HPD plays a critical role in shaping affordable and mixed-income housing in New York City, influencing not only financing but also building design, unit mix, and project timelines. Successful HPD projects begin with early alignment between zoning capacity, building typology, and program requirements. When these factors are addressed upfront, teams reduce redesign, avoid delays, and create a clearer path from site analysis to approval and construction.

Fordham Oval transforms one of the Bronx’s most challenging sites, a steep and irregular parcel spanning two zoning districts, into a vibrant mixed-use community. Designed by Meltzer/Mandl Architects, the project includes more than 400 affordable and senior housing units, a 100,000-square-foot charter school, community facilities, and public open space that turn complex terrain and regulations into opportunity and connection.

Meltzer/Mandl designs large-site developments that prioritize the spaces between buildings: the paths, courtyards, and stoops where daily life happens. At Lincoln Wortman Homes in East New York, the firm turned zoning, floodplain, and infrastructure challenges into opportunities for connection, comfort, and resilience, creating a walkable, human-scaled neighborhood that fosters community and pride in homeownership.

Phasing is a critical design strategy in large-site development. The right plan reduces disruption, maintains access, and delivers long-term value. On a recent 6-acre, 12-building project, the phased design included relocating residents into surplus units, completing infrastructure work, and sequencing construction to build momentum while ensuring every stage remained functional and livable.

On larger sites, cars, walkways, and building entries form a complex puzzle. The goal is to make movement intuitive, safe, and accessible while preserving open space. Strategies like shared drop-off courts, ADA-compliant routes, and phased construction planning ensure communities that are not just code-compliant, but livable, connected, and enduring.

Strategic site planning is key to unlocking the full potential of large, complex properties. On a 6-acre post-war apartment complex, we helped the owner unlock 175,000 sf of new floor area by rethinking layout, leveraging City of Yes zoning, and carefully coordinating building placement to minimize tenant disruption. The result: a viable, livable, and buildable plan that maximizes density while preserving quality of life.

Large NYC sites with existing buildings and unused air rights present complex challenges and major opportunities. At Meltzer Mandl, we guide owners through three strategic options: build around what exists, reconfigure to achieve the ideal end state, or pursue rezoning to unlock long-term value. Each approach depends on tenant needs, site conditions, and development goals and requires a partner who can think beyond the building to realize the full potential.

Designing buildings under 7 stories in NYC requires strategic use of space, zoning, and affordability rules. With the City of Yes reforms, architects can use new zoning deductions and unit mix flexibility to maximize efficiency and livability. Meltzer Mandl Architects explores how compact multi-bedroom layouts, updated rear yard and lot coverage rules, and early planning can make mid-rise housing projects feasible, efficient, and code-compliant.

NYC’s zoning reforms have lifted unit caps in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, opening new possibilities for density and design. The right strategy can unlock major value—while the wrong one risks lost square footage and revenue. Meltzer/Mandl helps developers translate these changes into buildable, bankable solutions. If you're planning a project in these zones, now’s the time to maximize your site’s potential.

City of Yes zoning updates enables new development on irregular lots. More flexibility means smarter, high-value, community-focused design

Eli Meltzer took the stage at the Bisnow discussing how City of Yes is shaping the future of NYC development

Recap and video from City of Yes webinar held on January 28th including key takeaways and why City of Yes matters

Meltzer/Mandl Architects announce a free webinar on the City of Yes initiative and its changes to zoning and housing rules

City of Yes cuts rear yards from 30' to 20' for buildings under 75', allowing bigger floor plates, lower costs, and easier conversions

The increasing number of vacant office buildings presents a unique opportunity to repurpose these spaces into residential units. Many of...

Pro Tips: Navigating the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in NYC

City of Yes will have a tremendous impact on the city landscape most notably eliminating parking requirements for developers.

With City of Yes, the Mayor has adopted a new approach focusing almost exclusively on providing as many new units as possible.

HPD has reworked and tightened up their Preservation Design Guidelines drawing a clear line between Moderate ('Mod') and Substantial ('Sub')