. “We’ve seen how closely they’re tied—when people have a stable home, they’re more likely to stay well, get care when they need it, and be part of a stronger, safer community. That’s why our partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals matters so much,” Acting Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said.
He continued: “At River Commons, we’re celebrating another important step forward turning what used to be a hospital parking lot into something powerful: over 300 affordable homes, a state-of-the-art health clinic, and real opportunity for New Yorkers who’ve deserve the best of both. This project isn’t just about solving a crisis—it’s about preventing the next one. It’s about building a healthier, more supportive future for everyone.”
The proposed project requires approval from the City Council and the mayor. Construction could start in 2026 and wrap up in 2029.
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