Categories: New York City, Member News, Openings
09.26.2022
Having begun to rent up just before the COVID lock-down, staff, electeds and project partners were finally able to safely celebrate the opening of West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing (WSFSSH)’s Mill Brook Terrace Apartments in the Bronx on September 13th. The apartment complex has created homes for 158 seniors, including 48 for supportive tenants.
WSFSSH Executive Director Paul Freitag emcee’d the gathering and kicked off the event by saying how wonderful it was to celebrate something positive, noting that the building had been built on a NYCHA parking lot. He thanked all the project partners including Ms. Jamison of the NYCHA Tenants Association.
Deputy City Council Speaker Diana Ayala called the development of senior and supportive housing on NYCHA property a “no-brainer” and that the project fulfilled a life-long dream. She noted that Mill Brook Terrace Apartments would be a place that NYCHA residents could transition to.
Borough President Vanessa Gibson called Mill Brook Terrace Apartments a “labor of love” and agreed with others that the building was a model for the entire city. She also emphasized the need for creating supportive and affordable housing for seniors: “They’ve taken care of us, now it’s time for us to take care of them.”
Mill Brook Terrace Apartment tenant Alejandro Ledee emphasized how safe he felt in the building “I can leave my door open and I can sleep through the night…what more could I ask?”
NYCHA EVP Jonathan Gouvelia noted how beautifully the new residence fit with the NYCHA campus and echoed praise of the development as a model for other NYCHA collaborations.
Also speaking at the event were Michael Washburn of the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and Sarah Leitson Director of NYC HPD’s SARA program.
In addition to case management, service coordination and counseling services funded by the NYS Office of Mental Health through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI), the building provides indoor and outdoor recreational space, 24-hour front desk coverage and free building-wide wi-fi. Green features include rooftop solar panels and an urban gardening program in collaboration with GrowNYC.
The development also created an older adult Center where all adults over 60 can access daily lunches, art, exercise classes and technology classes as well as health management services.
The development’s funding comes from a mix of sources, including Capital One; Federal Home Loan Bank of New York; National Equity Fund; NYC Council Discretionary Capital, sponsored by Diana Ayala; NYC Department for the Aging, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development; NYC Housing Authority; NYC Housing Development Corporation; NYC Office of Environmental Remediation; NYS Office of Mental Health; NYS Energy Research and Development Authority; and NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation.
The project architect was Perkins Eastman and the contractor Procida-Butz.
Press:
- New York YIMBY, 9.16.22: Mill Brook Terrace Affordable Senior Housing Project Debuts At 570 East 137th Street In Mott Haven, Bronx
- The Bronx Free Press, 9.16.22: “Model” at Mill Brook
- Mott Haven Herald, 9.15.22: New Building with 150 Affordably-Priced Apartments Now Open in Port Morris
- Real Estate Weekly, 9.14.22: Mill Brook Terrace, 158-Unit Affordable Housing Complex for Seniors Celebrates Opening
- News 12, 9.13.22: Bronx debuts new affordable housing bringing seniors together