MAP Turns Parking Lots Into Affordable Housing in the South Bronx

New York, NY, November 23, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP) today celebrated the groundbreaking of Soundview Family Housing, the first phase of a multi-building development that will meet a growing demand for affordable housing in the Soundview neighborhood of the South Bronx.

The development is part of an initiative by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the city to turn underutilized real estate into affordable housing. The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) partnered with L+M Development Partners and Lemle & Wolff to develop the project, with a subsidy from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD).

“With the development of Soundview Family Housing, we are taking an important step in not only providing Bronx families with quality, stable housing, but also employing underutilized NYCHA resources to meet the City’s growing need for affordable housing,” said Rafael E. Cestero, President and CEO of CPC Resources, Inc. and The Community Preservation Corporation. “Sound housing is the first step in stabilizing low-income families and creating a community, and CPC Resources is committed to bringing high-quality housing to those in need.”

The 120-unit family building, 86-unit senior building, and 16 two-family townhouses will replace two parking lots adjacent to Soundview Park, one of the largest parks in the Bronx. The new mid- and low-rise buildings will transition between the NYCHA Soundview Houses towers and the low-rise homes in the surrounding area. As part of the development, Bronx River Avenue will be completed. This road, which eases connectivity and accessibility in the community, had been mapped but was never built.

“MAP has been designing housing and other community improvements in the Bronx and the greater New York City area for almost 30 years,” said Christine Hunter, MAP principal, AIA, LEED AP. “We are pleased to help the development team respond to the demand for affordable family housing in the Soundview neighborhood. MAP is also committed to designing quality housing for senior citizens in New York City, which is critical to the city’s health as its population ages.”

Construction of the 86-unit senior building is expected to begin in January 2014. MAP designed the Soundview senior apartments to meet the evolving needs of residents as they age. Soundview Senior Housing aligns with the principles of “aging in place,” a movement that creates opportunities for senior citizens to remain in their own homes while successfully managing the realities of growing older in an urban environment.

About Magnusson Architecture and Planning
www.maparchitects.com
Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP) is an award-winning, full-service architecture and planning firm in New York City committed to sustainable development that builds vibrant, healthy communities. The firm’s specializations include housing, educational and community facilities, healthcare facilities, commercial developments, and community planning. MAP’s clients include community groups, agencies, municipalities, institutions, real estate developers, schools and non-profits in the New York City region, such as The Community Builders, Westhab, Inc., The Doe Fund, Volunteers of America, CPC Resources, Inc, L+M Development Partners, New Destiny, Lutheran Social Services of Greater New York, Procida, Enterprise Foundation, St. Nicks Alliance, Douglaston Development, The Housing Collaborative, the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, and the Fifth Avenue Committee.