Construction workers gathered in the future lobby of the Beach Channel Drive apartment complex for a traditional topping-off ceremony in Far Rockaway, the development team announced on May 30.
The development at 13-12 Beach Channel Drive will include a 100% affordable housing development consisting of an eight-story building with 146 affordable and supportive apartments, social service programming and a community facility with various tenant amenities. Bowery Residents’ Committee (BRC), Camber Property Group (CPG), Fifth Avenue Builders (FAB) and Urban Atelier Group (UAG) are all collaborating on the project which is expected to be completed in January 2025. The development will include 100 shelter units with supportive services for single women provided by BRC, addressing two critical needs facing the city.
“BRC is grateful for the opportunity to provide vulnerable and low-income New Yorkers with opportunities for health and self-sufficiency at Beach Channel Drive,” BRC President and CEO and President Muzzy Rosenblatt said. “Together with our partners, we continue to develop opportunities for safe and quality housing for the New Yorkers who will benefit greatly.”
Occupants of the 100-bed shelter component will have access to a range of person-centered therapy services that stabilize individuals and move each woman into her highest level of independent housing. The clinically-based model will provide services specifically targeted towards the needs of the women, with an overarching focus on recovery and community reintegration goals, according to the development team.
“The need for affordable and supportive housing in New York City grows by the day, and projects like Beach Channel Drive are leading the way to fill that critical demand and provide families with the high-quality homes they deserve,” said Rick Gropper, principal at Camber Property Group. “This topping out ceremony represents a major step towards this project’s completion and a new vision for affordability in Far Rockaway, and I congratulate our partners BRC and FAB for their efforts that lead to this milestone.”
Beach Channel Drive apartments is being developed in accordance with the Housing Preservation and Development’s Supportive Housing Loan Program (SHLP) and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH). A total of 88 units (60%) will be set aside as supportive and the remaining 58 units will be available for low-income individuals and families earning up to 60% AMI. Additionally, 14 of those 58 units will be designated Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH).
Resident amenities at the building will include full-time security and maintenance staff, on-site staff offices, a social service programming space, a community room, an outdoor recreational space, bike storage, and a laundry room. The $97 million project is financed in partnership with Citibank, Freddie Mac, and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
“At FAB, we believe that everyone deserves access to safe, affordable housing, and we are proud to be part of a project that prioritizes the needs of vulnerable populations in our city,” said Andy D’Amico, President and CEO of Urban Atelier Group, joint venture partner in FAB. “By combining innovative design with compassionate programming, we hope to create a space that not only provides shelter but also supports the physical and mental wellbeing of the individuals who call 13-12 Beach Channel Drive home.”
