Norwood Gardens, an 11-story affordable mixed-use housing development off Webster Avenue in Norwood, opened with a joyous celebration attended by its public and private partners at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 9.
The new building created 118 new units of affordable housing from studios to three-bedrooms at 410 E. 203rd Street for families earning between 60 percent and 130 percent of Area Median Income, roughly $31,000 to $143,000, and includes about 7,000 square feet of childcare, community and retail spaces.
The entire building contains approximately 140,000 square feet of space.
The building, developed by The Stagg Group, includes a space specifically designed for a daycare facility, the Little Stars Childcare Center, that includes seven classrooms.
New Norwood Gardens resident Christina Donkor said that she moved to the Norwood building from nearby Kingsbridge Heights, and already noticed that the building and its surroundings provide for a nicer living environment compared to where she resided the last 19 years.
She said she got the news around in December that she was selected in a housing lottery for the apartment, and was thrilled, describing her good fortune as a holiday gift.
“I am very excited about living in a better situation,” said Donkor. Her two daughters are also enjoying the new digs.
Donkor said she expects to be active in the building’s tenant activities, and is already working with another tenant to develop a monthly newsletter for the building, and is eager to form a tenant association with her neighbors.
“I want everybody to enjoy living in this building as much as I do,” said Donkor, adding “It just gives me a lot of hope (that I) can live in a better place.”
She said that that her favorite part of the building is its laundry room, a perk she is is glad to have.
Some of Norwood Gardens’ amenities, according to Stagg, include a pair of fitness centers, a recreation room, a children’s playroom and a large landscaped patio.
About ten different funding partners took part in financing the building, including state and city agencies.
“We are committed to building high-quality housing for Bronx residents, and we are pleased to join our city partners in providing a building that not only addresses the critical need for affordable housing, but one that includes attractive amenities to enhance our tenants’ lives and provides needed services for this Norwood community,” said Mark Stagg, CEO and founder of Stagg Group.
Elected officials also celebrated the building’s opening.
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said that the project transformed what had been a vacant lot into a community asset.
“With the high level of amenities its future residents will enjoy, Norwood Gardens is truly a model of how affordable housing should be built,” said Diaz, offering his thanks to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and Housing Development Corporation and Stagg Group.
Councilman Andrew Cohen said he was thrilled to celebrate more high quality affordable housing in his district.
