Services for the Underserved is renovating four tenement buildings in Hell’s Kitchen to provide affordable housing for families in need
New York: Services for the Underserved, or S:US, is busy fixing up four rundown tenement buildings at 351-357 West 45th Street in Hell’s Kitchen. They bought these properties for $20 million back in June after years of complaints and legal battles over terrible living conditions. The goal? To turn them into affordable housing.
These buildings had a rough history. The previous landlord let things go downhill, racking up hundreds of housing violations. We’re talking mold, loose bricks, and even rodent and pigeon infestations. The city had to step in with 24 lawsuits against the management, including six for not providing heat and hot water. They even spent $46,000 on emergency repairs that were ignored. Out of 80 rent-stabilized units, only ten were occupied when S:US took over.
Since then, S:US has jumped right in with improvements. They’ve secured doors and windows, put in security cameras, and tackled urgent repairs for the remaining tenants. Their $52 million renovation plan includes new roofs, structural upgrades, electric heating systems, and better ventilation. They expect to wrap up by summer 2026, with funding for construction set to close soon. Plus, they’re helping current tenants with relocation assistance during the work.
As for the 70 empty units, they’ll be used to house homeless families through the CityFHEPS rental assistance program, keeping rents affordable for the long haul. The buildings will also have wellness and job resources for residents, like an exercise room and offices. This whole project is backed by a ten-year CityFHEPS contract and a 40-year agreement with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
