In October 2009, CHPC board members the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) NYC, along with partner Belmont-Arthur Local Development Corp (BAALDC) acquired a 164-unit senior housing development using financing provided by the NY Acquisition Fund and originated by LISC.

The building, located at 1201 Findlay Avenue in the Crotona East section of the Bronx, is rich in historical and architectural detail, having been constructed in 1920, originally as a hospital.  It was converted to senior housing under HUD’s Section 202 program in 1978, but fell into disrepair in recent years, prompting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development … Read more…

The 116^th Street Block Association, in partnership with CHPC board members, Horsford & Poteat Realty (HP Realty) recently completed the construction of 55 affordable residential units on three city-owned lots at 55 East 115th Street between Park and Madison Avenues in East Harlem section of Manhattan, called Colon Plaza.

Nearly 40 percent of the residents of the project’s Community Board receive some type of public benefit income and, despite the presence of more than 17,000 public housing units, there still exists a severe shortage of affordable housing in East Harlem. This project worked to address this issue by creating … Read more…

In the largest transaction in Fire Island history and the second largest commercial transaction in Long Island, Blesso Properties as a founding member of FIP Ventures acquired a near monopoly of the Pines commercial district:

Fire Island is an oceanfront destination located less than two hours outside of the New York City metropolitan area.  Attracting over 110,000 visitors each summer, the Pines is the premier domestic international destination for the affluent gay community.

The Pines has the highest percentage of gay male residents and visitors of any vacation destination in the Tri-State region.  It is also the wealthiest and most … Read more…

In July 2009, Lemle & Wolff, Inc. started construction on the gut renovation of 75-89 Wadsworth Terrace, an 83-unit building in Washington Heights.   The $8.6 million project is funded through HPD’s Participation Loan Program and NYSERDA’s Multifamily Performance Program.

The renovation includes a number of green features including solar-thermal domestic hot water heating, cellulose insulation in the exterior walls and roof, low flow showerheads, Low-E windows, an energy management system to monitor apartment temperatures, a new high-efficiency boiler, low-power electronic light fixtures with electronic ballasts, hard-wired CFL apartment light fixtures, and Energy Star rated appliances.

Additional improvements being made to … Read more…

Coney Island Commons is a partnership project by three CHPC board members – architect William Stein and developers Andrea Kretchmer and Larry Hirschfield. 196 rental apartments for low and middle income families and a YMCA community center will be built by The Kretchmer Companies, ELH Mgmt. LLC and Galaxy Contracting Corp and designed by Dattner Architects.

Coney Island Commons is mixed use development which will include affordable housing and a community center operated by the YMCA of Greater New York.

The project will contain 196 rental apartments for low and middle income families. The YMCA will provide South … Read more…

112 Washington Place, a classic 1830’s Federal-style townhouse in the heart of Greenwich Village, recently underwent a gut-renovation by Blesso Properties, which was founded by CHPC Board Member Matthew Blesso. The architect was Andrea Steele Architects.

Originally built in 1832 and having remained in the same family for many generations, this elegant townhouse underwent years of neglect resulting in major structural damage, buckled flooring and crumbling ornamental plasterwork.

Before the renovation work could begin, the building had to be stabilized by inserting a concrete masonry liner within the existing envelope to reattach the front and rear facades back … Read more…

Amie Gross Architects (AGA) have designed a 35,000 square foot building  for the Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) which is a mixed-use development providing studio apartments and social services for 48 individuals in need, including the elderly, the formerly homeless and young adults aging out of foster care. Retail space will give preference to local businesses.

AGA’s main design criteria was creating a project that both responds to the community and achieves an outstanding level of sustainability. The building has been designed to achieve a LEED Gold rating and will be one of the first LEED-certified affordable housing projects in New … Read more…

The SOLARA in the Bronx

Developer: The Briarwood Organization, LLC
Project Location: 1259 and 1275 Grant Avenue between  167th and 169th Street (Grant Concourse)
Project Info: 160 one-, two- and three-bedroom affordable cooperatives
Project Completion: Summer 2009
Project Description: The two-building complex, currently under construction, features fully-equipped gym, on-site secured parking, as well as a courtyard and garden. One-bedroom units are priced at $108,815; two-bedroom units are from $134,100; and three-bedroom are priced at $202,217. The project is being developed with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Housing Partnership, and the New York State Affordable … Read more…

Curtis + Ginsberg Architects and Jonathan Rose Companies are working on a project for the Fortune Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the fabric of communities by promoting successful prisoner re-entry.
Where is it? – The building will be adjacent and connected to the Fortune Society’s historic “castle” building along Riverside Drive.
What is it? – The new 110,000 sq ft building provides 21,000 sf. of space for Fortune programs, fifty permanent housing units for Fortune residents, and sixty three affordable housing units with a series of roof gardens. The project is planned to be LEED gold, Enterprise … Read more…

In 2008, CHPC Board member Alex Garvin’s planning and consulting firm Alex Garvin & Associates conducted a master planning and public participation process for approximately 700 acres surrounding the intersection of two major urban arterials, Briarcliff and North Druid Hills Roads, in DeKalb County, Georgia.

What are the highlights of the master plan?

* A 63% expansion of a local park, Kittredge Park
* Improved public access to the park
* The conversion of two major urban arterials into boulevards lined with 900 new trees
* The conversion of the intersection of Briarcliff and North Druid Hills Roads into … Read more…