COMUNILIFE TO HOLD RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
FOR 65 UNIT El Rio RESIDENCE
On Friday, April 8th, at 10am, Comunilife, Inc. will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to formally inaugurate its newest supportive and affordable housing building - the 65 unitEl Rio Residence.
The facility located at 1041 East 179th Street in the West Farms section of The Bronx, includes 39 studio apartments for New Yorkers living with special needs and 26 studio apartments for low-income residents. Amenities include community room, laundry, back garden, staff offices, and 24/7 security.
"The El Rio Residence is Comunilife's latest housing development for low-income and special needs New Yorkers," said Comunilife's President and CEO, Dr. Rosa M. Gil. "We are delighted to be able to provide a new, safe and affordable housing option in the Bronx's West Farms Community. El Rio is an important contribution to the City's commitment to increase the number of supportive housing units available to our most at-risk residents."
El Rio is NYSERDA certified and follows the Enterprise Green Communities guidelines. The building incorporates energy efficient features including low-flow fixtures, bi-level lights in hallways, low VOC paint, FSC certified wood, energy star appliances, native vegetation at the recreational areas, erosion control during construction and construction materials with a high recycled content.
The project was developed with Capital Financing received through NYS's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, NYC's Department of Housing Preservation and Development Supportive Housing Loan Program, the Bronx Borough President's Office, and with low-income housing tax credit equity from Red Stone Equity Partners. The building was designed by Gran Kriegel Architects with Fazio Construction serving as the general contractor.
El Rio is part of Comunilife's housing portfolio which now includes 1,607 units of housing in nine transitional and permanent congregate residences for homeless New Yorkers living with special needs; three low-income apartment buildings and 993 units of supportive scatter site apartments.
The grand opening will give Comunilife the opportunity to thank the following elected and appointed officials for their support in ensuring the project's successful completion -- Mayor Bill de Blasio, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts and NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Vicki Been. We also wish to thank NYS Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan, and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett, for their ongoing support of supportive housing programs across our city and state.
The grand opening will also allow Comunilife to formally welcome the building's 65 new residents to the community and Comunilife family.
ABOUT COMUNILIFE:
Founded in 1989, Comunilife is a health and human service agency whose mission is to improve the quality of life and create a healthier tomorrow for children, adolescents, adults, families and seniors living with mental illness and/or HIV/AIDS in New York City's underserved, diverse communities. Comunilife provides culturally-competent, community-based services to 3,500 New Yorkers annually.
WHAT:
Ribbon cutting ceremony for El Rio Residence, a new, state-of-the-art supportive and affordable housing building with 65 units.
WHEN:
Friday, April 8, 2016; 10:00am
WHERE:
1041 East 179th Street at Boston Road, West Farms, Bronx.
