A new development featuring 147 affordable apartments as well as a shelter will soon replace three vacant buildings in the Queens borough of New York City.
Developers BRC and Camber Property Group recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for Beach Channel Drive, a 100% affordable housing development that will have 125 studio, nine one-, and 13 two-bedroom units. Eighty-eight of the studio apartments will be supportive housing units reserved for individuals who were formerly homeless. All units will be reserved for households earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income.
“Our borough and our entire city are experiencing a severe shortage of affordable housing in general and of affordable supportive housing in particular,” said Queens borough president Donovan Richards Jr. “So I commend Camber Property Group, BRC, and all of the partners on this project for stepping up to the plate to help address this critical shortfall. We will not turn our backs on those who are most in need.”
The project will also feature 100 shelter units with supportive services for single women provided by BRC. The shelter units, which will be managed by BRC, will follow the organization’s Landing Road program, a clinically based model that provides services specifically targeted toward the needs of this vulnerable population, with an overarching focus on recovery and community reintegration goals, according to the team.
BRC is one most experienced providers of housing and services for homeless adults. Its robust continuum of housing and services includes over 2,000 units of transitional and permanent housing; outreach, day treatment, and workforce development programs; and substance abuse and medical services.
Camber Property Group is also an experienced developer creating and preserving affordable housing across New York City.
The building was designed by UAI, and Fifth Ave Builders will serve as the general contractor.
Beach Channel Drive will meet Enterprise Green Communities standards and includes Energy Star appliances, water-conserving fixtures, low-VOC finishes, and coated windows. Insulation and roof coating and materials are designed to be energy efficient.
Resident amenities at the building will include a full-time security and maintenance staff, on-site staff offices, social service programming space, a community room, outdoor recreational space, bike storage, and a laundry room.
The $97 million project is financed in partnership with Citi Community Capital, Freddie Mac, and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
