Construction of affordable housing complex on former juvenile jail site in Hunts Point set to begin
Rendering courtesy of WXY Architecture + Urban Design and Body Lawson Associates
The first phase of a project that will bring more than 700 units of affordable housing to the Bronx neighborhood of Hunts Point will get underway in the coming weeks, developers announced Tuesday. Dubbed the Peninsula, the mixed-use complex will rise on the site of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, which closed in 2011 after the city recognized its awful conditions and treatment of children. The first phase, costing about $121.5 million, includes the construction of 183 affordable units by 2021.
Renderings courtesy of WXY Architecture + Urban Design and Body Lawson Associates
In 2016, the city’s Economic Development Corporation selected Gilbane Development Company, Hudson Companies, and Mutual Housing Association of New York. The developers are working in partnership with the city’s Housing Preservation and Development and the Housing Development Corporation.
“The rebirth of the abandoned Spofford Detention Center, which has been a looming symbol of despair for years, is a prime example of the type of investments the city is making to generate better outcomes for communities and residents,” Louise Carroll, HPD Commissioner, said in a statement.
“The Peninsula epitomizes this administration’s commitment to creating opportunity in every corner of the city, whether through housing, economic development, or other critical resources that bolster our neighborhoods and help New Yorkers thrive.”
The first phase, expected to be completed in 2021, will offer 183 units of deeply affordable housing, ranging from studios to three-bedrooms. These units will be set aside for extremely low, very low, and low-income New Yorkers, with 10 percent of them designated for those formerly experiencing homelessness.
As 6sqft previously reported, local tenants like Il Forno Bakery, Soul Snacks, Bascom Catering, Mass Ideation, Hunts Point Brewery, Lightbox film studio and a 15,000-square-foot grocery store will set up shop.
In addition to 740 units of 100 percent affordable housing, the project includes 52,000 square feet of open and recreational space, 48,000 square feet of community facility space, and 21,000 square feet of retail. The three-phase Peninsula project will wrap up sometime in 2025.
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