Newsfeed Category: New York City

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. 

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.

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.

Tribute to Gina Quattrochi

Jan.18.2017

Gina Quattrochi, Bailey House CEO and lifelong HIV/AIDS advocate, passed away December 13, 2016 from complications due to cancer. During the 25 years she led Bailey House, Ms. Quattrochi played a key role in transforming the organization into an innovative leader in HIV/AIDS care and supportive housing.

Is Selling Air Rights a Viable Option for Your Nonprofit?

Jan.10.2017

Breaking Ground's Prince George supportive housing residence.

The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Inclusionary Housing Program (IHP) preserves affordable housing in neighborhoods where there have been zoning changes to encourage new development. The IHP consists of two programs:

Voluntary Inclusionary Housing Program (VIHP), enacted in 1987, enables a development to receive a density bonus in return for new construction, substantial rehabilitation, or preservation of permanently affordable housing.

Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Program (MIHP), enacted in March 2016, requires a share of new housing in medium- and high-density areas that are rezoned to promote new housing production—whether rezoned as part of a city neighborhood plan or a private rezoning application—to be permanently affordable.  

Press Conference Announces Task Force Recommendations for Mayor’s NYC 15/15 Initiative

Dec.15.2016

On December 12th, the Mayor’s Office held a press conference at Breaking Ground’s The Schermerhorn announcing the recommendations of the Supportive Housing Task Force and awards to 11 organizations to provide 550 new scattered site supportive housing units as part of the NYC 15/15 Initiative, his commitment to creating 15,000 units of supportive housing over the next fifteen years.

NYC Programs Help Buildings Go Green

Nov.18.2016

Volunteers of America's Creston Avenue residence is considered "ultra-green."

The City of New York has several green building programs that will help with the City’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 percent by 2050 from 2005 levels (80x50). These programs support tenants, superintendents, building owners and decision-makers from every demographic and nearly all building sizes to make building improvements to reduce GHG emissions while generating cost savings and preserving affordability. Taken together, these programs are now working with owners and decision-makers of more than 3,800 buildings representing more than 8 percent of the built square footage across New York City, and these numbers continue to grow. To get started, contact the NYC Retrofit Accelerator. Their experts will connect you to the resources and program like the ones below that make sense for your building and support you throughout your energy or water retrofit.

165th Street Residence Opens

Sep.28.2016

Cutting the ribbon at 165th Street residence.

PSCH staff, partners and government notables joined in the celebration of the opening of PSCH’s newest supportive housing project, 165th Street Residence September 13th. The new apartment building provides 58 beautiful new apartments to a mix of formerly homeless individuals and low-income families from the community.

Webster Green Groundbreaking

Aug.16.2016

George McDonald, President of The Doe Fund, and dignitaries at the Webster Green groundbreaking.

On July 19th, The Doe Fund held a groundbreaking for Webster Green: a new 82-unit permanent supportive and affordable housing residence in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx. The project is a partnership between the Doe Fund and private developer Robert Sanborn Development. Currently a hole in the ground, Webster Green will provide 41 studio apartments for individuals with health-related issues and 41 affordable units for low-income individuals from the community. Magnusson Architecture and Planning is designing the LEED-certified, eight story residence which will include an outdoor common area, community room and laundry facilities as well as space for on-site services. The residence has been designed by Magnusson Architecture, and the general contractor is Galaxy Construction.