Categories: New York City, Openings
11.01.2013
First phase of development includes 97-unit supportive housing residence
More than 200 people gathered on October 31 to celebrate the development of Navy Green, a massive new mixed-income, market rate and supportive housing development in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Wallabout.
The event marked the end of the first phase of development. This initial phase includes two mixed-income multifamily buildings and a 97-unit supportive housing residence. Once completed, Navy Green will enliven an entire city block with five residences and an expansive courtyard and garden. The final project will include a diverse mix of housing types and income levels, from market-rate townhouses to supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.
The supportive housing residence, 40 Vanderbilt Ave., houses 59 formerly homeless and 38 low-income individuals. The formerly homeless tenants are all housed through funding from the NY/NY III Agreement.
Thursday’s ribbon-cutting was a who’s-who of New York supportive housing. Martin Dunn of Dunn Development Corporation and Deb Howard of Pratt Area Community Council served as the masters of ceremonies for the morning event. The two welcomed the crowd and introduced an impressive slate of guest speakers. Both hosts stressed the public-private-nonprofit partnership that helped make Navy Green a reality and the historic nature of the building site, which had previously been abandoned.
“It’s hard to believe that a site that was first built as a Navy barracks in 1941 became a minimum-security prison and then temporary housing for 9/11 workers is what you see before you today, with more to come,” Ms. Howard said.
The ceremony included remarks from two new supportive housing tenants. Andrea Summers took the podium first to share her story. A New Orleans native, Ms. Summers once suffered from substance abuse and resided in a women’s shelter. Today, she’s sober and serves as President of the Navy Green Tenants Association.
“I’ve come a long way” she said quite simply.
Ms. Summers’ fellow tenant, Betzaida Lopez, also spoke at the proceedings. Ms. Lopez discussed her history of homelessness and the struggles she’s faced with mental illness and raising a disabled adult son. The services and amenities at Navy Green have had a profound impact on her in just a short period of time.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has made this possible for me and my family,” she said.
By far the most emotional moment of the morning came from Mr. Dunn, who reserved special praise for Alan Epstein, the project’s attorney. Mr. Epstein, a former Network Board Member, passed away in September.
“Alan was such an important part of Navy Green,” Mr. Dunn said. “He would have been so proud to be here, to celebrate this day and to see the fruit of his hard work. We really miss him.”
The event also included speeches from numerous commissioners and elected officials. Among those on hand were Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, NYS Rep. Joseph R. Lentol, NYC Council Member Letitia James, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner Darryl C. Towns and NYC Housing Development Corporation President Marc Jahr.
Dunn Development Corporation, L+M Development Partners and Pratt Area Community Council served as the lead developers on Navy Green, with Pratt specifically developing the supportive housing residence. The services offered at 40 Vanderbilt Ave. are provided by Brooklyn Community Housing and Services and funded by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
Sources of capital funding for the residence included HPD’s Supportive Housing Loan Program and Low Income Housing Tax Credits, the Brooklyn Borough President and the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The residence also received a pre-development loan from CSH. In total, the development cost for 40 Vanderbilt Ave. was $21.9 million.
Curtis + Ginsberg Architects designed the building, which includes a striking red exterior and a small indoor amphitheater. The building was constructed by Mega Contracting.
Congratulations to the many, many partners who came together to complete the first phase of Navy Green. We’re thrilled that supportive housing is a core component of this exciting, ongoing development!