Lynn’s Place

Organization Name: Unique People Services

Project Title: Lynn's Place

Project Location: Bronx, NY

Project Goals:
Unique People Services proposes to develop housing in the Bronx. We are committed to filling forty-two units in coordination with the NYC Field Office, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), OTDA, HCR along with city shelters and street outreach programs. Services will be provided to adults who are chronically homeless, single and diagnosed with a serious mental illness, or who are diagnosed with a serious mental illness and one or more disorders relating to the use of alcohol and/or drugs. A chronically homeless person is one who has spent at least 1 of the last 2 years in a homeless shelter or living on the street. Individuals under an Assisted Outpatient Treatment Order (AOT) within the target group will receive priority consideration for admission. In Addition, the remaining efficiency and family apartments will provide housing to individuals and families earning within 60% of the (low and very low) as per HUD guidelines.

Project Description:
The residence, designed by Urban Architectural Initiatives, will be 7 stories with a 6-story base and setback at the 7th floor. The gross floor area for the residence, including cellar, is approximately 51,756 sf. The building is designed with a central corridor and apartments on either side of the corridor. There will be sixty-nine apartments; fifty-six efficiency apartments, fourteen 2-bedroom apartments and a 2-bedroom superintendent's apartment. The units will be spaciously laid out for comfortable livability. Efficiency units have kitchenettes, full bathrooms and have an average floor area of 400sf. All Apartment units will be handicap accessible. The lobby visible at all locations through CCTV. There are two elevators and two stairs to serve for vertical circulation; refuse/janitor's closets on each floor. There will be a sunken courtyard for active and passive recreation with a landscaped rear yard. Additional amenities include laundry room and large multipurpose room in cellar.

Community Impact:
While CB 2 as whole had approximately 200 units of affordable housing open between 2007-2011, few new units were located near the proposed project. According to the American Community Survey data set 2007-2011, the vacancy rate for residential rental units in Bronx District 2 decreased from 3.29% in 2002 to 2.6% in 2009. These rates are significantly lower than 5%, the legal definition of a housing emergency in New York City. Moreover, two distinguishing characteristics of the primary market area are the age of the housing stock. 62% built prior to 1960, and 38% of the population remain in overcrowded conditions. (Bronx District 2 Profile, NYC Dept. of Planning). The affordable housing units will provide the opportunity for singles and families earning within 60% of the (low and very low) as per HUD guidelines to secure housing. Development of Lynn's Place will address the need for more affordable housing in the primary market area.

Organization Description:
Unique People Services (UPS) is a Bronx, New York based minority not for profit 501(c) 3 corporation founded in 1991. UPS consists of two corporations: Unique People Services, Inc. and Unique People Services, AIDS Programs Inc. UPS operates 21 supportive housing programs in the Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Westchester. Each year, more than 700 persons stay within our residences. UPS offers transitional and permanent housing for formerly homeless persons with HIV/AIDS, long term and permanent housing for formerly homeless persons with a mental illness, and permanent housing and service coordination for adults with developmental disabilities We provide Case Management to people living with HIV/AIDS who are newly diagnosed or have been lost to care as well as case management through the Bronx Lebanon Health Home. Supports services are provided across varied populations include case management, substance abuse counseling, community habilitation and food pantry.