A ‘Groundbreaking’ Development for 2264 Morris Avenue

A groundbreaking development is underway at 2264 Morris Avenue.

NYS Homes and Community Renewal, NYS Office of Mental Health, NYC Department of Health and NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development , along with Services for the Underserved, Bronx Pro Group LLC and other project collaborators held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, May 17.

Located in University Heights, the 11-story, 94-unit affordable housing project developed by Bronx Pro Group LLC and designed by Santoriello Architects, will include 31 supportive units for 17 young adults with mental illness aging out of foster care and other institutions and 14 homeless adults with mental illness.

The remaining 62 affordable housing units will house 14 moderate-income individuals and families and 48 low-income individuals and families earning from $29,400 to $50,340 annually.

The total development cost for the Morris Avenue Apartments approximates $47 million and is projected to be completed by December 2017.

The new building being constructed on Morris Avenue between East 182nd and East 183rd streets, will feature 31 studios, 23 one-bedroom units, 25 two-bedroom units and 14 three-bedroom apartments in addition to a two-bedroom apartment for the building’s superintendent.

It will also include community rooms with computers, on-site laundry facilities, multiple outdoor recreation areas and a 15-space parking lot for tenants.

Residents will have access to on-site supportive services provided by SUS which include individualized case management and personalized recovery programs based on identified needs, daily life skills training, employment training and job placement services and structured social and recreational activities.

This $47 million development is being financed by both the state and city.

State funding sources include $23.5 million in tax-exempt bonds from HCR, $5.8 million from Governor Cuomo’s NYS Medicaid Redesign Team, an $820,000 Homes for Working Families Loan loan and approximately $9.3 million in permanent capital funding from OMH.

This long vacant parcel’s development will be funded under Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York: A Five Borough, Ten Year Housing Plan with NYC providing a $7.05 million loan through HPD, federal Housing and Urban Development Section Eight rental vouchers and a 420-c tax abatement.

In addition, OMH will provide debt service payments on a portion of the permanent loan as well as $857,800 in annual funding for the on-site social services.

Corporation for Supportive Housing has supplied $3.9 million in acquisition and pre-development funding toward the project.

Chase Community Development Banking will serve as the bond letter of credit provider while Red Stone Equity Partners LLC will act as tax credit investor for the site.

“It’s a very unique project because it will serve members from a wide spectrum of society by solving the issue of homelessness, while helping these adults with mental illness to live normal lives,” shared Dr. Bola Omotosho, Community Board 5 chairman.