Rendering of Sol on Park. Image Credit: HPD.
On May 5, 2022, the Department of Housing PReservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) announced plans for a new development to provide affordable housing for seniors in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. The Sol on Park development will be located on the corner of St. Paul’s Place and Park Avenue within the Morris II public housing development. Sol on Park’s theme is “housing is health; health is housing,” which incorporates and promotes health lifestyles in the development’s design and features. The development team consists of NRP Group, Foxy Management, and Selfhelp Realty Group, along with Magnusson Architecture and Planning.
The fifteen-story building will have approximately 195 units of deeply affordable housing for seniors. Units will be available to senior households earning up to 50 percent area median income, or approximately $41,800 a year for one person. All households will be given project-based Section 8 vouchers, and a portion of homes will be set aside for NYCHA residents and seniors experiencing homelessness. Selfhelp will provide social services through its Active Services for Aging Model, which helps residents manage aging, chronic health issues, and provides culturally competent health programming.
The development will include a community health center, a nutrition education facility, and career-training spaces for residents and the community. The Union Community Health Center, which will provide primary care, behavioral health, dental services, physical and occupational therapy, and will provide opportunities for career fellowship programs in healthcare, health administration, and dental care. The Green Bronx Machine’s National Health & Wellness Center will provide nutritional education and urban agriculture programming. The SUNY Bronx Educational Opportunity Center will provide educational opportunities in healthcare and technology. The Selfhelp Home Care Program and Training Center for Home Health Aides will prepare people for careers in at-home care.
The development will also feature a large pedestrian plaza, shared walkway with the adjacent NYCHA campus, community spaces on multiple floors, and cascading roof terraces. Sustainable features in the building allow for fewer greenhouse emissions, including a LEED Platinum Rating for sustainable design and an ENERGY STAR certification.
HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. stated, “Seniors are the heart and soul of our communities and Sol on Park exemplifies the highest quality of housing and support we ought to provide seniors to age in place with dignity and comfort. With new facilities for healthcare, nutrition, and career training, Sol on Park allows us to invest in the entire neighborhood’s health and future well-being while bringing much needed affordable homes to the Morrisania neighborhood. Thank you to our development partners NRP Group, Selfhelp, and Foxy Management for such a creative and holistic plan. Congratulations!”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)