167M Chelsea Beacon Redevelopment Breaks Ground: What To Know

NEW YORK CITY — State officials and community leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of Chelsea Beacon on Tuesday — a more than $167 million redevelopment of the long-vacant former Bayview Correctional Facility at 550 West 20th Street in Chelsea.

The project, being developed by a joint venture between Camber Property Group and the Osborne Association, will transform the former State-owned facility into a mixed-use development featuring up to 131 permanently affordable housing units, a 15-unit short-term transitional residence and approximately 9,300 square feet of community facility space.

“For more than a decade, this historic property sat vacant in one of New York City’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Today, we are transforming it into a place of opportunity — creating permanently affordable homes, supportive housing and critical services that will give New Yorkers the stability and resources they need to build stronger futures,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Chelsea Beacon reflects our commitment to tackling the housing crisis from every angle, including putting underutilized State property back to work for New Yorkers.”

The transitional residence will provide temporary housing for people with mental health needs who are navigating life transitions. Empire State Development supported the project through environmental review, approvals and the property's disposition for affordable housing and community uses.

The historic Art Deco property was originally built between 1930 and 1932 as the Seamen’s House YMCA and was designed by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon Architects. It later became the Bayview Correctional Facility, which closed after being damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Chelsea Beacon will preserve and adaptively reuse the historic Main and Annex buildings while adding a new structure within the interior courtyard. The former chapel will be restored for programmatic use, and the tile mosaic from the former pool will be preserved and reinstalled in the residential lobby.

The development will also incorporate sustainability and resiliency measures, including all-electric building systems, while maintaining key historic features of the property.