If you’re looking for a new, below-market apartment to rent in Queens, a long-awaited affordable housing lottery just opened for 126-43 39th Ave. in Willets Point. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 25.
The 880 apartments up for grabs are part of the first phase of Willets Point Commons, which itself is part of a larger redevelopment being built next to Citi Field that will include the new Etihad soccer stadium. The transformative project, led by outgoing City Council member Francisco Moya, will eventually culminate in 2,500 units of “affordable, workforce and moderate-income housing,” according to the project’s official website.
Rents starting well below market rate
Studios at Willets Point Commons will start as low as $486 per month for households earning 30% or less of the area median income (AMI). For a one-person household, that means annual income ranging from $20,469 to $34,020. Units are available for households of one to seven people in studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments. Heat and hot water are included in the rent; electricity is not.
Rents scale up from there based on income, number of people in a household and apartment size. For instance, for a studio:
| Household Size | Percent of AMI | Minimum Income | Maximum Income | Monthly Rent |
| 1 | 30% | $20,469 | $34,020 | $486 |
| 2 | 30% | $20,469 | $38,880 | $486 |
| 1 | 40% | $27,738 | $45,360 | $698 |
| 2 | 40% | $27,738 | $51,840 | $698 |
| 1 | 60% | $42,275 | $68,040 | $1,122 |
| 2 | 60% | $42,275 | $77,760 | $1,122 |
| 1 | 80% | $56,812 | $90,720 | $1,546 |
| 2 | 80% | $56,812 | $103,680 | $1,546 |
| 1 | 100% | $73,543 | $136,080 | $2,034 |
| 2 | 100% | $73,543 | $155,520 | $2,034 |
A brand-new development
Apart from proximity to the 7 train and the LIRR, tenants at Willets Point Commons will have access to new amenities that include:
- Fitness centers
- Children’s play areas and playrooms
- Community lounges and co-working spaces
- Outdoor green spaces, courtyards, rooftop gardens and grills
- Secure bike storage, laundry rooms and package rooms
- 24/7 attended lobbies and on-site resident services
Who gets preference
As with many city-financed affordable housing developments, some units are set aside for households with mobility, vision or hearing disabilities.
Preference is also given to:
- Current residents of Queens Community Board 7
- Municipal employees
- Military veterans
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through NYC Housing Connect. There’s no application fee, but applicants who move forward in the process may be charged up to $20 for a credit or background check. Only one application per household is allowed.
Housing vouchers — including those issued by federal, state and local programs such as Section 8, CityFHEPS, Individual Supports and Services Subsidy (ISS), Medicaid Waiver and the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (VASH) — are all accepted. Minimum income requirements do not apply to households with qualifying rental subsidies.
If you don’t want to apply online, you can request a paper application.
What happens after you apply
A few weeks after the lottery closes, randomly assigned numbers for all applicants will be made available through the city’s housing portal, Housing Connect. As always, applicants should make sure their Housing Connect profile is complete and up to date before applying.
Those selected will be contacted to submit documentation verifying household size, income and assets. Final selection will be determined by guidelines set by the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) guidelines.
Learn more about Willets Point Commons here, or on Housing Connect.
Other open housing lotteries in Queens starting at $2,000 or less in rent:
Woodhaven Boulevard apartments, starting at $545
- Applications close Jan. 16
- Neighborhood: Rego Park
- Nearby transit: E, F, M and R lines
- Pets allowed: one per unit; small dogs only (35 pounds or less)
- Amenities include: dishwasher, shared laundry room, AC, gym, outdoor areas, bike storage lockers and an on-site garage
- Rent includes: electric heating and hot water; tenants pay for electricity, including the stove
- Check your eligibility and apply through Housing Connect here.
Rockaway Village apartments, starting at $617
- Applications close Feb. 9
- Neighborhood: Far Rockaway
- Nearby transit: A train, LIRR Far Rockaway station; buses: Q22, Q113, Q113 Limited, Q114, Q114 Limited, N31, N32 and N33
- Pets allowed: yes
- Amenities include: dishwasher, shared laundry room, AC, gym, outdoor areas, bike storage lockers, business center and an on-site garage
- Rent includes: gas for heating; tenants pay for electricity with electric stove
- Check your eligibility and apply through Housing Connect here.
Nova Astoria apartments starting at $1,913
- Applications close Feb. 9
- Neighborhood: Nova Astoria (between Astoria and Long Island City)
- Nearby transit: N, W and F lines
- Pets allowed: two pets; combined weight of 50 pounds
- Amenities include: dishwasher, shared laundry room, AC, gym, yoga/dance studio, outdoor areas, bike storage lockers, covered parking and business center
- Rent includes: gas for heating; tenants pay for electricity with electric stove
- Check your eligibility and apply through Housing Connect here.
