New Destiny Breaks Ground on Affordable Bronx Community

The Jennings will feature 42 units for low-income households. Alex Gorlin is the architect and Lettire Construction is the general contractor.

By Laura Calugar

New Destiny Housing Corp., a non-profit developer of affordable housing for families, started construction on its newest mixed-income housing project—The Jennings. The eight-story community in the Crotona Park East section of the Bronx will feature 42 affordable apartments, with 23 units reserved for families coming from New York City domestic violence shelters. New Destiny is the developer. Upon completion, the company will also own and manage the project. Alex Gorlin is the architect and Lettire Construction is the general contractor. The latter is also involved in the development of Van Cortlandt Green, an affordable senior housing development in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx.

Located at 902 Jennings St., the new development will be across the street from Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corp.’s buildings, developed back in 2008. The assets are a mix of affordable and supportive housing. The Jennings is also designed to address low-income families’ need for housing and will participate in the Enterprise Green Communities and NYSERDA programs. The building will include:  

  • multi-purpose room
  • library/computer room
  • children’s room
  • bicycle and stroller storage
  • backyard with a children’s play area
  • laundry room
  • offices for support services staff

New Destiny will offer on-site services tailored to the needs of families with recent histories of domestic abuse. Services will include safety planning, case management, job readiness assistance and financial planning, as well as children and family programming to help families rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient.

Combined financial effort

Funding is being provided by New York State Homes and Community Renewal, New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Corp., New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Enterprise Community Partners, TD Bank, Deutsche Bank and the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative.

The development will replace a neglected two-story building and a meat and poultry market. Project completion is expected in spring 2019.       

Images courtesy of New Destiny Housing Corp. & via Google Street View                                                    

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