Senior housing construction underway at former church site
BY STEVEN GOODSTEIN
A former church site
is in the process of being
transformed into a
residence for previously
homeless seniors.
On Thursday, October
24, Bronx Pro Group in
partnership with United
Methodist City Society
held a blessing ceremony
at 1080 Washington Avenue,
the future site of the
Trinity - Reverend William
M. James Seniors
Building.
Upon completion, the
12-story apartment building
will consist of 154 affordable
units for seniors,
including 57 supportive
apartments for formerly
homeless, justice-involved
seniors.
The other 96 apartments,
63 studios and 33
one-bedrooms to be marketed
through NYC Housing
Preservation and
Development’s NYC Housing
Connect, will also be
reserved for seniors. One
unit will be designated
for the building superintendent.
The building will also
include community space,
an exercise room, an indoor
greenhouse, a garden
and an outdoor gym.
Each of the 154 units will
be reserved for households
earning 50% of the
area median income or
less.
In addition, the 1080
Washington Avenue property
will be designed to
meet the certifi cation requirements
of the Enterprise
Green Community
Criteria as well as Energy
Star’s Multifamily High
Rise Program’s qualifi cation
guidelines.
Fortune Society will
also operate a social services
space in the building,
which will provide
support for the senior
residents with services
such as on-site counseling,
peer support to assist
with re-entry and recovery
as well as case managers
available to help tenants
remain stable with
their health and housing.
The cost of the development
will total just under
$83 million. The building’s
steel and plank construction
includes a brick
and panel facade.
The property was formerly
home to United
Methodist City Society’s
Trinity Church, which
was demolished earlier
this year.
Bronx Pro Group and
United Methodist City
Society were joined by
Enterprise Community
Partners, New York State
Homes and Community
Renewal, the New York
City Department of Housing
Preservation and Development,
the Fortune
Society, DreamYard,
Councilwoman Vanessa
Gibson and community
members for the blessing
ceremony, which was led
by bishop Thomas Bickerton.
The blessing ceremony
featured a poem performed
by DreamYard
poet Denise Cotto.
“This development
is an example of Bronx
Pro Group’s mission to
develop quality housing
that is both affordable
and sustainable,” said Samantha
Magistro, BPG’s
managing director. “This
project is unique in the
sense that it provides
justice-involved seniors
a safe place to return and
reintegrate into their
community.”
“Since our relationship
began with Bronx
Pro Group just over a
decade ago, we have recognized
the importance
of mission-driven development
that purposes
church property to meet
the demands of the community,”
said Reverend
Dr. William Shillady, executive
director of United
Methodist Society, who
emceed the event. “We
are thrilled to be part of
a process that meets the
needs of all seniors, and
especially those elderly
citizens who were previously
homeless.”
Construction of the
Trinity - Reverend William
M. James Seniors
Building is expected to be
completed in 2021.
BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY November 3, 2019 8
They count on you,
Rendering of 1080 Washington Avenue upon completion.
Photo courtesy of Bronx Pro Group
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