HPD Announces Partners for Two Senior Affordable Housing Projects in the Bronx and Brooklyn

Casa Celina will offer 200 senior affordable units in the Soundview section of the Bronx. Image credit: NYC HPD

There will be over 350 affordable units for seniors between the two projects. On March 11, 2019, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced the selection of partners for the development of two 100 percent senior affordable housing projects in the Bronx and Brooklyn. The projects are a part of HPD’s Senior First strategy, a three-prong strategy to ensure safe and affordable housing for seniors in New York City.

Casa Celina will be a 16-story building at the Sotomayor Houses at the corner of Watson and Thieriot Avenues in the Soundview section of the Bronx. There will be 200 housing units for seniors. There will also be approximately 3,500 square feet of community space for NYCHA residents as well as a fitness room, laundry room, a second-floor community space, a landscaped rooftop terrace and lounge spaces on every floor.

Casa Celina will be developed by Xenolith Partners, the Kretchmer Companies, ELH Mgmt. and the Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA). The JASA East Case Management Program will also provide social services and health and wellness programming on-site. The program will be funded by the NYC Department for the Aging.

Linden Court will be a 13-story building on Linden Street at the Bushwick II (Group E) Houses at in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The building will have 154 affordable units for seniors. Linden Court will also have a senior center with a café and an art gallery, warming kitchen, bathrooms and multi-programming rooms for classes and events.

Linden Court will offer 154 senior affordable units in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Image Credit: NYC HPD

Linden Court will be developed by Blue Sea Development Company and Gilbane Development Company. JASA will also provide community facility and senior social services and events. The Brooklyn Arts Council will also provide additional programming.

For both projects, 25 percent of the units will be set aside for NYCHA residents and another 30 percent of the units will be reserved for homeless seniors. The land is owned by NYCHA.

HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer stated, “Through Housing New York, we continue to put our seniors first, seizing every opportunity to create more affordable housing on public sites. The selected proposals will create hundreds of new homes for seniors on underused NYCHA land, providing an anchor of affordability to both individuals and communities. I want to congratulate the development teams and thank our partners at NYCHA and HDC for their commitment to creating a fairer and more equitable city for generations to come.”

NYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Kathryn Garcia stated “NYCHA and HPD are ensuring affordable housing and essential social support services are provided to one of the City’s most vulnerable populations, our seniors. With our newly selected development partners, these new projects will provide approximately 350 senior families with the safe and affordable housing they need. We are also excited this effort will focus on supporting the community, where our social service partners will offer on-site social, health and wellness, and cultural and art programming for residents and NYCHA families.”

By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw Fellow and a New York Law School Graduate, Class of 2018.)