By Molly Sugarman
Seventy-seven affordable apartments for seniors will be coming to 117 West 79th Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam, thanks to a collaborative effort by Fairstead, a purpose-driven real estate developer and Project FIND, a nonprofit organization that provides senior housing.
The 60-day lottery for the building, a historic hotel called Park 79, will open this summer. Twenty-four of the units will be set aside for formerly homeless seniors. None of the residents will pay rent of more than 30% of their income, according to a presentation to the CB7 Housing Committee on Monday evening, by David Gillcrist, deputy director of Project FIND.
Residents will not only have affordable rent, they will also have onsite social workers to provide needed services as well as activities.
“This is a completely admirable project,” said Ethel Sheffer, housing committee member. “Project FIND is reputable. This is really an accomplishment and a pleasure to hear.”
Although enthusiastic about the project, other members of the committee were disappointed that no preference will be given to current residents of the Upper West Side, but were assured by the presenters that the lottery will be widely advertised at local senior centers and in local media.
Sheffer also pointed out that this was the first time that the Inclusionary Housing Preservation Program has been used in Community Board 7’s area. The program allows developers of market-rate projects a bonus if they fund affordable housing, not necessarily on their own site. In this case the funding came from an extra height bonus for a project now under construction at 103rd St. and Broadway.
“It is extremely important for CB7 to have this as an example,” Sheffer said. “We can learn a great deal from this.”
The committee also heard a presentation from Committee Member Madelyn Innocent about the advocacy efforts of the committee’s Senior Housing Task Force. She described public meetings, meetings with elected officials and other community boards, and with NYCHA officials. But “They don’t care,” she said. “How do we make them listen?”
As a tireless advocate for public housing for many years, Innocent wants to keep communication open with residents of public housing as well as with elected officials and NYCHA management — as long as communication can be “concrete, sincere, respectful, and kind,” she said.
She recounted two instances in which residents of Douglass Housing desperately needed help — no heat in winter and no elevator for a woman returning from the hospital. Because of her contacts, Innocent was able to remedy these situations.
“You should not have to know someone to get heat or to get an elevator fixed,” Committee Member Mark Diller said.
“Let’s do something now, “ said Committee Chair Louisa Craddock. “The process has to change.”
The committee agreed to host a meeting in May or June with federal, state, and local officials, with very specific requests.
Fairstead, the developer of this “affordable” housing project, is receiving massive tax breaks. They are not providing these below market rentals out of altruism. They are being handsomely rewarded by the city.
This is tax revenue the city badly needs and is losing out on. This so-called “affordable” housing is being subsidized by everyone else.
So what is wrong with private public partnerships? There should be tax breaks for affordable housing. Why should a landlord agreed to charge below market rent and pay full tax rates ?
The government should be providing housing for those that need it. Do supermarkets provide free food for those that need it ? Do clothing stores give away free clothes ?
Government needs to provide housing for those who need it, not rent stabilized housing to those that have second homes and substantial income.
I’d rather subsidize this than hundreds of really useless initiatives. As a matter of fact I’m very happy that part of my taxes is going towards supporting seniors.
You know, I think it’s entirely fair and logical to ask whether these kinds of programs are the most efficient way to fund affordable housing or whether they are too generous to developers. But are we even begrudging decent housing to seniors now? What else is government for if not to “subsidize” housing for those no longer able to fully care for themselves? Is there some better use you have in mind? Maybe more private rockets sent into space, or more gold-plated toilets in the apartments of the rich?
@ Sarah-
By all accounts these huge tax breaks for developers to provide “affordable” apartments are a wildly inefficient and wasteful program that actually exacerbate housing affordability problems.
There are far better ways to truly provide affordable housing without enriching wealthy and politically connected developers and without giving crooked politicians bragging rights about how they’re looking out for poor seniors.
Well, perhaps not do it in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in one of the most expensive cities in the US.
@Ken Fortunately less and less people living here share your thoughts. There are plenty of cities you can move to that will only cater to the affluent crowd. I implore you to move to one of those cities Ken. And let me know when you do so I can take your apartment.
So you believe that only the rich get to live here. I’ll take a pass on that.
I’m tired of the walls people put up around here. We should be wanting more diversity in our neighborhood, not pulling up the bridge once we’re on the island.
There is not supportive housing on every block in the 90s; far from it.
