NYC's Trinity Church Building 120 Affordable Apartments

A 327-year-old Manhattan church is turning its land into affordable homes for New Yorkers who need them most.

Trinity Church, the iconic Episcopal parish in Lower Manhattan's Financial District where Alexander Hamilton is buried, announced plans to build 120 permanently affordable apartments on land it owns. The development will serve low-income households, with units specifically reserved for formerly homeless individuals and families.

The new housing community will rise on Cliff Street, right next to St. Margaret's House, a 249-unit affordable senior residence the church built back in 1981. Trinity partnered with Settlement Housing Fund, a nonprofit developer that already manages over 3,000 affordable units across New York City.

The apartments won't just provide shelter. Plans include outdoor spaces, a food-focused learning area, and flexible rooms for workshops and community events. Trinity will keep ownership of the land through a 99-year lease, ensuring the housing stays affordable for generations.

For Trinity Church, this project continues a decades-long commitment to housing justice. Beyond St. Margaret's House, the church runs food assistance programs seven days a week, supports asylum seekers, and hosts youth programs throughout the city.

"Over forty years ago, Trinity Church demonstrated its commitment to housing stability," said Thehbia Hiwot, the church's managing director of housing and homelessness. "Today, we are building on that legacy."

The Ripple Effect

This development joins a growing movement called YIGBY, or "Yes In God's Backyard." Religious institutions across America are recognizing they can transform underutilized land into solutions for housing crises in their communities.

Settlement Housing Fund selected the project through a competitive process that prioritized 100 percent affordable housing. The organization currently has another 2,250 affordable units in development across the city.

Affordable housing opportunities in Lower Manhattan are incredibly rare, making this project especially significant for a neighborhood where market-rate rents have soared beyond reach for most New Yorkers. The church sits near One World Trade Center in the heart of the Financial District, one of the city's most expensive areas.

Local architecture firm Dattner will design the building with sustainability in mind. While move-in dates and specific rent prices haven't been announced yet, the commitment to deep affordability means rents will be accessible to New Yorkers earning well below the area median income.

Every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and Trinity Church is putting faith into action.