The need for affordable housing is always an issue, especially for seniors. Now, construction is underway in the Baychester section of Bronx on two new properties that offer low-income housing for seniors age 62 and older.
“The projects are two buildings adjoined, both for low-income senior citizens. One building called The Woodlands is a 101-unit property and adjoining to it and built simultaneously is a 79-unit building called Council Tower VII,” says Gary Gutterman of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty.
A groundbreaking held this week officially kicked off development of the two 11-story buildings with a total of 180 units of affordable housing. Most of the housing will be one-bedroom apartments.
“We like to build one-bedroom apartments of 540 square feet, which is a very nice-sized apartment. If it’s a couple, a one-bedroom serves them well and an individual as well,” says Gutterman. “They are modern built, with beautiful kitchens and the property comes with plenty of community space.”
There will also be a handful of two-bedroom units.
The Woodlands and Council Tower VII will be located next door to two similar properties run by the Metropolitan Council for Jewish Poverty, Met Council Tower I and Tower V. Gutterman says clustering these buildings will help seniors get essential services they need.
“The idea here is to concentrate as much seniors on one place so we can take care of them,” Gutterman says. “We bring social programs, connect them to entitlements, to health benefits and bring services to them as well as feed them out to the community services.”
The project is a collaborative effort that is being funded and developed by various city and state agencies, the Met Council and the developer, Arker Companies.
Construction on this project is already underway and should be completed by the end of 2014. Applications for residents will be available by next Summer.