94 young people, adults, and families celebrate new supportive, affordable home in the Bronx
Photo credit: Jen Harris
Governor Cuomo Announces Opening of $47 Million Affordable and Supportive Housing Development in the Bronx
May 14, 2019
Read the original release here.
Morris Avenue Apartments Will Provide 94 Units of Affordable and Supportive Housing for Young People, Adults and Families
Development Furthers Revitalization Efforts in the Bronx
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the opening of the Morris Avenue Apartments, a new 11-story, 94-unit mixed-income affordable housing development with supportive services in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. In addition to 63 affordable apartments, the building has 31 supportive apartments: 17 reserved for young adults with mental illness who are aging out of foster care and 14 for homeless adults with mental illness.
“Every New Yorker deserves a safe and decent place to call home, and we are making significant investments in affordable housing to help make that happen,” Governor Cuomo said. “This investment in the Bronx will not only add a new building and residents to the neighborhood, it will also allow vulnerable New Yorkers to live securely and independently in their community.”
“This development will provide affordable, quality housing options for young people and families in the Bronx, ensuring they have the support services needed to lead healthy and secure lives,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “This project is part of our overall efforts to increase affordable housing across the state and combat homelessness in our communities. It also builds on our economic development efforts in the Bronx to revitalize the area and enhance quality of life.”
The new building at 2264 Morris Avenue, between East 182nd and East 183rd Streets, has 31 studio apartments, 23 one-bedroom apartments, 25 two-bedroom apartments and 14 three-bedroom apartments. There is one two-bedroom apartment for the building’s superintendent. The development also has community rooms with computers, on-site laundry facilities, multiple outdoor recreation areas and on-site parking.
Rents for most of the apartments are set to be affordable for households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income, with 14 apartments affordable to households earning at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Income.
Tenants have access to on-site supportive services through Services for the UnderServed, one of the largest social service and housing organizations in New York. S:US staff will provide a wide range of supports aimed at guiding tenants toward their personal goals, long-term stability and health. Services include personalized support tailored to each tenants’ needs, daily life skills training, job placement, financial planning and support in healthy living and wellness.
State financing for Morris Avenue Apartments includes $13.9 million of tax-exempt bonds, of which $9.3 million has debt service supported by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $15.9 million in equity, and $2.1 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Governor Cuomo’s New York State Medicaid Redesign Team supplied $5.8 million. OMH also provides $857,800 in annual funding for on-site supportive services. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development delivered more than $7 million in financing. The project was co-developed by Services for the UnderServed and Bronx Pro Group. The Corporation for Supportive Housing provided the pre-development funds for the project and Chase provided the Letter of Credit.
The Morris Avenue Apartments are part of the Governor’s unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan to make housing accessible and combat homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 with supportive services. The plan is a comprehensive approach to statewide housing issues and includes multifamily and single-family housing and community development. Since 2011, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested more than $1 billion in the Bronx that has created or preserved affordable housing for more than 39,000 people.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Since 2011, HCR has financed more than 14,000 affordable apartments in the Bronx – providing homes for more than 39,000 people. With the $47 million investment in Morris Avenue Apartments, we are reducing homelessness and helping individuals with special needs live independent, stable and successful lives in the community they call home.”
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “The 31 supportive housing units in the Morris Avenue Apartments will help people with mental illness make their way on the road to recovery with greater independence and dignity. This beautiful apartment building is another example of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to helping vulnerable New Yorkers, and we at OMH are proud to have played a role in its construction.”
HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll said, “The affordable housing we are financing at record pace under Housing New York are delivering real results for New Yorkers. Through our collective efforts, 31 formerly homeless households and 63 low-income households now have the security of a new, affordable home. I want to thank Services for the UnderServed, Bronx Pro, our partners at the state, and local elected officials for their commitment to building a more affordable New York City.”
Samantha Magistro, Managing Director of BronxPro Group, said, “Bronx Pro is proud to celebrate the completion of 2264 Morris Avenue project. The residence truly reflects our mission to develop high quality affordable housing that promotes diverse and healthy Bronx communities. Morris Avenue also demonstrates the success of our joint venture partnership which brought together sustainable, neighborhood based development with excellence is social service provision to create a forward thinking moderate, low and supportive housing project.”
S:US CEO Donna Colonna said, “2264 Morris Avenue shows us what is possible when we collaborate to build solutions that address our city’s most urgent needs. Here, 94 young people, adults, and families now have a home: an essential foundation that makes opportunity, safety, and success possible. S:US welcomes, congratulates, and celebrates with the new tenants of 2264 Morris Avenue.”
Jane E. Silverman, Executive Director of Community Development Banking, Chase said, “Providing an affordable and supportive place to live is vital to building sustainable communities, and 2264 Morris Avenue will have a positive impact in the Bronx. We’re honored to work with key industry players and continue our support in the local community.”
Jennifer Trepinski, Director of Loan Originations for the Corporation for Supportive Housing, said, “When CSH approved nearly $4 million in financing for 2264 Morris Avenue, we did so because we knew this effort would serve a wide spectrum of people in the Bronx needing affordable housing, and offer life-enhancing services like case management and healthcare for the most vulnerable,” said. “Bronx Pro Group and Services for the UnderServed have created beautiful space to help people once homeless with low incomes access supportive housing and 2264 also benefits locals with moderate incomes who need an affordable home.”