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Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul Announce Construction to Begin on $189 Million Affordable, Supportive Housing Development in the Bronx

July 27, 2022

Video available at: https://youtu.be/ZwDaGuqlmnA


Starhill Phase I Will Create 326 New Affordable Homes in Morris Heights With 200 Supportive Homes for Adults Experiencing Homelessness

Project Follows Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors” Blueprint to Get New Yorkers Into Safe, High-Quality, Affordable and Supportive Homes

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction on a $189 million affordable housing development in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx. Starhill Phase I will feature 326 affordable apartments, including 200 homes with supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

“Safe, stable, and affordable housing is fundamental to a prosperous, inclusive city, and we are ensuring no New Yorker is left behind when it comes to having a roof over their heads,” said Mayor Adams. “Our administration has a plan to kickstart the creation of supportive homes for New Yorkers who need them most, and we are moving full speed ahead. We are working with closely with Governor Hochul to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New Yorkers and make our city stronger and fairer.”

“This development will provide safe, stable homes for more than 300 residents of the Bronx and offer critical resources and amenities to support the Morris Heights neighborhood in the long term,” said Governor Hochul. “As the national affordability crisis drives rent and other costs to new highs, my administration is tackling the crisis head-on with a $25 billion plan to deliver high-quality affordable and supportive housing that will help to stabilize and improve New Yorkers’ lives. I thank Mayor Adams, the City Council, and other stakeholders for their partnership on this project, and look forward to their continued engagement in strengthening New York communities.”

Starhill Phase I reflects the goals of Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors” blueprint for getting New Yorkers into safe, high-quality, affordable homes. The first city housing plan to cover the entire spectrum of New Yorkers’ housing needs and options, the blueprint includes a commitment to accelerate the creation of supportive housing and complete the 15,000 supportive homes promised by 2030, two years ahead of schedule.

Starhill Phase I will consist of a 14-story multifamily building and a connected one-story amenity building. The two-acre site, which was occupied by a former hospital being used as a residential treatment center, has since been demolished. The mixed-use development was made possible through the 2018 Jerome Corridor Rezoning.

The new building will include 200 apartments reserved for single adults experiencing homelessness with substance use disorders or co-occurring disorders. These residents will have access to on-site supportive services and rental subsidies funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).

Services will include individual case management, family counseling, job readiness training, and financial literacy workshops. These services will be voluntary and individualized to each tenant’s needs while promoting independent living skills and maintaining stable tenancy. The service provider is Services for the Underserved (S:US).

The remaining apartments will be reserved for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income or less.

Residential amenities will include a rear yard and a passive recreation area on the second-floor terrace. Interior amenities will include on-site social services, a fitness room, on-site laundry, a children’s playroom, a computer room, and free internet access available in each unit. In addition, there will be 24-hour security located at the entrance.

Starhill Phase I is conveniently located in the Morris Heights residential neighborhood in the Bronx with access to local amenities, such as medical treatment, education, and public services, readily available. There are 10 MTA bus lines with stops near the development site, as well as the 4, B, and D trains.

The developers for Starhill Phase I are Bronx Pro and S:US.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is providing $31.5 million through the Supportive Housing Loan Program. State financing for Starhill Phase I includes $20.6 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Tax Credits that will generate $80.5 million in equity, and $31.5 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). The New York City Council is providing $1 million.

Starhill Phase II is expected to include approximately 244 additional affordable and supportive apartments.

“Housing New Yorkers is the most important step to help people who have struggled with homelessness, mental health, or substance use rebuild their lives. Starhill will soon welcome home hundreds of New Yorkers, creating a new community in Morris Heights,” said New York City Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “As part of our citywide housing strategy, ‘Housing Our Neighbors,’ we are committed to creating affordable, high-quality homes. I am proud to celebrate with BronxPro and Services for the Underserved on this exciting new project.”

“Starhill is a shining example of what this administration is working to achieve for our most vulnerable New Yorkers — safe, supportive, and affordable housing paired with services and amenities that help residents thrive,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Once complete, Starhill will be our largest newly constructed supportive housing project to date, providing 326 affordable homes, 200 of which are supportive homes reserved for those experiencing homelessness. This is no small feat, and we celebrate this important milestone on the path to moving as many New Yorkers into housing as quickly as possible.”

“With 326 apartments, including 200 with supportive services, Starhill Phase I is the latest example of our ongoing efforts to expand the supply of quality affordable housing across the Bronx,” said HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “By offering free internet, excellent amenities, and access to social services for those who need them, Starhill Phase I will yield a brighter and healthier future for the individuals and families who will soon live here. Congratulations to Bronx Pro and Services for the Underserved for their partnership and vision in bringing this transformative development to fruition in Morris Heights.”

“The governor’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative will serve the most vulnerable populations across the state,” said OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham. “This initiative is important to the continuum of services OASAS offers and enables us to support individuals improve their health. The first phase of this development in the Bronx will meet the needs of at-risk New Yorkers, including those with substance use disorders. We are proud to be part of this important effort.”

“Home is more than a roof. Home is stability, safety, community, and a sense of belonging,” said Jorge R. Petit, MD, president and CEO, S:US. “Starhill will bring hope, possibility, and opportunity to New Yorkers who have experienced homelessness, poverty, addiction, and mental health challenges. As an organization advancing social justice, S:US is proud to serve and support New Yorkers to get the home they deserve. And we’re honored to stand with our partners to champion affordable and supportive housing in the Bronx.”

“Bronx Pro is excited to be part of the next chapter and reinvention of the Starhill campus,” said Samantha Magistro, CEO, Bronx Pro. “Starhill Phase I honors the site’s history of medical and mental health care, while responding to the present-day need for affordable housing and new open space in Morris Heights. We look forward to building this new residence together with S:US, New York City and New York State, our lenders, and our community stakeholders.”

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