New York State and City elected officials, city representatives, and community partners gathered on Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica for a landmark ceremony: the ribbon cutting of Sutphin Tower, part of the largest HPD/HPS affordable housing project in New York City’s history. Spearheaded by Velocity Management — a frum-owned and operated company — the three-building development delivers more than 1,200 apartments, over 900 of them affordable.
Located just a short distance from the heart of the Queens Jewish community, the project underscores how closely large-scale development affects surrounding neighborhoods like Kew Gardens Hills, Forest Hills, and Hillcrest.
Council Member Nantasha Williams stressed that housing remains the number-one concern of New Yorkers. “This project is mostly all affordable, which is amazing,” she said, “but we also know housing alone isn’t enough — we need schools, parks, safe streets, and all the amenities our community deserves.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards noted that Queens has produced more affordable housing than any other borough, with major rezonings already underway, but he cautioned that success is measured by more than numbers. “Housing must be matched by schools, transit, open space, and safety. That is the only way we deliver quality of life.” Then came a personal note: “I grew up just up the block, in a studio apartment so small the kitchen was in the living room. This is personal for me, and it is personal for so many of us.”
State Senator Leroy Comrie recalled how the Sutphin Boulevard site had been vacant for decades. “Growing up in Southeast Queens, this was just an empty lot,” he said with a laugh, joking that he was “only 30 years old.” “To see it transformed into a hub of housing and community life is a dream realized. This proves that when public and private sectors work together, we can lift up families.”
HPD Commissioner Ahmed Tigani highlighted the administration’s $24.7 billion commitment to housing, the largest in city history.
The most moving moment came from Octavian Ocasio, a new tenant who once faced homelessness and feared slipping back into the justice system. “Not long ago, I had no place to go,” he said. “Now I’m back in school, I’m working, and I have a place to call my own.” His young son joined him in cutting the ribbon with oversized golden scissors, embodying the hope Sutphin Tower represents.
As balloons floated above the Queens skyline, Commissioner Tigani, Borough President Richards, City Council Members, and residents counted down together. The ribbon dropped to cheers, and Sutphin Tower officially opened its doors.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
