Categories: New York City, Member News, Openings
08.27.2019
Local leaders and community members celebrate new supportive housing on 91st Street.
A balmy morning on August 20th found local, city, and state representatives; civic association leaders; church reverends and other supporters joining Network member Win to celebrate a new supportive housing residence on the Upper East Side. Come this fall, the residence will welcome 17 formerly homeless women and their children.
Christine Quinn, President and CEO of Win, launched the speaking program with an overview of the city’s homelessness situation. She noted how the number of New York City families in shelter has risen by 17 percent over the past five years. “Supportive housing is a transformative tool,” Quinn said. “We’re thrilled for the message we’re sending NYC and thrilled for the families.”
Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Congress Member for District 12, praised Win’s efforts to advance supportive housing in the city, saying, “We need to support organizations like Win more.”
Guido Subotovsky, President and Founder of Azimuth Development Group LLC, also thanked Win for being such an excellent provider. “Thank you for ensuring this project is what the Upper East Side deserves,” Subotovsky said to the organization.
Ben Kallos, NYC Council Member for District 5, said, “We need to do more as a city to support families. To anyone who’s listening, more supportive housing, please!” Kallos remarked that the presence of so many leaders of nearby civic institutions and resident associations was a great show of “Yes In My Back Yard.”
Liz Krueger, NYS Senator for District 28, reiterated, “If you don’t have a home to go to, you cannot get anything else accomplished in life.” She conveyed excitement at the new residence in her district.
Rebecca Seawright, Assembly Member for District 76; Matthew Washington, Deputy Manhattan Borough President; David Getz, Principal of East Side Middle School; Jack Zimmerman, a member of Community Board 8 resident and former local student; Rita Popper, President of the Knickerbocker Plaza Tenants Association; David Rosenstein, a local resident and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Lower Eastside Service Center; Beverly Dempsey, Senior Pastor and Executive Director of Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and Neighborhood House; and Rev. Roy Cole, Interim Rector of the Church of the Epiphany also noted their respective passion for the community and enthusiasm for the new families joining the neighborhood.
The seven-floor building includes a community room, laundry room, outdoor recreational space, and computer stations. The units are one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Win’s on-site services for the incoming families are funded for the upcoming year through grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care Program. The services span support for general life skills, crisis intervention, job training and workforce readiness counseling, education counseling, and referrals to outside programs for specific medical and mental health needs. Residents will benefit from an early childhood learning center in the building’s lower levels, which will also offer services to the general public.
The residence was financed through a private construction loan funded by TD Bank NA, and RiverOak Investment Corp. provided equity funding. It was built by Azimuth Development Group and designed by Kossar & Garry Architects. General contracting services were provided by ZDG Construction Management.