NEW YORK, NY – June 5, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — New York State today announced that Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation has been chosen to buy and develop the Bernard Fineson Developmental Disabilities Senior Office site in Howard Beach, Queens, into low- and moderate-income senior housing.
The site, which is in the process of being closed, will be converted by Catholic Charities into a 100-unit apartment development. Eighty of the units will be reserved for seniors over the age of 60. The remaining 20 units would be set aside for individuals supported by the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD).
“Catholic Charities was chosen because of the high quality of their proposal to redevelop this site and their excellent track record in providing affordable housing and services to seniors throughout Brooklyn and Queens,” Governor David A. Paterson said. “This is an exciting day as we move one step closer to converting underused state property into much-needed affordable housing for the elderly.”
The successful development team includes Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation, the housing arm of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens; CPC Resources, a subsidiary of the Community Preservation Corporation; Shuman Lichtenstein Claman Efron Architects; and Monadnock Construction as the general contractor.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, one of the largest providers of affordable housing in New York City, also provides social services for seniors in both boroughs, including the Howard Beach community.
“At a time of limited public resources, it’s exciting to see so many state agencies working together to redevelop underutilized state land for affordable housing,” said Priscilla Almodovar, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NYS Housing Finance Agency (HFA). “I thank all of our partners in state government and congratulate the Catholic Charities team on being selected. Their collective experience in providing affordable housing and social services in New York City make them a terrific partner for all of us to work with.”
Deborah VanAmerongen, Commissioner of the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), said, “I have had the pleasure of working with Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development and have seen firsthand just how effective they are in delivering much-needed housing for seniors and people with developmental disabilities. This important project will take an underutilized state property and turn it into affordable and supportive housing for people who need it most.”
Diana Jones Ritter, Commissioner of the Office of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD), said, “I am pleased that the Catholic Charities team has been chosen to develop the Howard Park site. OMRDD has had a long and valued partnership with Catholic Charities. This organization not only has experience successfully serving the aging population, but has extensive knowledge of what residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities want and need. This proposal will go a long way toward forwarding OMRDD’s mission to help people with developmental disabilities live richer lives.”
Paul T. Williams, Jr., Executive Director of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, said, “This project is a success story that demonstrates how government agencies working with committed not-for-profit entities can produce a meaningful new life and community purpose for an under-used state facility. We at the Dormitory Authority are proud to play a role in helping to create much-needed affordable housing for senior citizens in addition to supportive housing to serve some of our most vulnerable residents.”
Monsignor Alfred LoPinto, Vicar for Human Services of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, said, “Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation is delighted to have been chosen to develop this site into low- and moderate-income housing for seniors and persons with developmental disabilities. Catholic Charities knows that this conversion will help afford many the opportunity to live with dignity and within an integrated community that is supportive, cheerful and filled with opportunities to enjoy their golden years. We look forward to working with representatives of the State, along with members of the local community, to bring this project to a successful conclusion.”
Robert Siebel, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, said, “Catholic Charities is well known for helping to revitalize communities through the development of affordable housing as well as providing quality human services that help support and empower the people we are privileged to serve. Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is proud of what we have accomplished and looks forward to this new opportunity to respond to the needs of our neighbors.”
The selection process was overseen by HFA and DHCR, with assistance from OMRDD. A Request for Proposals to purchase the Fineson site was issued in January. Officially, the Catholic Charities team has received a preliminary designation to develop the site. Details of the sale will now be negotiated with the State and the transaction is expected to close next spring. Construction is expected to take 15 to 18 months.
The development site consists of approximately three acres located at 155-55 Cross Bay Boulevard in Southwest Queens on the site of OMRDD’s Bernard Fineson Developmental Disabilities Senior Office. The two existing structures on the property occupy 111,000 square feet. The site is owned by the Dormitory Authority of New York State (DASNY).
The site was originally constructed as a private hospital in the 1960’s. OMRDD opened the facility as a residential unit in 1975. The certified capacity at that time was 160. The facility until recently provided residential and program services for 46 individuals, including those diagnosed with autism.
OMRDD is carefully transitioning some of the remaining residents into community placement opportunities. The remaining residents are being transferred to the main Hillside Campus in Queens Village, where they continue to receive services designed to promote their health and welfare.
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The NYS Housing Finance Agency was created in 1960 to sell bonds to finance the construction and rehabilitation of multifamily affordable rental housing in New York State.
The NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal is responsible for the supervision, maintenance and development of affordable low- and moderate-income housing in New York State.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has provided quality social services to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens for more than 100 years and currently offers over 180 programs and services for children, youth, adults, seniors, the developmentally disabled, and the mentally ill. One of the largest providers of affordable housing in New York City, Catholic Charities provides 3,000 units of housing for low-income seniors, families, and the formerly homeless, and 750 units of special needs housing, throughout Brooklyn and Queens.
Contacts:
HFA: Philip Lentz
Director of Communications
212-872-0679
plentz (at) nyhomes (dot) org
DHCR: James Plastiras
Director of Communications
518-486-3400
jplastiras (at) dhcr.state.ny (dot) us
Catholic Charities: Lucy Garrido-Mota
Manager of Media Relations
718-722-6204
lucyg (at) ccbq (dot) org
