NYCHA fi nalizes deal to construct
182 units of affordable housing
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR AN. 1-7, 2021 23
BY JASON COHEN
Plans to build nearly 200
units of affordable housing in
the west Bronx were fi nalized
this week.
On Tuesday, Dec. 29, The
New York City Housing Authority
(NYCHA), New York
City Department of Housing
Preservation and Development
(HPD) and the New
York City Housing Development
Corporation (HDC) announced
the closing of Twin
Parks Terrace, which will
result in the creation of 182
units of affordable housing in
Fordham Heights on NYCHAowned
land.
Construction is anticipated
to start in January 2021.
Located on Webster Avenue
between East 183rd Street and
East 184th Street, the project
site is a parking lot adjacent to
the Twin Parks West Houses
development, which underwent
a conversion in 2018
through NYCHA’s Permanent
Affordability Commitment
Together (PACT) program.
“Today’s announcement is
just the latest example of the
Authority’s commitment to
creating affordable housing
at a time when communities
across New York City have a
dire need for it,” said NYCHA
Executive Vice President for
Real Estate Development Jonathan
Gouveia. “We look forward
to working with our
many partners to make this
exciting project a reality.”
The 14-story project includes
41 studio apartments,
77 one-bedroom apartments,
56 two-bedroom apartments
and 7 three-bedroom apartments
as well as one superintendent
unit. Additionally,
there is 10,489 gross square
feet of commercial space and
1,883 gross square feet of community
facility space.
Social services will be provided
by BronxWorks. The
residential units will be affordable
to residents from 30
percent to 80 percent of the
Area Median Income (AMI)
for a period of 99 years, with
46 units set aside for homeless
households. NYCHA residents
will be given preference for 34
of the total units available.
Amenities include a laundry
room, outdoor playground,
meeting rooms, children’s
playroom, recreation
room, fi tness room and bike
storage. Solar photovoltaic
panels will be positioned on
the roof.
There is also a mural partnership
with Groundswell, a
group that implements a community
process to design a
mural focused on a social justice
issue with a local artist.
The mural will be painted
by neighborhood children.
The development team will
work with BronxWorks to
train NYCHA residents in relevant
construction skills and
hire residents throughout the
construction process.
BY JASON CHOEN
An affordable housing
development in the
northwest Bronx was
recently awarded a
Temporary Certifi cate
of Occupancy.
The Villa House, located
at 3188 Villa Ave.,
within the confi ned of
Community Board 7
is being developed by
The Doe Fund and will
serve formerly homeless
individuals and individuals
or households
from the NYCHA waitlist
with an emphasis
on prospects from the
local community.
The 10-story development
will include 60 studio
units and eight onebedroom
apartments.
Sixty percent of the
units will be reserved
for formerly homeless
individuals and the remaining
27 units will
be occupied by either
individuals or households
from the NYCHA
waitlist.
Villa House will provide
onsite supportive
services to residents,
including comprehensive
case management,
linkages to health care
and other critical services,
such as job preparedness,
employment
training and drug/alcohol
prevention services.
Other amenities will
include 24-hour professionally
staffed security,
energy-effi cient appliances
and building
systems, and shared
community spaces, including
a bike room,
community room and a
rear garden.
“Providing vulnerable
New Yorkers with a
place to call home, at a
time when we continue
to confront the pandemic,
unemployment,
and housing insecurity
is critical,” said Doe
Fund Executive Vice
President John Mc-
Donald.
“This residence will
provide shelter from
the storm for individuals
and families struggling
to escape homelessness
and poverty.
With comprehensive,
onsite social services,
tenants will have access
to the support they need
to live with dignity and
stability,” he added.
Congratulations to our
BRONX POWER WOMAN
Nathalia
Fernandez
Joseph McManus, President
Zena Twyman, Vice President
A rendering of the Villa House
Courtesy of Doe Fund
A rendering of Twin Parks Terrace Courresy of NYCHA
DOE Fund receives temporary
COO for Villa House
A rendering of the Villa House
Courtesy of Doe Fund