More than 88,000 applicants are vying for 55 affordable housing units at Extell Development’s Upper West Side “poor door” development.
The building was met with criticism last year after Extell’s Gary Barnett announced there’d be a separate entrance for the lower-priced units, according to the New York Times. Those tenants who pay less, won’t be able to use the development’s amenities that include a pool, a gym, a bowling alley and a private theater.
NYC Housing Partnership officials predicted that the final number of applicants for the 55 spots could be 90,000, the newspaper reported. So far this year, 10 lotteries across the city drew in roughly 486,000 applicants for a total of 698 affordable units, the newspaper reported.
But, the separate entrances — or even the separate mailing addresses: condos are at 50 Riverside Boulevard, while the rentals can be found at 470 West 62nd Street — have not deterred New Yorkers who are looking for an affordable apartment.
“I guess people like it,” Barnett told the newspaper. “It shows that there’s a tremendous demand for high-quality affordable housing in beautiful neighborhoods.” [NYT] — Claire Moses