More details and new renderings have emerged about the 100% affordable housing development set for 145-149 West 108th Street in the Upper West Side's Manhattan Valley neighborhood. And now that demolition permits have been filed for the site's existing city-owned parking garages and the transitional shelter owned by project proposers West Side Federation For Senior and Supportive Housing (WSFSSH), it seems like the ball is finally rolling on this controversial development.
It's no secret that the project is opposed by some of the residents in the area. In 2016, those residents banded together to form Save Manhattan Valley (SMV) after hearing they would potentially lose 675+ cheap parking spaces to the 11-story, 194-unit project, which they believe would result in shadows cast over nearby playgrounds, congestion, hazardous toxins, and a loss of business.
Past coverage mostly boiled it down to affordable parking vs. affordable housing, with community board meetings filled with loud opponents but many more supporters, including one David Broxton, a former shelter resident who said, “Valley Lodge saved my life. When I have people talking about parking their car, how can you compare a car to a life?” (StreetsBlog NYC).
It's no secret that the project is opposed by some of the residents in the area. In 2016, those residents banded together to form Save Manhattan Valley (SMV) after hearing they would potentially lose 675+ cheap parking spaces to the 11-story, 194-unit project, which they believe would result in shadows cast over nearby playgrounds, congestion, hazardous toxins, and a loss of business.
Past coverage mostly boiled it down to affordable parking vs. affordable housing, with community board meetings filled with loud opponents but many more supporters, including one David Broxton, a former shelter resident who said, “Valley Lodge saved my life. When I have people talking about parking their car, how can you compare a car to a life?” (StreetsBlog NYC).
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As for the development itself, a presentation (PDF) made by WSFSSH reveals there will be two phases – one for each site. Phase I, which is located at 145-149 West 108th Street, will consist of 110 beds for Valley Lodge Transitional Housing (it currently holds 92) and 194 affordable housing units, 115 of which will be supportive housing for homeless seniors. Dattner Architects is responsible for the design. Phase II will replace the third parking garage at 103 West 108th Street and have 81 affordable senior housing units. Considering a 2016 study by LiveOn NY (PDF) reported seniors wait an average of 7 years and as long as 10 for housing, those units can't come fast enough.
Phase I is expected to start construction mid-2018 and finish in 2020 and Phase II is estimated to start in 2023, after the lease extension on the existing garage expires (2017-2022), and be completed by 2025.
Phase I is expected to start construction mid-2018 and finish in 2020 and Phase II is estimated to start in 2023, after the lease extension on the existing garage expires (2017-2022), and be completed by 2025.
Residences will range from studios to three-bedrooms and be open to residents making 30% and 60% of the area median income (AMI). You can see the full breakdown below:
Amenities for 145 West 108th Street will include a lounge, laundry room, bike room, playroom, and outdoor terrace.
In addition to affordable housing, the development will also bring a community health center, community meeting spaces, restrooms for the adjacent Anibal Aviles Playground, and a new home for the Central Park Medical Unit.
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Sandra Herrera
Sandra Herrera is a writer, editor, and graphic designer based in Brooklyn, NY.
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