On Manhattan's Upper West Side, a new chapter in mixed-income housing is emerging at 200 West 97th Street, where Rockefeller Group and Atlas Capital Group plan to redevelop part of a century-old church campus into a residential building. The $96 million agreement with the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Name of Jesus and Saint Gregory the Great marks one of the latest examples of New York developers using public incentive programs to produce new housing on underutilized institutional land.
The project, which qualifies as an as‑of‑right development under existing zoning, is designed around the city's 485‑x property tax abatement program. That program allows partial exemption in exchange for affordable housing commitments—here, 25 percent of apartments are reserved for lower‑income tenants. The remaining units will be market‑rate rentals.
Rockefeller Group and Atlas Capital Group said the building would incorporate high‑performance glazing, low‑emissions insulation, and advanced HVAC recovery systems to lower long‑term operating costs and carbon intensity.
Design plans also include broadened retail frontage at Amsterdam Avenue, with space reserved for neighborhood retailers and service tenants.
While the new structure will occupy the western portion of the site, the church itself and its rectory will remain intact. The parish will receive approximately 9,500 square feet of new, purpose‑built facilities to replace outdated convent and school buildings, providing space for classrooms, meeting rooms, and community outreach programs.
The redevelopment strategy, shaped in collaboration with the Archdiocese of New York, reflects a broader trend of churches monetizing surplus land through joint ventures.
Developers cited the project as evidence of alignment between private investment and public housing goals. "The Upper West Side needs housing across income levels," they said, noting that large equity partners are increasingly factoring affordability thresholds into underwriting models when incentive programs provide predictable frameworks.
Although full design renderings have not been released, preliminary massing studies indicate a mid‑rise structure that matches the neighborhood's prevailing scale, with setbacks designed to bring natural light to the street and courtyard areas. Closing is expected in spring 2026; construction schedules will be set once additional permitting milestones are met.
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