Aerial view of a city intersection featuring a modern, multi-story brick building with rooftop gardens, surrounded by trees, cars, and nearby high-rise buildings under daylight. A modern brick building with large windows and trees lining the sidewalk. People walk, sit, and ride bikes along the street on a sunny day. Cars are parked and driving on the road. A modern, vibrant community center lobby with people chatting, sitting on stylish furniture, and interacting at a curved reception desk. Colorful art decorates the walls, and a sculptural ceiling feature adds elegance. Children and adults gather in a lively, modern courtyard with playground equipment, benches, plants, and tall buildings with colorful accents surrounding the space. Some kids play while others sit or walk with adults. Modern apartment interior with an open kitchen, dining area, and living room; large windows offer a city view, and natural light fills the space. Neutral colors and contemporary furnishings complete the setting. A modern lounge with curved sofas, terrazzo flooring, plants, wall art, and people chatting or using laptops. Two people sit in cozy wall nooks, while others sit on the sofas and chairs, creating a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere.

The Hudson Mainstay Affordable and Supportive Housing Competition

Project Type

Adaptive ReuseCultural & CivicMulti-Family

Completion

2026

Location

West Chelsea, NYC

Client

HousingPlus, Spatial Equity Co., Duvernay + Brooks

The Hudson Mainstay was proposed as a 12-story, 100-unit, 100% permanently affordable, mixed-use development to serve residents and the West Chelsea community. The proposal included 60 units of permanent supportive housing focused on marginalized women and gender-expansive people and families, including those experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, justice involvement, and veterans. The remaining 40 units were proposed as affordable LIHTC housing at 30% and 60% AMI. Nearly half of the units were designed as family-sized two- and three-bedroom apartments to support family stability and reunification.

The proposal included robust resident amenities, such as on-site supportive service offices, indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, and multiple terraces. Supportive services were planned to be provided by HousingPlus to promote resident stability, independence, and access to community resources.

The proposed 15,500-square-foot Hudson Mainstay Community Center was designed to house workforce development and arts programming responsive to community needs. Workforce partners were to offer career training, job readiness, and wraparound supports across multiple industries, while the Center for Arts and Learning, anchored by ArtsConnection, was planned to provide arts education, internships, exhibitions, and college and career readiness for residents and local youth.

Renders: Level 5 Visualizations

DESIGN TEAM

PXD Architects, BKSK Architects