On what was a parking lot, Catholic Charities through its Catholic Homes New York is constructing a massive 319 unit low income housing building. The average median income or AMI will be a mix of 40/60/and 80 percent of the AMI for the area. The apartments will range from one, two and three bedrooms. The square footage of each apartment was not been announced, but in similar construction the percentage of the AMI could result in that percentage of the apartment size with new Micro units being built. As for the number of parking spaces for the 319 units, none are required since the building sits next to the subway on East Tremont Avenue, and according to the Mayor's City Planning Commission in the new MIH-ZQA Zoning plan low income housing residents do not own cars.
The building will be 15 stories on the east side and 12 stories on the west side, because of the grading of the lot. This is so the new development would not be out of context with the much smaller buildings in the area. This is also part of the Live-On New York plan for Catholic Charities and other non profits who own parking lots to be able to build massive housing buildings with financing through the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and private funding sources.
Above - Msgr. Kevin Sullivan Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York speaks of the 319 unit building (in the photo on the right), and how the building will have two retail stores on the first floor including a supermarket. There will be 11,000 square footage of retail space for the two stores.
Below - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. speaks of what this new building scheduled for completion in fall of 2020 will do for the community with its housing shortage. BP Diaz added that he allocated one million dollars of his discretionary funding to this project, because he wants to convert religious properties that are no longer used into housing.
Above - Councilman Rafael Salamanca gives a ceremonial check for $850,000 to the Monsignor as part of the deal to include three bedroom apartments in the building.
Below - This steel beam is to be a time capsule covered over to be uncovered in fifty years. Bronx BP (and Mayoral hopeful) Ruben Diaz Jr. is second to sign after Ms. Molly Park Deputy Commissioner of Development NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, who watches. Others associated with this building also signed the beam.
