Housing for seniors to be built in Astoria

As part of a $1.8 billion plan to build and preserve more than 9,000 affordable apartments in New York City, the city will earmark at least $49 million for three buildings in Queens - containing nearly 500 apartments.
In northwest Queens - on 29th Street between Hoyt Avenue South and Astoria Boulevard in Astoria - a 184-unit apartment building for low-income seniors will be built on what is now a 43,000 square foot municipal parking lot.
The City's Housing Development Corporation (HDC) will act as a mortgage bank for the Astoria apartment complex for seniors, thereby transferring ownership to the non-profit, HANAC, formerly known as the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee.
Construction on the building will begin in January, and the building is expected to be complete by 2008, said HDC spokesperson Aaron Donovan.
The idea for the building dates back to early 2004, said HANAC executive director and chief operating officer John Kaiteris. At the time, the organization decided that it wanted to open an apartment complex similar to one that it already owns at 21st Street and Broadway in Astoria.
&#8220We went to the city and asked them if the municipal parking lot would be available for this purpose,” Kaiteris said, explaining that part of HANAC's mission is to provide facilities for the elderly, as well as youth programming and assistance to immigrants.
&#8220Our vision was a project that had both space amenities as well as services, so that we could provide a structure that would be supportive as the residents aged in place,” he said.
A HANAC-hired architect deemed the space suitable for 184 apartments as well as a medical clinic and a senior center on the ground floor, which will be open to the local community.
The cost to seniors will depend on their income, which must be between roughly 16,000 and 30,000, translating to 40 to 60 percent of the city's median income. Seniors who pull in 40 percent to 53 percent will pay $483, between 53 and 58 percent will pay $660, and 58 and 60 percent will pay $723 per month in rent. Anyone living in the City of New York is eligible to enter the lottery system to get a spot in the building, but residents of Community Board 1 in Queens - Long Island City and Astoria - will get some preference.
Although applications to live in the building are not yet available, Kaiteris said that anyone who calls HANAC at 718-728-3586 and leaves their name would be alerted when the applications are ready six months before construction is complete. So far, the organization has not yet decided whether seniors with children would be allowed to move into the new building.