The Atrium at Sumner

Organization Name: Sumner Senior Partners LLC

Project Title: The Atrium at Sumner

Project Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

Project Description:
Following the Housing is Health, Health is Housing model, the Atrium at Sumner’s unique building design is centered on an interior garden where residents experience nature year-round. Designed by world-renowned architectural firm Studio Libeskind, the building is sited on formerly open space on the NYCHA Sumner Houses campus. As visible in the Skyline view image, the landscape design and building are thoughtfully incorporated into the campus plan. Developed for low-income older adults age 62 and above, the building has a total of 190 apartments: a mix of one bedroom and studio units with a two-bedroom apartment for the live-in resident manager. Social Services are provided on-site to all residents through Selfhelp’s Housing with Services model (SHASAM), with comprehensive case management services provided to the formerly homeless residents for whom 30% of the units were set-aside. Resident amenities include a library with computer area, gym, a multipurpose community room equipped for multi-media events, low-cost wifi and a lobby space with monumental stair to garden level. Resident bathrooms have roll-in showers and an emergency pull cord system, both designed to help residents age in place.

Community Impact:
All aspects of the project support an age-friendly neighborhood which is vital to maintaining a vibrant NYC for all ages. The Atrium at Sumner brings much-needed affordable housing to the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. In addition to on-site social services for residents of the 190 units, the project includes a PACE adult day center program which benefits all residents of the neighborhood. PACE provides Medicare-eligible community residents with medical and social services enabling them to remain in the neighborhood. Designed to Passive House standard, the innovative building design is a sustainable solution and a new housing model.

The NYCHA NextGen Seniors First program develops new state-of-the-art housing for low-income residents of New York City on the campus of NYCHA developments, allowing open space to become desperately needed housing. A preference for a portion of the units is available to existing NYCHA residents. At Atrium the unit mix and AMI levels conform to HPD’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (“SARA”) program. Project Based Section 8 vouchers were awarded for all apartments and underwritten at 110% of HUD Fair Market Rent (“FMR”).

Organization Description:
Sumner Senior Partners LLC is an equitable partnership between not-for-profit developers Selfhelp Realty Group, Inc and RiseBoro Community Partnership, Inc. teamed with Urban Builders Collaborative, LLC. The partnership has a successful track record of partnering with Federal, State and City agencies and working with elected officials, tenant associations and community organizations. The project was completed in January 2024 and converted to permanent financing in 2025.