Data shows that from 1996-2021, the Hudson Valley region lost a net total of 146,763 people to out migration, which calculates out to 5% of the Hudson Valley’s population.
Elected officials, seeking to appease vocal constituents, frequently uphold restrictive zoning laws that favor single-family residences over more diverse housing options.
In 2023, the Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection investigated 617 complaints and returned $66,000 to homeowners.
NEW YORK—The New York State Homes and Community Renewal, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and Douglaston Development announced on Jan. 5 the closing of construction financing for a 188-unit affordable senior housing development in the Bedford Park area of the Bronx.
The development will include a new supermarket on the ground floor. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2021 on the $93.5-million project located at 2856 Webster Ave. on land owned by The New York Botanical Garden.
“The Webster Avenue development is the result of a unique opportunity to transform an underutilized lot owned by The New York Botanical Garden into 188 affordable apartments for seniors,” said HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “This development will help meet a growing need for safe, modern homes for New Yorkers to age in place. Residents will have convenient access to a ground-floor grocery store, on-site social services, and everything The New York Botanical Garden has to offer. As we carry out Governor Cuomo’s ambitious housing plan, we are committed to building and preserving affordable homes and combatting homelessness in every neighborhood of the Bronx, in New York City, and across the state.”
HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll said, “Safe and secure affordable housing for New York’s seniors remains an essential priority for this administration. This new development offering affordable housing for seniors, complete with a supermarket on site, will be an incredible asset to the Bedford Park community for years to come. I want to thank New York State Homes and Community Renewal and Douglaston Development for their partnership on this project.”
HCR provided $32.1 million in tax-exempt bond financing, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $33.6 million in equity and $6.6 million subsidy. HPD provided a $12.8 -million subsidy. Financing for the project also includes a $6.8-million deferred developer fee and approximately $1.6 million in interest accrued from subsidy programs. Wells Fargo is the tax credit syndicator and provided a letter of credit for the project.
In addition to housing for low-income seniors, on-site social services will be provided through Fordham Bedford Community Services to children and families within the Northwest Bronx and the surrounding area communities. Fordham Bedford Community Services provides educational services outside of school, recreational opportunities, referral services to health, educational, recreational, employment and childcare counseling programs, workshops for counseling and training in housing rights and responsibilities, financial education and community involvement.
The development will continue Governor Cuomo’s commitment to providing all New Yorkers with access to safe, affordable housing through the state’s unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The plan makes housing accessible and combats homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 with supportive services.
The project will also aid Mayor de Blasio in meeting his commitment to create or preserve 300,000 affordable homes in his Housing New York: A Five-Borough, Ten-Year Plan and updated Housing New York 2.0 plan.
The New York Botanical Garden selected Douglaston Development to lead the development process and executed a 99-year ground lease with Douglaston in August of 2020. This is the first phase of a two-phase development that will include a future affordable mixed-use development at the adjacent 410 Bedford Park Blvd.
Jeffrey E. Levine, founder and chairman of Douglaston Development said of the project, “We’re proud to take part in an exemplary project involving both city and state entities banding together to bring much-needed affordable senior housing to fruition within the Bronx community. We look forward to our continued partnership with The New York Botanical Garden as the project moves into its next phase of development and breaks ground in the coming months.”
The project benefited from NYC DCP’s FRESH (Food Retail Expansion to Support Health) Program, which provides zoning and tax benefits for the creation or renovation of supermarkets that agree to operate as certified FRESH food stores in applicable districts throughout New York City.
Aaron Bouska, vice president for government and community relations at NYBG said, “The New York Botanical Garden applauds New York State’s and New York City’s commitments to an affordable mixed-use, intergenerational project in our neighborhood, which NYBG has anchored for 130 years. With more than 40% of seniors in the Bronx being rent-burdened, the need for affordable senior housing cannot be overstated. After almost a decade of collaboration with community stakeholders, it is gratifying to know construction will commence in 2021.”
The new loan program builds on the Borough President and BXEDC’s commitment to support the growing small business sector in the Bronx and follows a $10-million loan program announced last fall.
“We are thrilled to be opening our first office in Columbia County and expanding our reach in the Hudson Valley,” said Liz Nunan, President and CEO of Houlihan Lawrence.
Uniting 1st Priority Mortgage and Hudson United Mortgage offer a wealth of expertise and an expanded array of unique loan products, serving borrowers across the region, company officials stated.
The property was originally developed at a reported cost of approximately $250 million and was one of the first new major multifamily projects to be built in White Plains in some time.
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