Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. joined representatives from HPD, NYCHA, and the development team for the ribbon cutting of 1880 Boston Road on August 5, 2019. Image Credit: NYC HPD/Twitter
168 residential units were created on top of an existing building structure that will serve low-income and formerly homeless seniors. On August 5, 2019, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) celebrated the completion of 1880 Boston Road, a 168-unit affordable senior housing development in the West Farms neighborhood of the Bronx. HPD, HDC, and NYCHA celebrated the project’s completion with project partners Foxy Management, Hebrew Home at Riverdale, and Alembic Community Development.
The development added eight stories onto an existing building which includes a community space occupied by Cerebral Palsy of New York State and Metro Community Health Center. Retail space and below-grade parking also occupy the building.
The new construction added 167 affordable apartments for low-income and formerly homeless seniors. All apartments are available to extremely low-income senior households with at least one person 62-years-old or older. Each resident is only required to pay 30% of their monthly income toward rent. The remaining cost will be subsidized by a NYCHA Housing Assistance Payment contract funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The development includes studios, one-bedroom apartments, and one superintendent’s unit. It was designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities sustainability criteria. The criteria includes EnergyStar appliances, a rooftop solar panel array, high-efficiency boilers, and hot water heating systems.
Residents will have access to on-site social services provided by The Hebrew Home at Riverdale. The services will include case management, counseling, and referrals to off-site medical, dental, mental health recreation, and social services. The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) also provided funding.
In addition, residents will have access to a lounge/library, multipurpose room, recreation room, yoga/exercise room, arts and crafts room, and office space for social services. The Lendlease Foundation furnished a grant providing the development with a 3,000 square-foot outdoor recreational space for residents. The outdoor space is adorned with a colorful mural sponsored by Foxy Management’s Foxy Wall Project.
HPD’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) and HDC’s Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA) program financed the development. To further fund the development, HDC provided $37.8 million in tax-exempt bonds and $9.24 million in corporate reserves. HPD provided $12.4 million in Federal HOME funds. City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. provided $728,000 in Reso A funds. Raymond James acted as the tax credit syndicator and provided a combined investment of $34.8 million in federal tax credit equity. TD Bank provided a $38 million credit enhancement for the tax-exempt bonds through its Commercial Real Estate Group.
This project benefits from the March 2016 Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA) amendment and the Affordable Independent Residences for Seniors (AIRS) provision to the New York City Zoning Resolution. ZQA and AIRS allow for the creation of more affordable housing and higher quality of buildings.
HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll said, “Our work to make New York City more equitable and affordable can only succeed if we continue to put those who are most in need at the top of the list, this includes seniors like those who reside at 1880 Boston Road. I want to thank our partners at Alembic and Foxy Management for their collaboration as we make strides in our mission to create 300,000 affordable homes by 2026.”
“Today we welcome home 167 seniors, many of whom have overcome the hardships of homelessness,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Thanks to the commitments of our partners and elected officials, this energy-efficient affordable development includes social services, as well as community and recreational space, creating a support system that our seniors need and deserve.”
By: Laine Vitkevich (Laine is a CityLaw Intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2020).