Catholic Charities begins construction on new $62M
affordable senior housing development in Astoria
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Catholic Charities Progress
of Peoples Development Corporation,
the affordable housing
affiliate of Catholic Charities
Brooklyn and Queens Inc.,
is constructing 102 units of
affordable housing for lowincome
seniors and formerly
homeless adults with supportive
services in Astoria.
Construction began in June
on the new six-story, 84,900
square-foot Bishop Valero Residence.
The $62 million development
will be built on the former
parking lot of the current Catholic
Charities Catherine Sheridan
Senior Housing, which is
located at 23-11 31st Road.
“We are pleased to begin
the construction of the Bishop
Valero Residence,” said Monsignor
Alfred LoPinto, chief
executive officer, of Catholic
Charities Brooklyn and
Queens. “Affordable housing
is one of the biggest crises facing
New York City. As one of
the largest faith-based developers
of affordable housing in
the country, we understand
how true this statement is.
This project will provide much
needed housing to low-income
seniors and a supportive environment
for formerly homeless,
and allow the residents
to live safely, comfortably and
independently for as long as
possible. There are thousands
of individuals in need of affordable
housing in New York
City, and we cannot build fast
enough.”
Bishop Valero Residence’s
closing was initially scheduled
in March 2020, but when
the pandemic hit, the deal was
thrown in flux, along with
nearly all aspects of New York
City life. However, emphasizing
the specific need for a
project such as Bishop Valero
Apartments, and utilizing the
expertise of a strong financial
and legal team, the deal was
able to move forward, the charity
said.
The development features a
6,400 square-foot, 200-seat capacity
community senior center
on the ground floor of the
building provided and operated
by Catholic Charities Neighborhood
Services, an affiliate
agency of Catholic Charities
Brooklyn and Queens.
With 102 residential units
and one superintendent’s unit,
the building will be a 100 percent
affordable residence for
seniors with 30 percent of the
The exterior rendering of the Catholic Charities Bishop Valero Residence, located at 23-11 31st Road in Astoria.
building reserved for formerly
homeless seniors with severe
mental illness (SMI) through
the New York City 15/15 Supportive
Housing Initiative
sponsored by the Department
of Homeless Services in the
Human Resources Administration.
The remainder of the units
reserved for low-income seniors
will target those making
up to 60 percent of the Area Median
Income (AMI). About 100
percent of resident units are
supported with rental operating
subsidy through the HUD
Section 8 Project-Based Voucher
program, as administered
by the New York City Housing
Authority.
The programming for the
Peter J. Dellamonica Senior
Center, which Catholic Charities
currently operates in the
Astoria community will relocate
to the Bishop Valero Residence.
It will include daily hot
meals made on-site, educational
forums, fitness classes, and
senior case management and
referral services.
The Bishop Valero Residence
is financed with a $3.1
million annual allocation of 9
percent Low-Income Housing
Tax Credits (LIHTC) from the
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.16 COM | SEPT. 4-SEPT. 10, 2020
New York City Department of
Housing Preservation and Development
(HPD), which leverages
$30.8 million in tax credit
equity over 15 years.
Louis Carroll, HPD commissioner,
said they’re advancing
the projects to best meet
the urgency of the moment by
serving the most vulnerable
New Yorkers amid the COVID-
19 pandemic.
“Projects like the Bishop
Valero Residence that will
bring affordable homes to seniors,
homeless seniors and
provide services to the city’s
most at-risk adults, will help
New York City emerge from the
crisis stronger,” Carroll said.
Bank of America will provide
construction lending,
Richman Housing Resources
will syndicate tax credits, and
Barings will provide permanent
debt for the project over
the next 30 years.
Kevin Hoffman, president
of Richman Housing Resources
LLC, said they’re honored
to be working with CCPOP, a
long-standing New York City
nonprofit dedicated to transforming
communities and providing
housing opportunities
for those who need it the most.
“Bishop Valero Residence is
a great example of how publicprivate
partnerships, using
federal low-income housing tax
credit programs and HUD rental
subsidy vouchers, can create
affordable housing for low-income
seniors and the formerly
homeless,” said Hoffman.
Erin Galligan, senior vice
president of Community Development
Banking at Bank of
America, said they’re pleased
to help create much-needed affordable
housing for seniors
and formerly homeless veterans
in Astoria.
“Bishop Valero Residence is
a great example of the impact
we can make to help the most
vulnerable in our communities
and our continued commitment
to support the communities
where we work and live,”
Galligan said.
In 2016, Catholic Charities
joined a coalition with LiveOn
NY that heavily advocated for
changes to the New York City
zoning resolution.
Approved by the New
York City Council, the
changes, called Zoning for
Quality and Affordability
(ZQA), included allowing
buildings with affordable
or senior housing to be
taller, eliminating parking
Courtesy of Dattner Architects
requirements for affordable
or affordable senior housing
located near subway lines,
and changing rules which
affect the shape of new and
enlarged buildings.
This new ZQA regulation
allows Catholic Charities
to build crucial affordable
housing units on underutilized
parking lots within the
existing Catholic Charities’
housing portfolio.
Astorian native Councilman
Costa Constantinides
said he was proud to work
closely with CCBQ to ensure
that they received the maximum
amount of affordability
on the site that replaced an
underutilized parking lot.
“More than ever, Western
Queens is in need of quality
senior affordable housing,”
Constantinides said.
“We lead the City in seniors
awaiting appropriate housing
that matches their financial
means. They deserve to
remain in the neighborhoods
where they built a family
and retired with dignity.”
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed
by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4526.
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