A. Philip Randolph Houses, named after the civil rights activist Asa Philip Randolph, is a 283-unit redevelopment effort that preserves and rehabilitates 36 ‘Old Law’ tenements constructed in the 1890s in Central Harlem. The development serves residents earning from 30% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI); some units are covered by Section 8 vouchers.

This area has seen a surge of development of market-rate housing and gentrification, making the preservation of affordable housing in the area ever more important. This redevelopment was done with the preservation of the residential community in mind and current Randolph Houses residents were provided the option to remain in their renewed homes at an affordable rent. This redevelopment preserves an important historic structure in the neighborhood while improving the quality of life for residents, strengthening the sense of neighborhood identity and enabling households to stay in the community.

When the development team acquired these historic buildings from the NYC Housing Authority, they had become largely vacant due to neglect and many exchanges of ownership. The City successfully declared the area a national and local Historic District, making the sites eligible for Federal and Local Historic Tax Credit funding, which the development team utilized in its preservation work.

The redesign of the Randolph Houses complex created three contiguous buildings from the 36 independent ones. Each of these new buildings was internally connected via a new five-foot-wide corridor. To ensure common, accessible entry to each building, the ground floors were lowered, and elevators were added at central lobbies. The scope of rehabilitative work entailed the preservation of historic features such as the masonry facades, cornices, exterior walls, and interior circulation patterns as well as an interior gut renovation for removal of hazards such as asbestos. Other improvements included modern layouts, accessible design, brand new kitchens and baths, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, resident library, computer rooms, landscaped outdoor spaces, and additional community spaces, including laundry rooms on every floor, play areas with equipment for young children, barbeques, and a yoga studio. This project stands as a model of adaptive reuse of historic buildings in the effort to save and improve affordable housing and public housing.

Location: New York, New York
Developer: New York City Housing Development Corporation