Surf Vets Place

Organization Name: Concern for Independent Living, Inc.

Project Title: Surf Vets Place

Project Location: 3003 West 21st Street, Brooklyn

Project Description:
Located one block from Coney Island beach and boardwalk, Surf Vets Place offers supportive apartments for 82 formerly homeless, as well as one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for 52 households with incomes at or below 50% and 60% AMI. Building amenities include a community room, exercise room, computer room, laundry facilities, and rooftop terraces. Due to its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Surf Vets Place was designed with an array of flood mitigation and protection measures. Surf Vets Place also includes approx. 7,000 square feet of commercial space. Concern for Independent Living provides an array of supportive services on site, as well as activities for the benefit of all building residents including healthy eating classes, empowerment classes, and computer literacy classes. Since the beginning of the COVID-10 pandemic, supportive tenants have been offered chrome books in order to prevent isolation and help them connect with family, friends, and services providers. Community veteran agencies assist our residents with securing food, blankets, coats and other household goods.

Community Impact:
At the Grand Opening of Surf Vets Place, the local Councilman announced that not only had Surf Vets Place changed his mind set about supportive housing, but we set the bar for all future developments. Despite a rally of activity and transformation, Coney Island was slow to recover from the effects of Superstorm Sandy. Surf Vets Place was part of an overall Comprehensive Plan to revitalize Coney Island. It fills a need for community space, affordable housing, and addresses the needs of our veterans. This project represented an important part of the Governor’s and the Mayor’s plans to rebuild New York City to be better and stronger than before Superstorm Sandy by investing City and State funds in those areas hardest hit by the storm. This housing represents the solution to getting our Veterans out of shelters and into the high quality housing that they deserve

Surf Vets Place has impacted the larger community by transforming a vacant lot into beautiful housing, but the vibrant community created by our tenants is what makes this program special. Residents share holiday celebrations, donate food and clothing, and share their creativity through art, photography, and creative writing.

Organization Description:
Concern for Independent Living’s mission is to provide housing and services that enrich lives and strengthen communities by developing high quality housing together with the provision of services that help people thrive. Concern is the largest non-profit provider of housing for individuals and families with psychiatric disabilities on Long Island and a leading housing developer and operator in NYC. We currently provide housing in over 250 locations across Suffolk, Nassau, Brooklyn and the Bronx, serving over 1,500 adults and 250 children.

Team Members:

Concern for Independent Living, Inc. – Co-Developer, Supportive Services Provider, Property Manager
Georgica Green Ventures LLC – Co-Developer
Stephen B. Jacobs Group PC – Project Architect

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