An affordable housing lottery closing soon offers the chance to purchase a one-bedroom or two-bedroom co-op on the Upper West Side for far below market price. The lottery for Mitchell-Lama units at the Lincoln Amsterdam House ends on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
If eligible, you can buy a one-bedroom apartment for $120,435 or a two-bedroom apartment for $138,246. The building is located at 110 West End Ave., just steps from Riverside Park South and close to Lincoln Center.
Monthly maintenance fees range from $570 to $837 for the one-bedroom units and $700 to $1,029 for the two-bedrooms. These cover building upkeep, staffing, insurance and other shared costs. The charges are in line with those for co-ops and condos throughout the city.
A refresher on Mitchell-Lama co-ops
Why are these apartments so affordable? The Lincoln Amsterdam House is part of the Mitchell-Lama program, which subsidizes housing for low- to middle-income New Yorkers. As we’ve reported, these programs help keep purchase prices affordable and allow more neighbors to stay in the city for the long haul.
Waitlists for these buildings open only once every few years. When they do, an extremely limited number of applicants is drawn. In this case, only 300 applicants will be selected for the one-bedroom and 200 applicants will be selected for the two-bedroom apartments.
If selected, applicants must meet income restrictions at the time of purchase. After you buy the apartment, there’s no limit placed on your annual household income. However, if you leave, you’ll be selling the unit back to the development, generally at the same price you paid for it.
To better understand how Mitchell-Lama co-ops work, including resale rules and waiting list details, check out our full guide. It breaks down everything you need to know about these apartments.
Who should apply
The lottery for a one-bedroom is for households of one to three people. Your annual household income can range from $33,480 to $182,250.
The lottery for the two-bedroom is for households of two to four people. Your annual household income should fall between $41,160 and $202,500.
To apply to either of these apartment lotteries, you must:
- Be a New York State resident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be financially responsible (as shown by documentation such as your tax returns, bank statements and credit scores)
- Not be a current shareholder in a Mitchell-Lama development
- Submit only one application (either online or by mail)
Duplicate applications will automatically disqualify you. Applicants without the correct household composition will also be disqualified. Preference is given to eligible veterans selected in the lottery.
If you’re selected in the lottery and would like to proceed, you must pay a $75 nonrefundable application fee.
How to apply for the lottery
You can apply online through the NYC Housing Connect website here (for the one-bedroom) or here (for the two-bedroom). If you apply online, you’ll need to create a NYC Housing Connect account.
You may also apply by mail by sending a postcard or envelope via regular mail (no registered or certified mail) to:
P.O. Box 1046
New York, NY 10272
Be sure to clearly print your full first and last name, current address, date of birth and which bedroom size lottery you are applying for. Applications missing any of this information may not be entered into the lottery.
You can find more information — including official income charts and program rules — in the complete listing and advertisement from the city.
What happens after the lottery closes
The lottery closes on Jan. 28 at 11:59 p.m.
If you’re selected in the lottery, you will be notified either through your NYC Housing Connect account or by mail. If chosen for a chance to buy the apartment, the co-op will contact you for additional documentation or send a full application.
To read more of our affordable housing coverage — including other lotteries accepting applications, such as Willets Point Commons— visit our housing page.