That’s really a shame about your customer. What does that have to do with affordable housing for seniors? I’ll tell you…. nothing.
If you have a problem with crime in the neighborhood, talk to the mayor and the police commissioner.
Your insinuation that supportive housing the root of the crime is classist. Maybe you should offer a job to someone in these situations before you cast stones at them.
@sarah it was a general comment that we are an extremely diverse community already that is now in chaos – and when you invest your life savings into the community to start a new small business, then you can make any snide comment you want.
Concerned Small Business Owner is worried about getting held up by some eighty-year-olds wasted on Manischewitz, I guess.
There are no walls. I just had a customer get robbed right in my store an hour ago. This is one of the most diverse supportive neighborhoods in Manhattan. However, it’s out of control now and people are not safe. If you don’t know that now, there is something wrong with you. See how you feel when someone robs you in your local store. There is supportive housing on every block in the 90’s. Diverse enough for you yet?
Project Find is a wonderful organization that is staffed by great people. I wish them well.
Project Find does great work
Where is this I’m 60s and homeless. Please let me know mariawaugh1990@gmail.com
… but the city/neighborhood is fine with spending $77 million to fix up Shakespeare Delacorte theater. It’s good to know we care more about people of means being slightly more comfortable for 2 hours a night for ten weeks a year than we care about our elderly seniors having a place to live. $77 million could provide A LOT of housing.
You don’t have to be a person of means to attend the Delacorte Theater performances. They are free!!!
The city spends 2B on the homeless. The city spent 41M on the Delacorte
Where is this I’m over 60 and homeless.
Typical. The 70’s get homeless senior citizens.
The 90’s get the Fortune Society’s homeless former convicts.
How Can I Possibly Acquire One Of These Residence?
how to apply needs help
For the people in these Comments looking for housing: WSR may have a better suggestion, but try going to http://www.projectfind.org
Click on Housing (at the top of the page).
From there, click on How to Apply.
There are applications for existing housing and for a waiting list. No guarantees of when or where apartments may be available, but it’s a start.
Thanks for the info! For at least 10 years I’ve tried to help a friend get low income housing through the lottery system with no success. Now she’s 10 years older and on SS and Medicare. During Covid I realized that her situation was getting dire. After the rent was paid she had to choose between meds and food. Are there resources for available for seniors ‘in between,’ who are not homeless but find themselves close to losing their apartments?
Do you have to be homeless to rent one of these apartments?
Extra height bonus on 103rd and Broadway?? How much extra height? Why is the “north of 96th St UWS” continually crapped-up with bad new design? Aren’t the monstrous buildings on 99th enough ugliness? What other concessions is Toll Brothers getting for their first UWS development?
I had a very bad experience with Project Find. I wouldn’t trust them with the lottery process. Hopefully, there will be real oversight in the selectio process.
It should be projectfind.org not .com
YOu’re right. Thanks for catching the error.
I hope there are going to be handrails to help those seniors that have difficulty managing stairs. That is a big problem for many of us.
Thank you for this project, I have been in this neighborhood for the last 39 years, now I find myself with out a home , do to do with this pandemic , my rent has gone out of ridge and must evacuate, hope there are more opportunities so people like can stay in their neighborhood, my zip code is 10023. Bless to those that have the power to assist, 👍🙏
How do l get in this lottery? I fit the criteria. PLEASE ADVISE.
I am very intersting in one bedroom apartment.I am a senior.my wife and I we living righ now in at ferniture room very small for us.my cell # is 516-871-7890 or 516-939-5147.
@jay I didn’t say there should not be supportive housing for seniors. I pointed out that the UWS is already a very diverse and supportive neighborhood and things have to be managed better right now due to the rise in crime. There are crimes by both non-supportive and supportive housing residents. But you saying there is a “bridge” and “wall” here in the most liberal diverse supportive neighborhood is completely laughable.
There is no mention of how to apply apply for 117 west 79th Street. Or did I miss it?
Is this a SRO building? (Single Room Occupancy) Other Project Find buildings are. They are advertised as Studios, but think Efficencies. Old hotel rooms with cooking units against the wall, some without Shelves or Cabinets. Good for those who may have or need only a bed, small Dresser and or Chair.
I am working full time and really have been looking for senior housing asl been homeless nearly six year now.
WSR You should correct Carmella Ombrello’s link to projectfind. It should be projectfind.org instead of projectfind.com
Fixed, thank you