Casa Celina Affordable Housing Development Tops Out At 1810 Watson Avenue In Soundview, The Bronx

 

Casa Celina, a new affordable housing development in the Soundview section of The Bronx, has officially topped out. The building is located at 1810 Watson Avenue and will comprise 205 mixed-income units for seniors and formerly homeless adults.

The Casa Celina development team includes Xenolith Partners, The Kretchmer Companies, and ELH Management. City agencies involved in the project include New York City Public Housing Authority (NYCHA), the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and the NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

The breakdown of apartments will include 46 one-bedrooms and 158 studios, all reserved for individuals and families at 50 percent area median income. A total of 62 units will be set aside for the formerly homeless adults.

“This project demonstrates NYCHA’s commitment to address the urgent need for affordable senior housing for NYC residents to age in place,” said NYCHA executive vice president of Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia in a statement when the project broke ground in October 2021. “We are proud to work with all of the partners who have helped advance the quality and resiliency of affordable housing design while providing community programming and services to NYCHA residents and the surrounding neighborhood.”

Updated rendering of Casa Celina – Renderings by Nightnurse Images courtesy of Magnusson Architecture and Planning

As described by Magnusson Architecture and Planning, the building was designed to promote mental health and a sense of community. This includes oversized windows throughout for abundant natural light, resident lounges on each floor, and social spaces that help prevent a sense of isolation for residents living alone. Amenity spaces will include a 1,725-square-foot senior community space, a fitness room, laundry facilities, and a landscaped roof terrace where yoga classes and gardening will be available.

Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA) and New York City’s Department for the Aging will provide staffing for the senior community space.