December 5, 2019

Press Office: hpdmedia@hpd.nyc.gov

$91.5 million mixed-use development brings new apartments amenities and services to local families

BRONX, NEW YORK — The Community Builders, BronxWorks, NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC), development partners and public officials gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of Park Haven, a 178-unit affordable housing development at 345 St. Ann’s Avenue in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. This development proposal was selected through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The future building will replace a previously undeveloped city-owned site, creating much-needed affordable housing resources and services, and attractive design to the neighborhood by activating long vacant land.

“Through our work to create 300,000 affordable homes under Housing New York, we prioritize collaboration with local communities so we can deliver investments that both strengthen neighborhoods and better the lives of the New Yorkers we serve. Today we celebrate the start of the transformation of vacant city land into over 170 newly constructed deeply affordable homes, including 50 that will house New Yorkers struggling with homelessness,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “I thank the teams at Community Builders and BronxWorks, as well as my colleagues at HPD for their ongoing efforts and dedication to our mission, and I look forward to our continued partnership as we work to bring this project across the finish line.”

“This dynamic project will bring affordable housing, workforce development programming, supportive services, recreational space, and fresh food options to the Mott Haven neighborhood” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Congratulations to all our partners who worked to provide greater opportunity and hope to the 178 individuals and families who will one day call Park Haven home.”

 “TCB is proud to bring new, affordable homes and community services to the Mott Haven neighborhood,” said Desiree Andrepont, senior project manager at The Community Builders. “This mixed-use, mixed-income development will provide housing stability, economic opportunity, and healthy food options to the community; these efforts would not be possible without the help of our partners and neighbors.”

The new 10 story, 180,000 sf building will include a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units available for families and individuals whose income is within 30 – 80% AMI. Residents will enjoy ample outdoor recreation space, a community garden, a gym, bicycle parking, and a large community room. Of the 178 units, 50 will be designated as permanent housing for chronically homeless families and individuals. BronxWorks will provide services onsite to those families and individuals through a New York State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) grant. The ground floor will include 7,000 square feet for BronxWorks workforce development programs and 14,000 square feet for a Food Retail Expansion to Support Health Program (FRESH) grocery store.

“Supporting our Bronx neighbors is intrinsic to the BronxWorks mission statement.  We are committed to assisting the residents of Park Haven settle into their new surroundings.  We are also excited to have new office space for our workforce development programs.  BronxWorks is proud to work alongside our partners and the Mott Haven community,” Eileen Torres, Executive Director, BronxWorks.

“Park Haven embodies the type of affordable, sustainable, and mixed-use housing that helps our city combat our affordability crisis,” said Council Member Diana Ayala. “This project will bring 178 affordable apartments to the neighborhood, 50 of which will be set aside for formerly-homeless New Yorkers. I am incredibly proud to have allocated $1,000,000 in Resolution A funds to this development, which will include climate-friendly features, social services, community space, and diverse amenities for residents. I thank Community Builders, BronxWorks, HPD, and HDC for collectively working to bring this win to Mott Haven.”

Park Haven is designed to meet Passive House standards and Enterprise Green Community standards. The building will include a large rooftop solar array and other sustainable features which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve indoor and outdoor air quality, and reduce utility costs to residents. The development recently received a Buildings of Excellence Award from The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

When complete, the project’s 70 permanent full-time and part-time jobs and BronxWorks workforce development programs will expand economic opportunity in the community.

The building is 100% affordable and is financed under HPD and HDC’s ELLA program.  HDC provided $39 million in tax-exempt bonds and $11 million in subsidy; HPD subsidy financing included $22.3 million in City Capital funds. The project also received $1,000,000 in Reso A funds from Councilmember Diana Ayala.  Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity of $33.6 million was provided by RBC and Bank of New York Mellon provided a stand-by letter of credit.

Additionally, an ESSHI grant has been awarded to BronxWorks in order to administer onsite supportive services to the residents.

“The Community Builders has a long track record of bringing high quality, holistic development projects with affordable housing and community facilities to communities around the country,” said Kirsten Shaw, Director of LIIF’s Northeast Region. “LIIF was pleased to provide early stage financing to help TCB plan the construction of its first New York City project.  We congratulate them and all their partners on starting work at Park Haven and look forward to the new homes and healthy food the project will bring to Mott Haven.”

"In addition to the much-needed affordable and supportive housing it will bring to New York City, the Park Haven building will be an attractive landmark designed to the highest environmental standards," said Maygen Moore, Senior Loan Officer for CSH. "Bronx Works and The Community Builders have excellent reputations, and our investment of $500,000 reflects a strong belief that Park Haven will improve the lives of New Yorkers in need of affordable homes, offering them a grocery store on site, workforce development programs, a community garden and plenty of recreation space."

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About The Community Builders, Inc.
The Community Builders (TCB) is one of America's leading nonprofit housing organizations. Our mission is to build and sustain strong communities where people of all incomes can achieve their full potential. We realize our mission by developing, financing and operating residential communities, neighborhood amenities and resident opportunity programs. Since 1964, we have constructed or preserved hundreds of affordable and mixed-income housing developments and pioneered the Community Life (CL) model for resident success. Today, anchored by offices in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York and Washington, D.C. we own or manage 11,000 apartment homes in more than 14 states.

About BronxWorks
With 40 locations throughout the borough, BronxWorks has worked from the ground up in Bronx communities for over 47 years to help residents build healthy, stable futures for themselves and their neighborhoods. BronxWorks helps individuals and families improve their economic and social well-being.  From toddlers to seniors, we feed, shelter, teach, and support our neighbors to build a stronger community.  For more information about BronxWorks, contact Gianna Dell’Olio at gdellolio@bronxworks.org or (646) 393-4007 or visit www.bronxworks.org.  

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked with fulfilling Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York Plan which was recently expanded and accelerated through Housing New York 2.0 to complete the initial goal of 200,000 homes two years ahead of schedule—by 2022, and achieve an additional 100,000 homes over the following four years, for a total of 300,000 homes by 2026.  For full details visit www.nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.
About The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC)
The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is the nation’s largest municipal Housing Finance Agency and is charged with helping to finance the creation or preservation of affordable housing under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York plan. Since 2003, HDC has financed more than 180,000 housing units using over $23.5 billion in bonds and other debt obligations, and provided in excess of $2.9 billion in subsidy. HDC ranks among the nation’s top issuers of mortgage revenue bonds for affordable multi-family housing on Thomson Reuter’s annual list of multi-family bond issuers. In each of the last seven consecutive years, HDC’s annual bond issuance has surpassed $1 billion. For additional information, visit: http://www.nychdc.com.