S:US and Bronx Pro Celebrate Housewarming for Melrose North, A New Vision for Supportive Housing in the Bronx
In photo (from left): Samantha Magistro, CEO, Bronx Pro Group; Arlo Chase, SVP of Real Estate, S:US; Karuna Mehta, Senior Community Investment Officer, CSH; Daniel Magidson, Vice President of Acquisitions, Enterprise Community Partners; Chantel Jackson, Assembly Member of District 79; Edwin, Melrose North resident; Adolfo Carrión Jr., Commissioner, NYC Housing Preservation & Development; Vanessa L. Gibson, Bronx Borough President; Perry Perlmutter, President & CEO, S:US; Jane Silverman, Executive Director of Community Development Banking, JP Morgan Chase; Molly Park, Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Social Services; Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Council Member of District 17; Jonathan Gouveia, Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development, NYCHA. Photo credit: Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Council Member of District 17.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 28, 2024
CONTACT:
Jack Lynch
[email protected] | 908-487-1756
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NEW YORK, NY (October 28, 2024) — Services for the UnderServed (S:US) and Bronx Pro Group today celebrated the housewarming for Melrose North, a transformative new supportive housing development bringing 171 affordable homes to the Bronx. The project represents a major milestone in S:US’ mission to combat homelessness and create pathways to stability for New York’s most vulnerable residents.
“At S:US, we believe the solution to homelessness is homes,” said Perry Perlmutter, President & CEO of Services for the UnderServed. “Melrose North doesn’t just provide affordable housing, it also creates a true community where residents can access the support they need to thrive long-term. We are so excited to welcome tenants to this wonderful new building and expand our presence in the Bronx.”
Melrose North features on-site supportive services, providing residents with immediate access to professional counseling and resources. Community amenities include a playground and garden space where residents can gather and enjoy the outdoors. The property also houses an arts education facility operated by DreamYard, which hosts summer camps, after-school activities, and other opportunities for Bronx students.
“Bronx Pro and Home Builders are committed to building housing that thoughtfully addresses the needs of our community. Melrose North fully realizes that mission by leveraging underutilized land to provide safe, sustainable housing for our residents, while also offering the community an accessible ramp to the Metro-North train station, an innovative non-profit maker space that educates young people and a compactor space to service the waste management needs of our neighbors living in public housing,” said Samantha Magistro, CEO, Bronx Pro Group. “We appreciate the incredible partnerships that made the project possible.”
Of the total 171 units in the development, 103 are supportive housing units set aside for formerly homeless individuals with mental health or substance use challenges, as well as individuals and families who are survivors of domestic violence.
Melrose North is Passive House Certified and equipped with electric heat pumps, energy-efficient windows, appliances, and light fixtures to ensure low energy usage and long-term sustainability. The building was constructed on an underused space that previously held only a trash compactor for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). An interior garage compactor space now exists within the building, allowing NYCHA to continue operations as normal while simultaneously allowing for more than one hundred fifty new homes to be built on the site.
S:US housing services provide residents with access to additional support services to help meet their goals. They offer transitional and permanent housing in single-site residences, apartment buildings and scattered-site apartments for adults in recovery from mental illness, adults with substance use issues, and adults living with HIV/AIDS.
“As housing continues to be a pressing issue in the city, I am happy to support and work with organizations like Services for the UnderServed and Bronx Pro Group, which continue to provide the community with social services and affordable housing,” said Chantel Jackson, Assembly Member of District 79.
“We are excited to celebrate this significant milestone for Melrose North and its residents,” said Lisa Bova-Hiatt, Chief Executive Officer, NYCHA. “We thank our partners for working with us to build apartments on previously underutilized NYCHA land so that we can continue to do the important work of creating affordable housing for those who need it most.”
“NYCHA is proud to join our partners today to welcome home 171 residents into this new, thoughtfully designed building,” said Jonathan Gouveia, Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development, NYCHA. “Melrose North and our partnership with Bronx Pro and S:US shows how NYCHA can continue to deliver on our mission, by using underutilized land to provide supportive, permanently affordable housing to New Yorkers in the midst of a housing crisis.”,
“Supportive housing is absolutely critical for meeting the needs of vulnerable households and ensuring that they are able to live healthy, independent, and fulfilling lives,” said Molly Wasow Park, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Social Services. “With 171 affordable units – 103 of which will serve as supportive housing units for New Yorkers who experienced homelessness and survivors of domestic violence – and a robust array of on-site services and amenities, Melrose North will provide much-needed affordable housing and community spaces for this Bronx neighborhood. Projects like this exemplify the kind of high-quality, community-centered housing projects that allow the city to better support New Yorkers in need, and we are proud to join S:US and our public and private partners in celebrating this incredible project.”
“We are honored to support S:US and Bronx Pro Group in helping Bronxites reach the next chapter of their story,” said Jane E. Silverman, Executive Director, Chase Community Development Banking. “Stable housing with access to supportive services is essential for individuals to grow and thrive.”
“Melrose North is a sterling example of the creative development approaches that are needed to bring an end to our affordable housing crisis,” said Baaba Halm, Senior Vice President for Programs, Enterprise Community Partners. “The development team has taken underutilized New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) trash compactor space and has transformed it into 171 affordable and supportive homes, built to Passive House standards, and featuring a whole host of community amenities. Enterprise is proud to have played a part in bringing this project to life, and we congratulate our long-term partners at Services for the UnderServed and Bronx Pro Group on the achievement.”
“As S:US and BronxPro’s predevelopment funder, CSH is grateful to have played a role in the creation of Melrose North, which includes 171 homes for formerly homeless individuals and survivors of domestic violence,” said Karuna Mehta, Senior Community Investment Officer, Corporation for Supportive Housing. “We applaud the public partnership and collaboration between HPD and NYCHA, and the dedication of S:US and BronxPro to developing multi-faceted communities where residents receive the services and care they need to thrive. To the new and future residents of Melrose North – Welcome Home!”
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About Services for the UnderServed
S:US envisions a city where everyone has a roof over their head, is healthy, productive, and can enjoy the social connections that create a life of purpose. S:US has a staff of 1,800 that provides $275 million in services. Their efforts are supported by various local, state, and federal government entities, foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Most importantly, S:US’ vision allows the organization to deliver the same quality of services to one individual or to thousands.
About Bronx Pro Group
Bronx Pro Group LLC is a neighborhood-based firm dedicated to community development through affordable housing investments since 1988. Bronx Pro’s mission is to develop quality housing that is both affordable and sustainable with the intention of community building. The company and its affiliates employ full-time professionals engaged in real estate development, construction, building management, and residential services. Since 1998, Bronx Pro has completed over 3,200 affordable housing units with a development cost totaling more than $925 million. The Bronx Pro portfolio is primarily owned by the Magistro family who are proud to build quality housing as well as to create permanent jobs through their participation in New York City and State affordable housing programs.