Mannie Wilson Tower

• Rockabill’s Role: Development Consultant
• Client: West Harlem Group Assistance
• Agencies: US Department of Housing, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, NYC Housing Development Corporation, HUD
• Team: Merchants Capital, NYC Housing Development Corporation, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Hirshen Singer & Epstein LLP, ESKW Architects, Conrock Construction

Located in the former Sydenham Hospital (historically known as being the first medical facility in New York City to voluntarily hire Black physicians), Mannie Wilson Towers provides 102 one- and two-bedroom units of restricted-income housing for seniors in the Harlem neighborhood. As part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 program, units are restricted to residents 62 years of age and older who usually earn 50% of the area median income (AMI) or less. The Section 202 program also provides support activities for residents such as cleaning, cooking, transportation and more. Additionally, the property is 100% encumbered by a Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract, a program of HUD.

Rockabill worked with our nonprofit client to preserve this historic property through HPD’s Year 15 program. The transaction included a restructured HAP contract from HUD, an extension of affordability and tax incentives, and an $18.2M Risk Share loan from Merchants Capital and NYC Housing Development Corporation. This transaction allowed West Harlem Group Assistance to make necessary capital improvements and system upgrades throughout the building and ensure long-term affordability and financial viability.