Much-needed affordable housing for low-income seniors is coming to the gentrifying East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.
Draper Hall, which will open its doors in September, will provide 203 units with project-based Sec. 8 vouchers for seniors 62 and older earning up to 50% of the area median income.
“There is tremendous need not only in New York City but all over the United States for senior housing,” says Sydelle Knepper, founder and CEO of developer SKA Marin. “The problem is exacerbated here, and there’s very little senior housing with services available.”
SKA Marin is completing the adaptive reuse of Draper Hall, which was originally home to a nurses’ dormitory and a training facility operated by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. and has been vacant since flooding during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
The development includes the gut rehab of the existing building and a 14-story new-construction addition to create one-bedroom apartments and an elevator lobby. The two-story podium is being transformed into a new multipurpose community room with views of the East River as well as a state-of-the-art health center and adult day program. Part of the podium was demolished to create additional outdoor space for the seniors.
In addition to the services provided on-site, the building is located across from the Metropolitan Hospital and close to the new Second Avenue subway.
“The location is phenomenal for a senior building, and I think we will see when the lottery finishes that there will be thousands of applications showing the need,” says Knepper.
The $84.6 million development received tremendous support from the city. Tax-exempt bonds were issued by the New York City Housing Development Corp. during construction with a construction loan by Citi Community Capital covering the first mortgage. Raymond James Tax Credit Funds also provided the low-income housing tax credit equity.
