Categories: New York City, Member News, Groundbreakings
03.12.2026
On March 11th, Community Access joined project and elected officials to celebrate the grand opening of Baez Place. Developed by Community Access in partnership with Blue Sky Bronx LLC, this new affordable and supportive housing residence brings 153 apartments, including 90 supportive, to the Claremont neighborhood of the Bronx. On-site services are provided by Community Access and funded through the New York State Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSH), administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH).
Community Access Chief Executive Officer Cal Hedigan opened the program, reflecting on the project’s journey:
“When we gathered here in August 2022 for the groundbreaking, this was still a hilly, rocky construction site—a vision for what could be. Today, it is extraordinary to stand here and see that vision realized. Baez Place is now Community Access’s 21st affordable and supportive housing development in New York City, and our 10th in the Bronx.
We are proud to open another beautiful example of the supportive housing model that Community Access pioneered in the early 1990s: integrated housing where income-eligible families live alongside people with mental health concerns who have experienced homelessness. And here at Baez Place, for the first time, we also have units set aside for older adults.”
Resident Joseph Encarnacion shared a powerful reflection on what the housing means to him:
“The day I got my keys to my studio apartment at Baez Place, I cried. I’m 53 years old, and I’m not ashamed to say that. It had been a long time since I had a place of my own. To walk into an apartment and know, ‘This is mine. This is my home’—that means everything to me.
Since moving here, my experience has been amazing. The building is beautiful, but what really makes it special is the people. From the front desk to the support staff, everyone treats you with respect. If I have a question, they take the time to answer it. If I need help, they are quick to step in.”
Remarks were also delivered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas; New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn; Osiris Guzman, Board Chair of Community Board 5; Samuel Wells, CEO of Blue Sky Bronx; Eli Weiss, Principal of Joy Construction; and Kwame Ndzibah, Senior Vice President of Bank of America.
Building amenities include a community kitchen, computer room, on-site laundry, fitness center, double-height lounges that connect floors and encourage interaction, a shared lobby featuring custom woodworking, and a greenhouse.
Financing for the project was provided through the New York State Housing Finance Agency’s (HFA) Supportive Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP), Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Housing and Homelessness Assistance Program (HHAP).
The general contractor is Joy Construction Corporation and the architect is Edelman Sultan Knox Wood Architects.