One45 Project Approved: Harlem Rezoning Clears Path for Housing, Senior Units, and Technology Center

HARLEM — The New York City Council has granted final approval for the controversial One45 development in Central Harlem, authorizing a major rezoning that will bring two mixed-use towers to the long-vacant corner of West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue. The project is expected to deliver 915 apartments, including 282 income-restricted units, along with a new community technology center, commercial space, and a dedicated floor for senior housing.

The final deal—negotiated by Harlem Councilmember Yusef Salaam with developer Bruce Teitelbaum and the Adams administration—includes a 40-year affordability term for the income-restricted units. Of the 282 affordable apartments, 80 will be reserved for households earning 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with the remaining income bands determined under the City’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Option 1.

“This outcome creates much‑needed affordable housing, good‑paying jobs and opportunities for the next generation to grow and to prosper,” Salaam said during the Council’s final vote. “In fact, this project sets the bar for the quality and types of developments we require for Harlem moving forward.”

The plan also includes a ground-floor technology and workforce development center to provide training and digital access to local residents. Commercial storefronts will prioritize Harlem-based and minority-owned small businesses. In addition, one full floor of the residential towers will be set aside for senior housing—an amenity advocates have called crucial for helping older residents age in place amid rising housing costs.

Originally proposed in 2021, the One45 development faced strong pushback during its first iteration. Then–Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan opposed the project, citing insufficient affordability and concerns about displacement. Teitelbaum later withdrew the application and demolished the existing buildings in 2022, a move that drew community backlash and left the high-traffic site empty.

The current plan emerged after Salaam took office in 2024 and reopened negotiations. The revised proposal gained the support of the Council’s Land Use Committee and was ultimately approved with overwhelming backing.

Councilmember Kevin Riley, who chairs the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, praised the final outcome: “The One45 rezoning delivers deeply affordable and senior housing, creates space for Harlem‑based and MWBE businesses, and brings investments that directly benefit residents, from youth internships and job training to the revitalization of public space.”

Reactions in the community remain mixed. During a May 2025 zoning hearing, Sheena Benjamin, a Harlem mother and longtime resident, voiced concerns: “Let me say it plainly that this is not a development; this is displacement, respectfully.” Others, however, expressed cautious support, noting the deeper affordability provisions and expanded community benefits. Tanesha Grant of Parents Supporting Parents New York said, “This is about making sure that there is a significant amount of deeply affordable and supportive housing built on this One45 project, and we are deeply committed to that goal.”

Construction is expected to begin in 2026. Once complete, One45 will dramatically reshape the 145th Street corridor and could serve as a model—or warning—for future rezonings in historically Black neighborhoods undergoing rapid change.

Sidebar: What Does “Affordable” Really Mean? Understanding AMI and NYC Housing Tiers

What is AMI?

AMI is the median income for the entire NYC metropolitan area, which includes high-income counties like Westchester and Rockland. In 2024, HUD sets NYC’s AMI at $122,000 for a family of three.

Income Limits by Household Size (2024, NYC Metro Area)

What This Means for Harlem

The median income in Central Harlem is around $46,000, meaning many families fall below the 50% AMI mark. Yet most income-restricted housing in NYC is priced using higher AMI brackets that include wealthier suburban households. At One45, only 80 out of 282 affordable units will serve families earning 30% AMI.