DEP-Owned Lot to Become First of its Kind Development Combining Affordable Housing and a Public Recreation Center

December 18, 2025

Camber Property Group, Services for the UnderServed, and Essence Development, chosen to develop Herzog & de Meuron-designed mixed-use building at 388 Hudson Street

Nearly 280 units of new affordable and supportive housing and new Parks recreation center for New Yorkers and their families coming to Hudson Square and the West Village

New York, New York - Today, after a months-long competitive review process following the announcement of the 388 Hudson Street Request for Proposals, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks), and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are proud to announce that Camber Property Group, Services for the UnderServed (S:US), and Essence Development have been selected to develop Hudson Mosaic.

"This first-ever combination of affordable housing with a recreation center offers a model of what innovative housing solutions with community input should look like," said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. "Hudson Mosaic will deliver much-needed housing and resources, and I am proud of the extensive community engagement, coordination between city agencies, and bold vision that brought this project to life. I congratulate our partners at HPD, NYC Parks, DEP, and at Camber Property Group, Services for the UnderServed, and Essence Development for reaching this key milestone."

"Amidst a generational housing crisis, we are transforming precious City-owned land into not just new and affordable homes, but into rich and vibrant community assets," said Acting Commissioner of HPD Ahmed Tigani. "Hudson Mosaic is a demonstration of HPD's commitment to building homes and neighborhoods that give every New Yorker the chance to thrive and live a life with dignity. Through collaboration with Parks and DEP, as well as with this incredible development team that we've designated today, we are meeting the highest bar for community engagement and design excellence - all while moving with urgency to deliver the housing and supportive services that many New Yorkers so desperately need. Once completed, Hudson Mosaic will stand as a representation of what is possible when we all come together and deliver for hardworking New Yorkers."

"Today's announcement brings us closer to realizing the City's vision for the Clarkson Street Corridor as a powerful recreational and cultural hub for Lower Manhattan," said NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. "The new recreation center at Hudson Mosaic will offer year-round access to affordable, accessible, high-quality amenities that support health, wellness, and community connection. We're proud to help bring this transformative space to life."

"DEP is committed to working creatively with HPD and NYC Parks to maximize affordable housing and recreational space for New Yorkers," said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. "By identifying underutilized DEP-owned land and strategically employing land use tools, we can meet the challenge of building energy efficient, resilient, and sustainable affordable housing like Hudson Mosaic. DEP is proud to help make projects like this possible."

"I am excited to see 388 Hudson advance with the designation of Camber Property Group, Services for the UnderServed, and Essence Development. This is a critical step forward in developing high quality, deeply affordable housing and delivering brand new recreation space in a high-cost neighborhood" said Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. "I congratulate the newly designated development team and our partner agencies at HPD, NYC Parks, and DEP in reaching this milestone."

"Manhattan Community Board 2 has supported the development of affordable housing at 388 Hudson since 2015, recognizing the site's unique capacity," said Valerie De La Rosa, Chair of Manhattan Community Board 2. "The selection of a developer moves this project closer to reality and represents an important opportunity to deliver 100% affordable housing that responds to the needs of our community."

Hudson Mosaic will repurpose an underutilized, DEP-owned lot and transform the land into nearly 280 new affordable apartments and a state-of-the-art recreation center to be owned and operated by NYC Parks. To understand the community's vision for this City-owned site, HPD led a robust community engagement process that included presentations to Manhattan Community Board 2, outreach to local community-based organizations, local tabling events, and in-person and online workshops. In total, HPD received over 500 responses to the project questionnaire. Hudson Mosaic's proposal directly responds to the needs and desires of the community as outlined in the Community Visioning Report by offering 100% affordable homes and an incredible space for the community to grow, be active, and spend time together. Once constructed, these homes will be available through the Housing Connect housing lottery for a range of New Yorkers, from single adults and couples to larger families, with a range of low to moderate incomes. At least 15% of the units will be set aside for formerly homeless New Yorkers, with on-site clinical and supportive services available to residents provided by S:US.

In addition to being home to a wide range of New Yorkers, Hudson Mosaic will become an important community asset with a new LEED Gold and fully ADA accessible NYC Parks recreation center. The year-round facility will feature a six-lane indoor pool for a range of swim programming, a gymnasium with a high school regulation full-size basketball court, an indoor walking/running track, cardio and strength rooms, a media lab, and flexible multipurpose rooms for a range of programming which may include dance and afterschool programs. The recreation center will also bring new, permanent public artwork to the neighborhood, commissioned through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs' Percent for Art program. With these amenities, the recreation center will serve as the western anchor of the City's vision for the Clarkson Street Corridor to be a recreational, cultural and fitness hub in lower Manhattan.

