Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight added “This next phase brings the long-term vision for Creedmoor closer to becoming a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. Guided by extensive community input, the first phase will be 100% affordable housing and create new public spaces and amenities to serve new and existing residents.”

The RFP seeks proposals for a 100% affordable mixed-use development that meets critical community priorities identified through the Creedmoor Community Master Plan (CCMP), published in December 2023. 

The first phase is located along the Hillside Avenue frontage of the Creedmoor campus, extending into the campus along Avenue C. This placement enables the first phase to begin connecting the development to the surrounding community and existing city infrastructure, including streets and water, storm, and sanitary networks. The site currently contains six vacant or partially occupied buildings designated for demolition, along with existing roadways and surface parking lots.

ESD will host a site tour on Dec. 17, 2025 for interested developers. Those wishing to attend must RSVP to Creedmoor2025RFP@esd.ny.gov by Dec. 15, 2025 by 6:00 PM.

The RFP outlines key development objectives for phase one, including: affordable rental housing, including supportive housing, affordable homeownership opportunities, community facilities with encouragement for uses such as a grocery store, urgent care center, early childhood center, and older adult center, neighborhood retail, open space, structured parking to serve the development and environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient design aligned with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.  Proposals are encouraged to include local hiring and meaningful participation by certified MBE, WBE and SDVOB entities.

The Creedmoor Mixed-Use Project is located in the Bellerose neighborhood of eastern Queens at 79-25 Winchester Blvd. The site is part of the larger 125-acre Creedmoor Psychiatric Center campus, which dates to 1908 and has been largely underutilized for decades as the state modernized and consolidated mental health operations. The redevelopment will not compromise the continued delivery of mental health and developmental disability services provided by the New York State Office of Mental Health and the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities on other portions of the campus.

The Public Authorities Control Board approved on Nov. 20 the General Project Plan for the Creedmoor Mixed-Use Project, a flagship state initiative to transform 46.5 acres of vacant, state-owned land in eastern Queens into a vibrant mixed-use community featuring new housing, open space, and community amenities such as retail, childcare, and senior services. 

The overall plan calls for the creation of 2,022 new homes. This includes more than 950 affordable rental units, which include veteran, supportive and senior apartments and more than 1,000 affordable and market-rate homeownership units, along with more than 10 acres of open space.

The plan also features144,000/sf of community facilities—including a 120,000/sf public school, 16,000/sf for senior centers, and an 8,000/sf  childcare center—and 67,000/sf of neighborhood retail to support local businesses and serve residents’ daily needs. The project will also deliver critical infrastructure improvements and enhanced pedestrian access.

Earlier in November, the New York City Council approved the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan. This transformative initiative will create approximately 14,700 new homes, including 4,350 permanently affordable homes through the use of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and city subsidy programs in Long Island City, Queens. The housing plan includes 320 homes for lower-income New Yorkers at 44-59 45th Avenue, where the city currently houses New York City Department of Transportation operations.