One festivity was not enough for Emilia Lopez when she turned 100 this spring. She had three parties—and an excursion to an Atlantic City casino where she won $300. And no wonder. Lopez had a lot to celebrate: Not only had she reached the century mark, but she attained it while still living alone in the west side apartment she has occupied for decades.

Atrium at Sumner is one of several new affordable housing projects to break ground in the outer boroughs this summer as part of a public-private collaboration between city agencies and for-profit developers.

TF Cornerstone has extended the deadline for applicants looking to snag an affordable housing unit in one of its towers on the Long Island City waterfront.

The New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) has named Selfhelp Realty Group | The Melamid Institute for Affordable Housing the Non-Profit of the Year, as awarded through NYSAFAH’s Annual Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing. Selfhelp Realty Group | The Melamid Institute for Affordable Housing proudly accepts this award, with thanks to NYSAFAH, and congratulations to all other honorees.

Elected officials and developers cut the ribbon on a two-tower residential development on the Long Island City waterfront Thursday. Front row, from left to right; Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; Zoe Elghanayan, Principal and Senior Vice President at TF Cornerstone; Assembly Member Cathy Nolan; Deputy Mayor Vicki Been and Jeremy Shell, Principal at TF Cornerstone (Photo by Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)

The addition furthers the City’s goal of financing 200,000 affordable households by the end of the de Blasio administration.

While December isn’t quite over yet, here are some of the top stories of the month in Queens, which includes new affordable housing, homelesness woes, another high school school scandal and three Queens men’s “Ocean’s Eleven”-like scheme to rob a Long Island warehouse, among many others.

TF Cornerstone has completed its dual-tower residential complex at 52-03 and 52-41 Center Boulevard in Hunter’s Point, Queens. Together, the buildings comprise 1,194 rental units including 719 permanently affordable home, a 150-vehicle parking garage, and a 7,700-square-floor community center.

This story is part of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 2022. Explore the full list of innovators who broke through this year—and had an impact on the world around us.