Bedford Green House – Phase I & II

Organization Name: Project Renewal & ESKW/Architects

Project Title: Bedford Green House – Phase I & II

Project Location: Bedford Park, Bronx

Project Description:
Bedford Green House is Project Renewal’s two-phase development occupying a through-way lot bound by Jerome and Creston Avenues. The project was envisioned as a sustainable, socially integrated, intergenerational, mixed-population, and mixed-income community bolstered by biophilia-inspired amenities that promote socialization, safety, and healthy living practices. Together, the 234 apartments serve low-income families, seniors, and individuals, including many who have experienced homelessness, mental illness, or HIV/AIDS. Communal and supportive spaces are strategically located with direct access to outdoor areas to foster community. Phase I’s third floor includes a community room, laundry, and supportive offices opening onto the courtyard; Phase II’s second floor houses a recreation room, Occupational Therapy space, and the Molly B. Kronick Library and Learning Center with similar courtyard access. Additional gathering spaces include Phase I’s rooftop aquaponic greenhouse for horticultural therapy and Phase II’s landscaped rear yard and eleventh-floor terrace with sweeping views of the Bronx. Apartments for the different populations are distributed to encourage an inclusive community.

Community Impact:
Bedford Green House addresses New York City’s urgent need for safe, stable, and affordable housing. By combining permanent housing with on-site supportive services, including medical care, behavioral health services, occupational therapy, and restorative green space, the project creates an environment where residents can achieve long-term stability and independence. Nearly half of the units serve older adults, promoting intergenerational connection and combating isolation. The clinic also serves the broader community with high-quality health care.

Critical to the project’s goals, cross-pollination between the two building populations is facilitated by a shared, landscaped courtyard with a covered walkway connecting directly to each building’s communal and supportive services floor. The courtyard is designed for multiple uses, including an area for children’s play, gardening space, and various seating options. While both buildings integrate with context, the project also serves the broader community through a public playground at Phase I and a 2,200 SF community health clinic at Phase II. Solar panels on Phase II and green roofs on both buildings reinforce the LEED-certified sustainable design.

Organization Description:
Project Renewal is a New York City-based nonprofit dedicated to ending the cycle of homelessness by empowering people with health, homes, and jobs. For over 50 years, it has provided integrated services that help individuals rebuild their lives, serving 10,000 New Yorkers each year. Since 1960, ESKW/Architects has partnered with mission-driven organizations to design shelters, educational spaces, cultural institutions, and healthcare facilities for all New Yorkers.

Team Members:

General Contractor: Bruno Frustaci Contracting. Landscape: Starr Whitehouse. Structural: RGCE. Mechanical: Rosenthal Consulting. Civil: Key Civil Engineering. Geotechnical: MRCE.