Grand Opening Held for Vyse Ave.
Oct.03.2013
Forty staff, partners and tenants gathered on October 2 for the official grand opening of Vyse Avenue Apartments, the latest Community Access supportive housing residence in the Crotona Park section of the Bronx. The building provides homes to 64 individuals with psychiatric disabilities and a history of homelessness.
The festivities were casual and family-like, with Community Access CEO Steve Coe welcoming the organization’s Board Member Ramesh Shah to the podium. Mr. Shah thanked all the partners who made the residence possible, including the community that welcomed the building – and its tenants – into the neighborhood. Mr. Coe followed up these remarks by noting that Vyse Avenue had been the easiest of the organization’s dozen permanent supportive housing buildings to site.
“We were told to meet with Bronx Desperadoes and it turned out the Executive Director’s mother had been involved with the mental health system, so he couldn’t have been more welcoming,” Mr. Coe said.
Steve then showed a short film that the National Equity Fund (NEF) and TD Bank had made about Vyse Avenue. The video, which you can watch below, features building tenant Katherine Brown.
Continue Reading …Mosholu Gardens Opens in the Bronx
Sep.13.2013
Some 50 staff, partners and supporters gathered on the roof of Mosholu Gardens to celebrate the opening of Acacia Network’s first supportive housing residence on September 12. This eight-story new construction overlooks Mosholu Parkway and provides 63 efficiency apartments for a mix of homeless and low-income individuals.
Ralph Declet, Acacia Network’s Vice President of Economic Development, acted as master of ceremonies for the day’s event. Mr. Declet introduced Acacia Network CEO Raul Russi and Board Chair Milagros Baez O’Toole, both of whom marveled at the beauty of the building and the teamwork that brought it into being. Jessica Katz, Assistant Commissioner for Special Needs Housing at the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), thanked NYC Council Member Oliver Koppell and the members of Community Board 7 who supported the project. She also took a moment to point out that, although HPD had been able to make good on its commitments to this project, the department lost $42 million in Section 8 funding this year due to sequestration.
“Next time we might not be so lucky,” she said.
Continue Reading …Providence House Holds Grand Opening for its First Supportive Housing Residence
May.13.2013
On one of the year's most beautiful days -- May 10 -- friends and supporters of Providence House's first supportive/affordable housing residence gathered for the opening of the D'Addario Residence in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. The joyous occasion came a stunning seven years after the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) first approached Providence House with the City-owned property. The location, formerly an empty lot, is now home to 46 individuals and small families, many of whom have struggled with homelessness.
Sister Janet Kinney, Providence House's Executive Director, was among several of the day's speakers. Joining her were NYS Rep. Annette Robinson and representatives for NYS Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, NYC Councilman Albert Vann and Community Board 3 Chair Henry Butler. Sister Helen Marie Kearney gave the invocation.
HPD Assistant Commissioner Jessica Katz recalled an incident during Sister Janet's first visit to their offices. Upon entering the building, security found, of all things, a pocket knife on Sister Janet.
"We knew she was trouble from the start," Ms. Katz joked.
Continue Reading …Common Ground Holds Ribbon-Cutting for Eastman Commons
May.06.2013
Eighty formerly homeless and low-income Rochester residents now have a place to call home thanks to Eastman Commons, a new supportive housing residence from Common Ground.
The building was the site of a grand opening ceremony on May 1, when government, nonprofit and for-profit partners gathered to celebrate the project. The $15 million residence, formerly the site of an industrial laundry and re-mediated through the NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program, offers one-bedroom apartments to 41 formerly homeless and 39 low-income individuals. The residence first opened its doors late last year.
Eastman Commons' ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony included a number of guest speakers, including Rochester Mayor Thomas Richards, Rochester City Council President Lovely Warren and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, NYS Sen. Joseph Robach and NYS Rep. Joseph Morelle.
Representatives from NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) and NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC) also spoke at the event.
New York State contributed nearly $7 million in financing for the project, $4 million from HCR and $3 million from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). The City of Rochester and the Rochester Housing Authority contributed to the project; construction financing was provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank NA. Goldman, Sachs & Co. provided $8.8M in equity for the project. Services funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Bergmann Associates and Nativo General Contracting served as the architect and contractor for the residence, respectively.
Congratulations to Common Ground, the residents of Rochester and all 80 men and women who now live at Eastman Commons!
Caption: Partners gather on May 1 for the grand opening of Eastman Commons, a new supportive housing residence in Rochester. Photo courtesy of Common Ground.