Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of Arthur Avenue Apartments, a new $91 million affordable housing development with 177 apartments in the Belmont section of the Bronx. The development includes 54 apartments reserved for formerly homeless seniors in need of support services. The sustainably designed building features 4,500 square feet of health-oriented community space including an interior greenhouse with a teaching kitchen, a working vegetable garden for tenant use, and two landscaped outdoor terraces.
“New Yorkers deserve access to safe, affordable housing – especially seniors and those struggling to make ends meet,” Governor Hochul said. “The Arthur Avenue Apartments will bring much-needed affordable housing to the Bronx, helping the most vulnerable New Yorkers live with dignity and security.”
Arthur Avenue Apartments consists of a single nine-story building with 177 homes for households age 62 or older. Seventeen apartments are available to households earning at or below 30 percent of the Area Median Income and 105 apartments are available to households earning at or below 50 percent of the AMI. 54 apartments are reserved for formerly homeless seniors with chronic health conditions, who will receive on-site supportive services and rental subsidies funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the NYS Department of Health.
Supportive services include activities that promote socialization, life skills training, education and fitness-based instruction groups, nutritional education and cooking, and music therapy. The supportive service provider is the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, also the project’s co-developer along with Foxy Management.
The building was designed to meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star programs. Energy-efficient features include low-flow bathroom fixtures; motion-sensor LED lighting in common areas; EnergyStar appliances; a rooftop solar array; efficient irrigation/water reuse system; highly efficient boiler and water heater; and low volatile organic compound “VOC” finishes throughout.
Residents of Arthur Avenue Apartments have access to a working vegetable garden where they can grow their own food and share with the community, an interior greenhouse linked to a teaching kitchen, and two outdoor terraces on the 8th floor connected to two large multipurpose community rooms. Additional amenities include 24-hour security, on-site laundry, bicycle storage, and an office suite for support services.
Nearby neighborhood services include the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, St. Barnabas Hospital, several urgent care clinics, three libraries with senior programming, grocery and retail, a subway station, and a Metro-North train station.
State Financing for Arthur Avenue Apartments includes $19.2 million in tax-exempt bonds, federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $36 million in equity, and an additional $13.2 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $13.3 million through its Senior Affordable Rental Assistance Program and 122 Project-Based Section 8 vouchers. New York City Council awarded the project $500,000.
HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “This $91 million highly energy-efficient and sustainable development provides a healthy and affordable home for at-risk senior households. Arthur Avenue Apartments will provide important supportive services to residents while also cultivating active living and a wellness-oriented environment. In addition, the building’s extensive energy-efficiency and sustainability features will support the state’s goal of reducing carbon emissions, especially in underserved neighborhoods like the Bronx. Congratulations to Foxy Management and our partners in government for this accomplishment that will improve the lives of so many New Yorkers.”
State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “Reliable, affordable and safe housing is essential for good health, and I am confident that Arthur Avenue Apartments are equipped to provide their residents with the services and support they need. I am proud of our continued efforts to move our state forward and provide New Yorkers with the security they need for a bright and healthy future.”
HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll said, “Senior housing is not just about affordability – it’s about making sure our elders can thrive. Arthur Ave Apartments provide more than 170 senior households the opportunity to do just that by providing services and space to boost their wellness: a community garden, teaching kitchen, two roof terraces and more. I want to thank Foxy Management, Hebrew Home at Riverdale, our state partners, and elected officials for making this project possible and taking the time to make sure every aspect meets the needs of our seniors.”
Jeff Fox, Principal of Foxy Management, said, “The Arthur Avenue project is our pride and joy – even before CoViD entered our lexicon, we designed this project with a health-first approach, ensuring a clean “green” environment for our city’s most vulnerable senior residents, and the end product exceeds our expectations. We expect that the amenity package will serve as the foundation for healthy living and nutritional programming that will be transformative in the lives of our residents. I would like to give a special thanks to our friends and partners at the Hebrew Home, who embody the compassionate care we all strive for. We could not accomplish what we have here without our incredible financing team, which includes HCR, NYC HPD, Councilmember Salamanca, Boston Financial and JP Morgan Chase. Thank you for putting your trust in our team to accomplish what we are celebrating today.”
Deborah Messina, Senior Vice President of Operations at RiverSpring Living (the parent organization of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale), said, “The residents of Arthur Avenue Apartments have found home here, and will build meaningful connections in this thoughtfully designed community. We extend gratitude to Foxy Management, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative for our continued partnership.”
Congressman Ritchie Torres said, “As the Bronx continues to grow, it is crucial to see increased direct investment in affordable housing to support vibrant neighborhoods like Belmont. I am proud to celebrate the groundbreaking on 177 units that will provide stability and opportunity for Bronx residents. I look forward to seeing continued investment in affordable housing in the Bronx in order to lift up working families.
Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. said, “Throughout my tenure in the City Council, my top priority has been bringing truly affordable, quality housing to the South Bronx. With the completion of Arthur Avenue Apartments, we are doing just that. 177-units of senior housing, this new development will provide housing at the deepest levels of affordability for those 62 years and older, while also providing dignified, permanent housing for 54 formerly homeless senior households through a 30% set-aside. Having allocated $500,000 in capital funding towards the completion of this project, I am thrilled to celebrate today’s grand opening. I applaud Foxy Management and Hebrew Home at Riverdale for their partnership, and thank NYS Homes and Community Renewal and NYC Housing Preservation and Development for their financial support.”
Assembly Member Chantel Jackson said, “The cost of housing in New York City has become a crisis and breaking point. The need to provide safe and affordable housing is of great concern to me, as it impacts my constituents in the 79th Assembly District in the South Bronx. I am pleased to see the completion of the Arthur Apartments in Belmont, which will provide housing to 177 seniors. We must continue to work together to ensure our most vulnerable are afforded every opportunity to lead their lives with dignity; a safe place to call home should be attainable by all.”
