Categories: New York City, Openings
02.16.2016
The Bridge’s largest residence to date brings the total number of individuals/families housed to 863!
Cutting the ribbon at Herkimer Street Residence.
Some 70 partners and well-wishers gathered in the community space at Herkimer Street Residence to celebrate the opening of the Bridge’s newest residence, home to a mix of formerly homeless individuals and young adults as well as low-income families. The beautiful new building is the Bridge’s largest residence to date and brings the total number of individuals/families housed to 863!
Bridge Board President Cynthia Wainwright acted as MC, introducing Reverend Sharon Williams who blessed the new building. Bridge CEO Susan Wiviott pointed out that Herkimer Street Residence “solves the problems we’ve all been reading about in the papers: homelessness, youth homelessness and the need for affordable housing,” as the 53 unit residence provides housing for young adults, individuals coping with homelessness and mental illness as well as low-income families. Ms. Wiviott also noted that the 35,000 units committed to by the Mayor and Governor would be created “in increments of 30, 40 and 50 units” with the aid of dozens of dedicated partners.
Those partners also spoke at the opening, including Homes and Community Renewal’s (HCR) Michael Ferguson, Office of Mental Health’s Moira Tashjian, Enterprise’s Judi Kende and CSH’s Jennifer Trepinski. Maurice Coleman of Bank of America Merrill Lynch alluded to the many challenges faced by the development partners on the long road to the building’s completion, quoting Vince Lombardi: “if you chase perfection consistently, you’ll catch excellence. We caught excellence.” Nan Blackshear seconded that emotion, bringing greetings, congratulations and the desire “to create more housing like this” from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. Senator Velmanette Montgomery also sent a representative.
New tenant and war veteran Stanley D. closed the morning’s festivities by recounting his road to housing after two years of homelessness, stating “it is a privilege to live here.”
Herkimer Street Residence was developed with funding from HCR, investments by TD Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Enterprise and CSH. Services and rental subsidies are funded by OMH. Michael Borruto General Contractors built the residence which was designed by DeLaCour, Ferrara and Church Architects.