By Rebecca Henely
Through a resolution passed by the City Council, neighborhood civic associations were able to renovate a 35-year-old Woodside senior housing complex without costing taxpayers a cent.
Woodysun Apartments, at 44-20 64th St., will receive about $1.4 million in new upgrades and amenities through a lease renegotiation and avoided paying any increased property taxes due to a resolution from Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside).
“I think it’s a tremendous need in my district,” Van Bramer said of affordable senior housing, “and I think it’s a tremendous need all across the city where you have more and more people living longer and longer.”
Van Bramer said the 77-unit Woodysun Apartments was created more than three decades ago through a partnership between Sunnyside Community Services and Woodside on the Move. The name “Woodysun” came from a combination of the two names of the neighborhoods the civics represent.
“They formed this entity and built the building about 30 years ago. And it’s worked,” Van Bramer said.
The complex needed upgrades, and to do so the civics renegotiated their mortgage so they could use the building’s equity to finance the renovations. Before they could do so, the civics needed a resolution that would allow them to make their renegotiations while continuing to keep the property taxes. They worked with Van Bramer and HDFC? bank to do this, the councilman said.
Van Bramer said the resolution was passed in November and backed by Assemblywoman Marge Markey (D-Maspeth), who attended a celebration last week for the new upgrades with the councilman.
“Nonprofits and government should work together for more projects like this in a time when affordable housing isn’t being developed,” Douglas Hanau of Phipps Related, part of Woodysun’s management team, said in a statement. “This project was done with a private loan which required no additional money from the government.”
As part of the renovations, Woodysun will receive upgraded elevators, restrooms and a lobby. The new amenities also include a community room, energy-efficient air conditioners, roof and terrace access, apartment radiator valves so residents can control the heat, repaved parking, outdoor sitting areas and a new security system. Fifteen apartments will receive renovations, as well.
Van Bramer said many seniors who are on fixed incomes need to have affordable housing and not worry about paying for their rents rather than paying for their medicine.
“I will continue to do all I can to preserve affordable housing, particularly for seniors,” Van Bramer said in a statement.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
