1561 Walton Avenue

Organization Name: Settlement Housing Fund & Briarwood Org.

Project Title: 1561 Walton Avenue

Project Location: Bronx, NY

Project Description:
1561 Walton Avenue is a new construction, 11-story affordable housing building in the Mt. Eden neighborhood of the Bronx. It provides 60 units of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in a much-needed area of New York City. The triangular shaped lot is the result of historic overlay of the urban grid superimposed on old farmsteads, creating unusual property lines. These in turn form a building that references the street as well as the incremental historical usage of the land. We demarcated the Walton Avenue façade into four separate planes, differentiated through mass and brick colors that form a gradient. By revealing the edges of the planes, we allowed for south-facing corner windows to be integrated into each apartment living room. We also provided a generous rooftop terrace and natural lighting in the corridors. The building follows the Enterprise Green Communities Guidelines and participates in the NYSERDA Multifamily Performance Program, which contribute to marked energy savings and efficiency.

Community Impact:
The not-for-profit developers and lead funding agency were intent that the new building be a positive, respectful addition to the neighborhood, which is in one of the city’s highest areas of poverty and where quality affordable housing is critical. They also desired an attractive and high-quality building solution with sustainable design elements that are easy to maintain.

The project features an entry “porch” area, rooftop terrace, rear yard, and ground-floor community room to offer a variety of gathering spaces for residents. The semi-public open plaza at the building’s main entry is inviting to residents and contributes to the project’s sense of transparency and security. Further, by balancing design and economy of construction in a thoughtfully articulated façade, the result is a building that responds to the Bronx neighborhood and one that residents are proud to call home.

Organization Description:
Settlement Housing Fund creates quality affordable housing and programs, building strong and diverse neighborhoods throughout New York City. They work closely with community partners to provide low- and moderate-income New Yorkers with pathways to long-term affordable housing, education, employment, and wellness. The Briarwood Organization takes a long-term approach to each development, as each is devised in collaboration with neighbors to maximize the project's total value to the community while staying in line with its existing design context.

Team Members:

Architect: Edelman Sultan Knox Wood/Architects LLP.
MEP: Abraham Joselow P.C. P.E.
Landscape: Billie Cohen Ltd
Energy: Bright Power
GC: Briarwood Organization