Community Board 7 supports application
for improvements to St. James Church
BY JASON COHEN
In 2020 plans were approved
to construct affordable housing
next to a historic church
in Fordham and last month, a
proposal to also renovate the
church took a step in the right
direction.
On March 24, Community
Board 7 unanimously approved
a Certifi cate of Appropriateness
for improvements to the
landmarked St. James Episcopal
Church at 2500 Jerome Ave.
Dattner Architects has proposed
to restore numerous exterior
features of the landmark
church property, including repaving
several walkways with
decorative stone, rebuilding
stairs leading to the church,
rebuilding a vestibule to the
church, rebuilding a stone retaining
wall, adding new HVAC
units and covering vegetation,
making improvements to a
back pathway and restoring ornamental
glass windows in the
church. The work will happen
simultaneously with the construction
the affordable housing.
Board members Myrna Calderon
and Yajaira Arias praised
the plans and feel this will benefi
t the community.
“I’ve been to that church
most of my life,” Arias said.
“I’m glad this is happening.”
“I’m also very happy we
were able to work with St. James
Church,” Calderon added. “I’m
aksi excited about the improvements.
I would like to see this
historic building restored.”
The plan is to build a ninestory
building for affordable
housing at the landmarked
church. Currently, the church
is 58 feet above elevation at the
corner of Jerome Avenue and E.
190th Street and the new development
will be 66 feet in total.
In July, the church fi led
plans to build a 96 foot high
residential mixed-use building
with 103 apartments for individuals
and families, including
formerly homeless individuals
and households earning 30
percent of the Area Median Income
(AMI) to 80 percent AMI.
Half of the units are permanent
supportive housing for homeless
A rendering of the proposed affordable housing. Photos courtesy of St. James Episcopal Church
BRONX TIMES R 2 EPORTER, APR. 9-15, 2021 BTR
adults with preference for
veterans. There will be 73,233
square feet for residential space
and 21,146 square feet for community
space.
The plans called for a mix of
studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom
and three-bedroom apartments
and funding for the renovation
of the historic church.
Developers planned to create
the 5,200 square foot St. James
Community Center, which
would be operated by St. James.
There are also plans to expand
St. James’ soup kitchen and
food pantry, which the church
has been operating since 2017.
Supportive services will be
provided by the nonprofi t Concern
for Independent Living.
Amenities will include a resident
superintendent, on-site
property management, and social
service staff, a laundry
room, multipurpose room and
computer room, fi tness room,
second fl oor and roof-top terraces
and a landscaped courtyard.
Dental & Vision
Coverage Included
TeleHealth Included
Preventive Care Free
PCP Visits Free*
‘Healthy Living’
Member Rewards
Up to $440
value annually,
including $180
in gift cards
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