Categories: New York City, Member News, Openings
08.23.2019
Hebrew Home at Riverdale, Foxy Management, and Alembic Community Development host a ribbon-cutting in the West Farms neighborhood.
Under a gorgeous summer sky on August 5th, new residents, supporters, and local community officials gathered with Network member Hebrew Home at Riverdale to celebrate new housing in the Bronx. An addition to an existing building, the residence meets a deep need for affordable and supportive housing by providing 167 affordable units for extremely low-income seniors, including 51 supportive units for those who have previously experienced homelessness.
Hebrew Home at Riverdale is providing the on-site social services for residents, as well as referrals to off-site medical and social services.
Jeff Fox, Principal at Foxy Management, launched the event’s speaking program with gratitude, thanking the many people who helped make the project happen.
Daniel Reingold, CEO of Hebrew Home at Riverdale, emphasized the importance of supportive housing for seniors. He spoke to the strength of the partnership with Foxy Management, noting how it advanced the nonprofit’s mission in important ways. “Home is the starting place of love, hope, and dreams,” he said. “1880 Boston Road is more than a building, it is a home, bringing grace, dignity, and independence to the tenants.”
Molly Park, outgoing Deputy Commissioner for Development at NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), called this project “the perfect epitome of inter-agency collaboration,” noting that “it’s not easy, but it leads to amazing outcomes, as we can see right here.”
“Welcome home,” said Lakesha Miller, Executive Vice President for Leased Housing at NYCHA, to the residents. NYCHA provided project-based Section 8 funding.
Kathleen Parks, a resident, and Aaron Lazansky, a relative of a resident, also presented remarks. Parks explained how, after nine months in a shelter, she had felt “elated” upon the news of a space for her at the residence. “Management has been so creative,” she said, referring to the special, community-building activities from which residents benefited. Lazansky, a community-based artist responsible for the building’s terrace design and wall art, lauded Foxy Management for the inclusive way they had engaged communities.
District 17 Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.; Richard Froehlich, Esq., COO and General Counsel at NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC); Michael McCarthy, Director of Alembic Community Development; and Matthew Schatz, Vice President of TD Bank, also spoke. They expressed pride about their involvement in such an achievement for the Bronx.
Designed by SLCE Architects and built by Lendlease, the 1880 Boston Road senior/supportive housing residence features 3,500 square feet of community gathering space for residents, 3,000 square feet of outdoor recreational space, EnergyStar appliances, rooftop solar panels, and high-efficiency boilers and hot water heating systems. The existing building at the base of the residence houses a medical office.
Hebrew Home’s onsite services are funded by NYS Department of Health under the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative. The residence was financed by HPD’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) and HDC’s Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA) programs. Council Member Salamanca’s office contributed $728,000 in discretionary funds to the project. Raymond James was the tax credit syndicator, while TD Bank provided a construction loan and credit enhancement for tax-exempt bonds, as well as investing in the Low Income Housing Tax Credits.