Sojourner Truth/Mapes Court developers tell the City Planning Commission they will preserve current rents for the 91 Mapes Court households during relocation, memorialize the promise in a regulatory agreement with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), cover moving costs, and begin relocation only after the new Sojourner Truth building is complete — a move the team says is likely after construction finishes in late 2029 with relocation in 2030. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4051
# What’s happening
– FIPS Houses will keep Mapes Court tenants’ rents the same upon relocation. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2754
– Rent retention will be memorialized in an HPD regulatory agreement. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=3721
– Relocation to Sojourner Truth is planned after construction, anticipated in 2030. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4051
# Why it matters
– 91 existing Mapes Court households face relocation to the new building. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2153
– A same‑rent guarantee and moving support reduce immediate rent increases and displacement risk during relocation. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332
# Key details
– 91 current Mapes Court dwelling units would be relocated to the new Sojourner Truth building. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2153
– Sojourner Truth (Phase 1) is proposed to have 159 income‑restricted units; 91 units reserved for Mapes tenants. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332
– Developer says tenants’ current rent‑stabilized rent will continue under new rent‑stabilized leases. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2515; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2596
– FIPS Houses says it will pay all moving costs, provide moving services, and run tenant support and information meetings. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2674
– Project schedule presented: closing December 2027, roughly 24 months construction, building finished end of 2029, relocation in 2030. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4051
FIPS Houses
– Role or jurisdiction: Nonprofit affordable‑housing developer presenting the Sojourner Truth/Mapes Court proposal.
– Action taken or responsibility: Proposes Phase 1 Sojourner Truth building and Phase 2 Mapes Court redevelopment; committed to rent retention and relocation support.
– Relevant numbers or dates: 159 units in Phase 1; closing targeted December 2027; relocation anticipated 2030. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=1990; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4051
Mapes Court tenants
– Role or jurisdiction: Residents of the existing Mapes Court building proposed for demolition and redevelopment.
– Action taken or responsibility: 91 households would be relocated to Sojourner Truth upon completion.
– Relevant numbers or dates: 91 units; relocation after Sojourner Truth construction, anticipated 2030. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2153; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4051
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)
– Role or jurisdiction: City agency that regulates affordable housing projects and signs regulatory agreements.
– Action taken or responsibility: Developer says HPD will govern the regulatory agreement memorializing rent retention.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Regulatory agreement will memorialize rent retention; HPD oversight cited by developer. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=3721; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332
The developer told the City Planning Commission that Mapes Court tenants currently hold rent‑stabilized leases and that upon relocation they will receive new rent‑stabilized leases at the same dollar rent they pay today. The applicant said the protection will be written into a regulatory agreement. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2515; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332
Commissioners asked whether tenants who now pay a lower rent would face higher market rents in the new building and whether vouchers or subsidies would be needed. The developer replied that tenants would sign leases at their current dollar rent even if the market or a preferential rent for the new unit were higher. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2754
The team described operational steps it says it will take to avoid displacement. FIPS said it will cover all moving expenses, hire movers, offer tenant coordination and packing support, host informational meetings, and give tenants tours of the new building before they move. The developer said it has run similar relocations previously and would use those practices here. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2674; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2596
The developer also addressed building upkeep during the multi‑year process. They said they are renovating the Mapes Court community room now, will continue making repairs (including boiler repairs), and do not intend to defer essential maintenance while the building remains occupied. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4143; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4051
On the schedule, the applicant described a financing and construction timeline: they expect closing in December 2027, about 24 months for construction at the Sojourner Truth site, building completion by the end of 2029, and relocation in 2030 — though the team noted dates are subject to funding and approval. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4051
Commissioners raised the Lampert/West Farms relocation experience and litigation as a concern and asked how lessons from past relocations would be applied. The developer said it has done relocations previously, described steps they took in prior projects, and said they would work with HPD on the regulatory agreement and implementation. (This concern was discussed at a June 29 review session and again during the July 1 hearing.) Source: https://youtu.be/I6HVt5Gsfuw&t=1785; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2596
The developer acknowledged some unit‑size adjustments may be necessary. They said the project must rebuild the same unit types as in Mapes Court, but some “right‑sizing” could occur in either direction and that unit sizes are expected to be broadly comparable to current apartments. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4223; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=4143
What is written versus what is enforceable will hinge on the regulatory agreement and HPD oversight. The applicant stated the rent‑retention promise will be memorialized in that regulatory agreement and indicated HPD will govern its terms. Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=2332; https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=3721
Source: July 1, 2026 City Planning Commission public meeting video (applicant presentation and Q&A). Source: https://youtu.be/YVmQM1EMVTg&t=1887
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