Beyond being the first City-led development that co-locates affordable housing with an NYC Parks recreation center, this project, designed by the award-winning international architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, in collaboration with New York City-based Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, is an excellent showcase for how publicly subsidized housing can be planned and designed to the highest level of design excellence. Hudson Mosaic's design is innovative and cutting-edge, featuring a highly efficient trapezoidal design that minimizes shadows on the surrounding streets and J.J. Walker Park and creates unique, high-quality residential amenities and residences which offer striking views of the Hudson River.

Hudson Mosaic also features a one-of-a-kind, dynamic and varied facade that makes tailored references to the surrounding historic architecture of the West Village while meeting the highest standards for energy efficiency, and reducing severe weather impacts. This design will allow the residential portion of the building to reach Passive House certification standards and the recreation center to meet LEED Gold certification standards, ensuring the building will meet Local Law 97's energy efficiency targets.

Additional sustainable and resilient design features include all-electric amenities, rooftop solar panels, backup power systems, and green roofs to mitigate the effects of stormwater flooding and extreme heat.

"Hudson Mosaic will be a true community asset, delivering an innovative, sustainable and inclusive development to Hudson Square that brings together affordable housing for a wide range of households and incomes with a state-of-the-art public recreation center," said Karen Hu, Head of Development, Principal at Camber Property Group. "Our design balances a contemporary, innovative approach with a deep respect for the historic fabric of the neighborhood. Together with our partners Services for the UnderServed and Essence Development, we will realize the full potential of this site by addressing the housing crisis while delivering a recreation center that offers year-round recreation opportunities to a diversity of users. We are grateful to HPD for its on-going partnership and look forward to working with NYC Parks, our partners and other stakeholders to bring Hudson Mosaic to life."

"We are proud to join our partners and the community in bringing this vital project to life," said Perry Perlmutter, Services for the UnderServed President and CEO. "This is more than just bricks and mortar, it's a bold step toward a future where homelessness is eradicated and every New Yorker has the opportunity to thrive. These affordable and supportive homes will not only provide stability for individuals and families transitioning from shelters, but also reflect our shared commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and responsiveness to neighborhood needs. Together, we are building more than housing, we are building a stronger, healthier New York for all."

"We are honored by the opportunity to partner with Camber and S:US on the 388 Hudson Street project in collaboration with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Guided by the goals articulated in the Community Visioning Report, this project reflects a shared commitment to long-term affordability, community-driven design, and inclusive growth," said Jamar Adams, Founder and Managing Principal of Essence Development. "The development will deliver much-needed affordable housing alongside a City-run recreation center that supports local residents, fosters neighborhood connection, promotes economic opportunity, and enhances quality of life. We look forward to working closely with local elected officials, our neighbors within the surrounding community, and Community Board 2 to realize a vision rooted in equity, sustainability, and lasting benefit for generations to come."

Developing World-Class Residential Amenities

In addition to the recreation center, Hudson Mosaic will offer incredible residential amenities, including:

• A sixth-floor outdoor terrace that wraps around three sides of the building
• A fitness room
• A computer room
• A kids' playroom
• In-building laundry services
• Social services suite operated by S:US
• Community lounge areas throughout different residential floors, with one on the top floor overlooking the Hudson River

The Development Team

Camber Property Group is a New York City based, vertically integrated housing developer focused on the new construction and preservation of affordable and workforce housing. Our approach is grounded in a vision to not only meet the immediate needs of the communities we serve but to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future. You can read more about Camber.

Services for the UnderServed is a not-for-profit and one of New York's largest supportive housing developers and service providers. S:US has a dedicated staff of 1,800 that provides $315 million in services to New York's most vulnerable individuals. Their efforts are supported by various local, state, and federal government entities, foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Most importantly, S:US' breadth and depth of services enable the organization to help tens of thousands of individuals live productive, healthy, fulfilled lives each year by addressing each person's unique challenges and creating new opportunities for success. Read more about S:US.

Essence Development is a social impact real estate development company and certified minority-owned business enterprise founded in 2021, focused on building and preserving affordable housing across the country, with a mission of building Communities of Opportunity. Learn more about Essence Development.

What Comes Next

The development team will work with HPD, DEP, and Parks to:

• Communicate project updates to community stakeholders and the community board throughout the predevelopment process and during construction.
• Host a community input meeting to hear public input on recreation center programming.
• Obtain necessary public approvals for the project.
• Secure financing for the project before construction can begin.