Renovation is underway at Harlem River

Renovation is underway at Harlem River Houses & Harlem River II

Renovations continue at the historic Harlem River Houses and the adjacent Harlem River II for our Harlem River Preservation project with our co-developer, West Harlem Group Assistance, and our design and construction partners, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects and L&M Builders. Built in 1936 and 1937, Harlem River Houses was one of the first two federally funded public housing developments in New York City. Created with the goal of providing quality housing for working class African Americans, it included 574 well-proportioned apartments in seven buildings surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds, public art and outdoor spaces for communal activities and recreation for residents. In 1965, Harlem River II was built to meet the continuing need for quality affordable housing in the community, creating new public housing for 116 households.

The Harlem River Preservation project is a part of NYCHA’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, which harnesses public and private funding to bring meaningful upgrades to buildings and apartments at our city’s public housing developments. Under PACT, tenants’ rights are protected, and their apartments remain affordable for the long-term. NYCHA continues to own the properties, while Settlement Housing Fund carries out the rehabilitation and coordinates property management and social services with C+C Apartment Management.

With this project, Harlem River is receiving $181 million in comprehensive renovations and upgrades to 690 apartments and eight residential buildings. This includes updated building interiors and systems, and exterior renovations and public outdoor spaces. Renovations include new kitchens, baths and floors, new windows, and landscaping. Newly installed security cameras, light fixtures, and fencing around children’s playgrounds will improve safety for residents.

Our team meets regularly with tenants for input on building issues and concerns to ensure that resident needs are met, and the construction process runs smoothly. This major rehabilitation project is on track to be completed by 2025.

To learn more about Harlem River Preservation, and find additional information, including recorded Town Hall Meetings for residents, please visit the Harlem River Preservation website: harlemriver.org

We’ve closed on our Weeksville Place Development

We’ve closed on our Weeksville Place development with The Beechwood Organization!

“Weeksville Place will have a profoundly beneficial impact on the residents and community – meeting the demand for high-quality affordable housing – on land that has long been vacant/underutilized.” – Michael Gaboury, Deputy Director of Housing Development at Settlement Housing Fund

Mobilization on construction has already begun, and construction on the development will begin in late September. The development is located in the Weeksville neighborhood in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, at 1559 Prospect Place.

Settlement Housing Fund and Beechwood were selected to develop the site through HPD’s Neighborhood Construction Program. We serve as the lead developer on the Project, and Beechwood as the general contractor and co-developer.

Designed by ESKW/Architects, Weeksville Place will be an 8-story building, with 26 units for extremely low- and very low-income seniors, and 19 units for extremely low- and low- to moderate-income households, 8 of which will be set aside for households experiencing homelessness. Weeksville Place will include a laundry room for residents, a community room, and space for social support services. Other amenities include bike storage and an outdoor recreation area.

The project is designed to comply with Enterprise Green Communities 2015 criteria for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability, incorporating for example: high albedo roofing to reduce the heat island effect, water conserving plumbing fixtures, energy efficient appliances and lighting. For Storm Resiliency measures, the project includes a rooftop emergency power generator, and further– although not required– a rooftop solar photovoltaics array will be installed on the main roof.

Learn more about our Weeksville Place development here: Weeksville Place

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