Categories: New York City, Member News, Openings
05.02.2022
On April 5th, Services for the UnderServed (S:US) and Bronx Pro Group gathered elected officials and community partners for a virtual topping off ceremony of a new affordable/supportive housing residence, Melrose North. Located in the Bronx, the residence will create 171 new units of affordable and supportive housing - 103 supportive units serving a mix of singles and families, as well as survivors of domestic violence. Once open, S:US will provide on-site services funded by NYC 15/15 and the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI).
The residence will feature a community room, laundry room, computer room, outdoor gym-equipment, a community garden, and will include 5,000 square feet of community facility space for DreamYard, the Bronx-based community group providing youth arts education and career development. Additionally, the project is building an ADA accessible ramp to the nearby Metro-North Melrose Northbound station, as well as a trash compactor to be located on the ground floor of the building to be used by the neighboring NYCHA properties
Melrose North is also being built to Passive House standards to reduce building energy costs and will feature extremely energy efficient windows, interior and exterior insulation, and an energy recovery ventilation system.
Martha Masoero, Director of Housing Development at S:US, gave an overview of the project and then Justin Stein, Senior Vice President at Bronx Pro Group, proceeded to give a virtual tour of the building’s progress. Remarks were then made by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson:
“Melrose North will be transformative with a combination of low-income and supportive housing with set asides for survivors of domestic violence.” said Gibson, ”These projects are generational and generations of families in the Bronx and New York City who need quality, affordable housing with social services on-site will benefit. Melrose North will be an investment in our community.”
The site for the project was conveyed by NYCHA through a 99 year ground lease. Financing for the project came from HDC tax-exempt bonds, HPD Supportive Housing Loan Program (SHLP), tax credit equity syndicated by Enterprise, and construction loans by JPMorgan Chase and the Federal Home Loan Bank of NY.
The architect is Curtis + Ginsberg and the general contractor is Home Builders.
Sources:
https://sus.org/supported-and-affordable-housing-development-in-the-bronx-for-formerly-homeless-and-low-income-families/
https://newyorkyimby.com/2020/12/construction-imminent-on-melrose-north-an-affordable-housing-development-in-morrisania.html
https://thenyhc.org/projects/melrose-north/