A Happy Housewarming for Henry Apartments
May.22.2017
Watering the new garden at SUS’ Henry Apartments.
On a sunny May morning, Services for the UnderServed celebrated the opening of Henry Apartments, a beautiful new supportive housing development, in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, co-developed with Alembic Community Development. The new development, consisting of two neighboring six-story buildings is named after community leader Stan Henry, who, for more than forty years, was the owner and operator of a hardware store that occupied one corner of the development site. As described by Alembic’s Benjamin Warnke, “Mr. Henry worked tirelessly to acquire the long-vacant lot adjacent to the store and to complete this project, the latest chapter in a lifetime of service to the neighborhood.”
Continue Reading …Dedication of Columba Kavanagh House’s Frances E. Ficklen Lounge
May.15.2017
Frances E. Ficklen in an earlier era.
On Friday April 28th, Columba Kavanagh’s GEMA Hall dedicated their new tenant lounge to a former tenant Frances E. Ficklen surrounded by the tenant’s family members. Tragically, the family had lost touch with Ms. Ficklen due to the onset of mental illness and only found her name associated with GEMA Hall years after her death. The family members found peace in the knowledge that Ms. Ficklen had died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by caring staff and tenants.
Ms. Ficklen’s sisters and cousins attended the ceremony and spoke passionately about Frances who had been doing fieldwork in Martinique after earning her Master’s degree in Anthropology when she experienced the onset of mental illness. The redecorated tenant lounge – financed as part of the building’s Year 15 refinancing, reflects Frances’ love of the Caribbean.
Westhab’s Gracious Gouverneur Place Apartments Opens in the Bronx
Apr.28.2017
Cutting the ribbon at Gourverneur Place Apartments.
On a blustery April morning, Westhab opened a gracious new supportive housing residence, Gouverneur Place Apartments, in the Bronx. The residence features 68 units: 50 efficiency apartments for people with mental health challenges and 17 one, two, and three bedroom apartments for low-income individuals and families. Westhab is based in Westchester and has many supportive housing residences in that area – this is their first residence in New York City.
Continue Reading …Dedication of the Bishop Thomas Daily Residence
Apr.18.2017
Dignitaries at the dedication ceremony of Bishop Thomas Daily residence.
Some fifty partners, well-wishers and illustrious members of the Archdiocese of Brooklyn and Queens gathered to celebrate the dedication of one of New York’s earliest supportive housing residences as the newly refurbished Bishop Thomas V. Daily Residence on April 5th. First opened in 1985 by Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation, the former grammar school recently underwent a gut rehabilitation turning its SRO units into efficiency apartments, updating the building systems and adding six additional apartments!
Continue Reading …Bolting Up Ceremony for 1880 Boston Road Senior Apartments
Feb.27.2017
"Breaking ground" at 1880 Boston Road Senior Apartments.
On February 10th, 2017, the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, Foxy Management, and Alembic Community Development held a ‘bolting up’ celebration for 1880 Boston Road Senior Apartments – a project that will create supportive and affordable housing on top of the building currently in existence (hence the ‘bolting up’ instead of the traditional ‘groundbreaking’). This project is the first of Governor Cuomo’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) awards to begin construction in New York City. Of the 168 total units, 51 units will be set aside for homeless and frail seniors.
Continue Reading …Stephan Russo Departs Goddard Riverside Community Center
Feb.24.2017
Executive Director Stephan Russo stepped down from his position at Goddard Riverside Community Center (“Goddard”) at the end of the year, succeeded by Dr. Roderick Jones, formerly the President and CEO of Grace Hill Settlement House in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to his eight years at Grace Hill, Dr. Jones served as President and CEO of the Community Place of Greater Rochester.
A Glorious Residence Breaks Ground on East 172nd Street
Feb.23.2017
Breaking ground at 111 East 172nd Street.
On February 22, 2017, Community Access held a glorious groundbreaking ceremony for their new 126-unit building at 111 East 172nd Street. Upon completion, the building will include 57 affordable two-bedroom apartments, 8 affordable studio apartments and 60 studio apartments for tenants referred by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Community Access’ long-time Director of Real Estate Maggi Knox attended the festivities with a heavy heart – this will be her last groundbreaking before retirement.
Continue Reading …Maria Torres-Springer Appointed as Commissioner of HPD
Jan.31.2017
Maria Torres-Springer has been appointed by Mayor de Blasio to serve as the new HPD Commissioner. Ms. Torres-Springer comes to HPD after working on neighborhood planning and the development of public sites as President and CEO of the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) since June 2015, and prior to that, leading the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) as Commissioner.
What so many get wrong about homelessness
Jan.26.2017
New York City Council Member, and Chair of the General Welfare Committee, Stephen Levin at the hearing.
“This doesn’t just happen to those people,” said Jennifer Garris. “Anyone can become homeless.”
Ms. Garris has a Masters degree and was a special education teacher for 24 years. But after her husband passed away, she struggled with depression and alcohol use. Soon, she became homeless.
Continue Reading …Vicki Been, Commissioner of HPD, Departs de Blasio Administration
Jan.23.2017
Vicki Been, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, will step down by January 31, 2017 to return to New York University as faculty director of the Furman Center.
Continue Reading …