CB11 wants DHS to rethink shelter
Community Board pens letter asking for shelter to house women, families
BY JASON COHEN
As a men’s shelter is prepared
to open next year in
Community Board 11, not everyone
in the neighborhood is
on board.
On Thursday Sept. 24,
CB11 approved a letter that
would ask the city to change
the proposed men’s only
homeless shelter on Blondell
Avenue. The community said
that instead of a men’s shelter,
the location would be better
suited for senior housing, a
combination of senior citizen
and affordable housing, solely
affordable housing or a homeless
shelter for families.
According to District Manager
Jeremy Warneke, there
are currently no shelters
in CB11.
“We would rather have
senior housing or a combination
of affordable,” said
Sandra Unger, the co-chair
of the Health and Social Services
Committee. “If we have
to have a homeless shelter, it
should be for families, not for
homeless men.”
Board member Hazel Miura
shared her sentiments.
“It’s shelters being
rammed down everyone’s
throat whether we like it or
not,” she said. “I feel homeless
shelters for families are something
The site of the future shelter in Westchester Square on Blondell Avenue. Photos by Jason Cohen
we should look into.”
Other members were not
in favor of sending the letter.
Natali Medina stressed that
homelessness is a huge issue
and only becoming worse
with COVID-19.
“Why is it a priority for
a family homeless shelter?”
Medina said.
Christian Amato and Patricia
CB7 asks LPC about Fordham affordable housing
BRONX TIMES R 28 EPORTER,OCTOBER 2-8, 2020 BTR
Charles also voted against
the shelter. Charles stressed
that homeless men need supportive
services. If given the
right guidance, then maybe
people would not be as worried
about them, she said.
Amato noted the pandemic
may cause mass evictions
and the community should be
there to help people in their
time of need.
“Your housing needs are
being exacerbated right now,”
Amato said. “People who are
struggling are being forced
out of their apartment. I think
it’s really important to have a
local shelter.”
On Aug. 19, Foremost
Real Estate under the 1400
Blondell LLC, fi led permits
with the Department of Buildings
to construct a 3-story
building for a transient shelter
and a health care clinic
at 1374 Blondell Ave. in
Westchester Square.
The building will have 18
units, be 44-feet tall and have
31,362 square feet for commercial
space and 3,013 square feet
for community facility space.
BY JASON COHEN
Earlier this month, the
Community Board 7 Housing
Committee debated
plans for affordable housing
next to a landmark
church. On Sept. 23, the
full board voted to submit
a letter of concerns to the
Landmarks Preservation
Committee (LPC).
The plan is for Dattner
Architects to build a ninestory
building for affordable
housing at the landmarked
St. James Episcopal
Church at 2500 Jerome Ave.
But the Landmarks Preservation
Commission (LPC) is
required to obtain a Certifi -
cate of Appropriateness as
the proposed work affects
the architectural features
of the landmark property.
The board felt that the
building would overshadow
St. James Park and asked
that the height of the building
be reduced so it’s below
the peak of the 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 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 the church. 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.
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A rendering of the proposed affordable housing.
Photos courtesy of St. James Episcopal Church
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