A joint venture between Trinity Financial and MBD Community Housing Corp. will build 241 new affordable housing apartments on the location of the former P.S. 31 school in the Bronx’s Mott Haven neighborhood, announced New York City officials.
The development team was selected after a competitive request for proposals process. In addition to housing for low- and moderate-income households, the mixed-use and mixed-income development will include a supermarket with healthy food options, a charter school, a medical facility, cultural and community spaces, a social services facility, and a rehabilitated playground that is currently closed.
“This is really exciting news. We and our development partner, MBD Community Housing Corp., worked very hard to put together a program worthy of this important location,” said Kenan Bigby, managing director of Trinity Financial. “The creative weaving of housing, education, and social services is what a modern urban neighborhood should be all about.”
With support from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corp. (HDC), the development of this city-owned parcel will be financed under mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York: A Five-Borough, Ten-Year Plan.
The 24-story building is expected to be the largest residential Passive House built in New York City and use 70% less energy than conventional buildings. It also is expected to surpass Enterprise Green Communities guidelines, with energy-recovery systems, solar-shading devices, and water-savings features. Each unit will include individual energy controls and energy-efficient appliances.
Additional amenities include a laundry room on each floor and community rooms with access to a landscaped terrace and a green roof.
The building also will pay tribute to P.S. 31 by including architectural features of the school, including terra cotta gargoyle carvings and the engraved P.S. 31 sign.
“As a proud graduate of P.S. 31, I was sorry to see my beloved school building fall into such disrepair and even sorrier to see it demolished,” said Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx borough president. “However, HPD and HDC recognized the need for new life and new development at this historic site and have moved to bring welcome new affordable housing units, commercial activity, and a reinvigorated Garrison Playground to the Lower Concourse neighborhood.”
