Categories: New York City, Member News, Groundbreakings
07.19.2024
On July 17th, partners and electeds gathered to break ground on Housing Works and The Hudson Companies new supportive and affordable housing residence in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen, the Lirio. The 112- unit building will provide 100% affordable housing including 67 supportive units with the rest of the units being reserved for a mix of individuals with incomes ranging from 30% AMI to 120%. The building is being built on MTA property and will provide office space for the agency. Onsite supportive services will be provided by Housing Works funded by the NYC 15/15 initiative through the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Hudson Companies’ Mallory Warner acted as emcee, introducing Housing Works/Bailey House’s Andrew Coamey, who explained the building’s name: “The Lirio is named after the Liriodendron tree, the oldest living thing in New York City and a testament to not only surviving but thriving in the face of life’s challenges,” said. “The Lirio will serve as a model of what can be achieved when housing developers, City government and agencies, along with communities like Hell’s Kitchen, work together to provide solutions to those challenges.”
Councilmember Erik Bottcher spoke next: "We're so thrilled to break ground on The Lirio.. Not only will this transformational project address our housing needs for the community, but it will provide neighborhood retail and services for some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers. I want to thank all of the partners involved and look forward to seeing this project through its completion."
"The Lirio is a great example of a meaningful private-public partnership which will result in much-needed affordable housing for New Yorkers, and in particular residents of Chelsea," said U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler. "Today, we're proud to celebrate the start of construction by transforming this underutilized lot into 112 homes and supportive services for formerly homeless long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS."
“This project is a shining example of transit-oriented development that both creates affordable housing and strengthens MTA operations,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “Thanks to this successful public-private partnership, the MTA will gain much-needed space to support critical operations.”
“Today’s groundbreaking marks a pivotal moment in addressing a wide range of needs for the community; housing at a range of incomes, MTA office space, and neighborhood retail,” said David Kramer, Hudson Companies. “With construction formally underway, we look forward to welcoming new residents soon and building on the rich history of the surrounding neighborhood.
"In our effort to overcome our housing crisis, the groundbreaking of the Lirio couldn't have come at a better time, " said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. "Today, we're celebrating the start of construction for 112 units of desperately needed permanently affordable housing, neighborhood retail, and MTA office space. I want to thank Hudson Companies, Housing Works, Community Board 4, and the MTA for all their tireless efforts to make this building a reality.”
Also speaking were HPD’s Chief Diversity Officer and First Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, NYC’s Executive Director for Housing, Leila Borzog, NYS Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, NYS Assembly Member Tony Simone, and chair of Community Board 4 Jessica Chait.
The Lirio will include a landscaped terrace, a rooftop garden, a fitness center, bicycle storage and 24-hour front desk staff. Housing Works will also have designated office space to provide on-site case management to supportive housing residents. Designed to complement the existing neighborhood fabric, The Lirio is targeting rigorous Passive House standards and LEED Gold certification.
Capital funding came from HPD’s Supportive Housing Loan Program, Merchants Capital, Red Stone Equity, Webster Bank and NYSERDA.
The architect is CetraRuddy and the contractor is Broadway Builders.