Geel Grand Avenue Studios

Vincent Hom, New York Regional CPD Director (second from left), attends ribbon cutting for Geel Grand Avenue Studios. Other attendees included State and City officials as well as business and community and non-profit leaders

Vincent Hom, New York Regional CPD Director, recently attended a ribbon cutting for Geel Grand Avenue Studios, a new 57-unit supportive housing development for singles in the Bronx that offers on-site supportive services and a sense of community. The studio units are 270 square feet in size with individual bathrooms and full kitchen area. The units are furnished with a bed, nightstand and dresser for each resident, along with a dining table and chairs. Geel Grand Avenue Studios also provides residents with initial kitchen utensils, plates, pots/pans and linens. Each unit features a flat screen television and is pre-wired for cable and telephone access. Building amenities include a community lounge area with a full operable kitchen and an outdoor patio area and a laundry room with full size washers and dryers. Residents have access to the building's computer center that features full internet access and the opportunity to participate in vocational and educational workshops conducted by staff.

The total cost of development was over $13.3 million. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided a City Capital grant of $5.1 million and $1.1 million in HOME dollars from HUD. HUD also provided a $500,000 grant toward the development. A loan of $1.5 million was provided by the Corporation for Supportive Housing. The New York State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene contributed contracts of over $500,000. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York also contributed a grant of over $520,000 and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. contributed a grant of $25,000. Additional partners include The Richman Group, the New York City Department of Homeless Services, M & T Bank, community leaders, elected and government officials, Geel employees and many others.

"I am very pleased that HUD is an active partner in the City's most recent addition to its effort to accomplish its New Housing Market Place goals," said Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión. "In addition to contributing $1.1 million in capital financing under the HOME program, HUD is also providing $500,000 to permanently house 36 formerly homeless persons. This is a wonderful example of a public-private collaboration that not only provides permanent housing, but also accomplishes the mission of the US Interagency Council for the Homeless' 'Opening Doors Strategy' to end homelessness."

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