Breaking Ground Launches Harlem Housing
The adaptive reuse project will convert a former student housing property into affordable and supportive housing.
Breaking Ground, New York’s largest supportive housing developer, is transforming a former student housing property, and most recently a migrant shelter, at 1760 Third Ave. in East Harlem, N.Y., into 435 units of affordable and supportive housing. The adaptive reuse project is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.
“Transforming underutilizing buildings like 1760 Third Avenue into much-needed affordable and supportive housing is an unparalleled opportunity—not only for the individuals who will soon call it home, but also for the future of adaptive reuse development in our city,” Brenda Rosen, Breaking Ground president & CEO told Multi-Housing News.
The New York Based agency, which operates more than 5,000 units of transitional and permanent housing in New York City, acquired the 19-story, 247,000-square-foot building in June for $172 million. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided a $126 million loan for the acquisition.
Additional funding for the project came from the New York City Acquisition Fund, the Low Income Investment Fund, Resolution A funds through the New York City Council, and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance/Homeless Housing and Assistance Corp. The Wells Fargo Foundation also provided a $500,000 grant.
“We are grateful that our public and private sector partners share our vision to create hundreds of safe, stable homes while preserving and revitalizing existing infrastructure,” Rosen said. “As we begin renovations, we mark an exciting milestone in our commitment to expanding services in Harlem and ensuring more New Yorkers have access to the housing and support they need.”
Project details
The property, located between East 97th and 98th streets, will have 261 units for formerly homeless individuals, including about 40 apartments for young adults who aged out of foster care or are experiencing homelessness. The remaining 173 units will be for families with incomes at or less than 60 percent of the Area Median Income.
The building had recently served as a migrant shelter housing more than 400 families at the site up until November. It had also previously provided 506 units of housing for students at CUNY Hunter College, Baruch College and other educational entities.
Part of the redevelopment will include adding kitchenettes to the apartments. Unit features will include light floors, silver appliances and subway tile backsplashes in the kitchens and porcelain floor tiles in the bathrooms.
Amenities will include community space for activities and workshops, a fitness center, computer room and medical suite. There will also be offices and space for Breaking Ground’s property management and social services teams.
Breaking Ground, which is marking its 35th anniversary this year, will be the property manager and provide onsite supportive services to supportive housing residents, including case management, mental health and substance abuse clinical services, benefits entitlement counseling and connections to employment.
New York-based Dattner Architects is the architecture firm working on the redevelopment. It will be Breaking Ground’s fifth adaptive reuse project in New York City. The company is planning a groundbreaking celebration for 1760 Third Avenue on Feb. 25.
Breaking Ground projects
A pioneer in the development of permanent and supportive transitional supportive housing, Breaking Ground currently has more than 2,000 units of housing in various stages of development. In addition to operating housing, Breaking Ground also runs street homeless outreach services in Brooklyn, Queens and part of Manhattan through a contract with the New York City Department of Homeless Services.
The organization often collaborates with partners. Breaking Ground and Community Healthcare Network are developing Sutphin Senior Residence, a 173-unit affordable senior housing development in Jamaica, Queens, N.Y. The project, which began construction in September 2023, is slated for completion this year.
In November 2022, Breaking Ground completed 90 Sands, a conversion of the former Jehovah’s Witnesses hotel in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, N.Y., into 491 units of affordable and supportive housing.
