HELP Crotona Senior Housing

Organization Name: Regions Affordable Housing

Project Title: HELP Crotona Senior Housing

Project Location: 771-775 Crotona Park North, Bronx, NY

Project Description:
This newly constructed seven story building will offer 84 units of affordable housing on a corner site overlooking Crotona Park in the Bronx, NY. Designed for innovative mixed-use, HELP Crotona will create a safe and inclusive environment for the area’s large population of elder LGBT individuals. Twenty-six units will be set aside for the homeless, while nine units will be fully accessible to those with mobility impairments and four units accessible for the hearing and vision impaired. All units will be adaptable to allow residents to “age-in-place” with their peers. The ground floor will be occupied by SAGE, USA who will operate an LGBT-oriented senior center. The property also features a community garden, bike storage and a second floor outdoor terrace with park views. A fitness center will enable residents to maximize their physical health and participate in outdoor programming such as urban gardening.

Community Impact:
Elder LGBT individuals have difficulty securing a suitable place to live in NYC’s increasingly competitive housing arena. The group is more likely to need help as they age due to housing discrimination and because many are single, estranged from their families or have no children to rely on for help. As one of NY’s first affordable housing initiatives geared toward helping the senior LGBT population, HELP Crotona will provide a safe space and support system for this community. Creative building design will encourage opportunities for social interaction with a lounge on each floor overlooking the Park, ground floor gardening plots and a great room. Innovative design features will address challenges specific to seniors who wish to age-in-place.
The community center run by SAGE will have an internal entrance for residents and separate entrance providing access to community members who wish to use the center’s facilities. Services will be provided by 4 full-time staff members at no cost. In addition to assistance programs, community outreach, arts activities and daily communal meals, they will offer linkages to local health care providers and case management for residents of the 26 homeless units.

Organization Description:
HELP USA, a NY nonprofit organization, provides transitional and supportive housing as well as homelessness prevention services nationwide. Since 1986 they developed over 2,000 units of housing for families, veterans, survivors of domestic violence and other special needs populations. For the first time, HELP USA has partnered with Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (“SAGE”). Founded in NYC in 1978, SAGE is the country’s oldest and largest group dedicated to improving the lives of elder LGBT individuals.

Team Members:

Co-Developer: H.E.L.P. Development Corp.
Co-Developer: SAGE USA
Architect: Magnusson Architecture & Planning PC
Contractor: Procida-Butz
Syndicator: Regions Affordable Housing