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Press Releases

Speeches and Testimonies

NYCHANow


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2024
CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov | (212) 306-3322

NYCHA, HPD, and HDC Celebrate Completion of Construction of $132 Million Atrium at Sumner Affordable Housing Project with Ribbon-Cutting Event

The new, 11-story building constructed on underutilized land at NYCHA’s Sumner Houses campus delivers 190 new apartments for seniors

Fifty-seven units will be used to house seniors who formerly experienced homelessness

NEW YORK – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) today celebrated the completion of the $132 million Atrium at Sumner project, a newly constructed, 11-story, senior building on underutilized land at NYCHA’s Sumner Houses campus. The new building has a total of 190 apartments: 57 apartments have been reserved for seniors who formerly experienced homelessness; 132 apartments are available to senior households earning 50 percent or less of the Area Median Income (AMI); and one apartment is designated for a live-in superintendent. NYCHA residents will be given preference for 33 of the apartments.

“From big wins in Albany allowing us to build more housing, to our ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ proposal, to completing smart projects like the $132 million Atrium at Sumner, we are attacking our city’s decades-old housing crisis from every angle,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “This project is a success story for NYCHA, HPD, HDC, and, most of all, seniors in Brooklyn, who are receiving new affordable homes built specifically for their needs. I’m so excited that hundreds of older New Yorkers will now have the opportunity to live in this safe, modern, affordable space with the amenities and programs they deserve.”

“Our housing crisis demands that we meet the needs of all New Yorkers, including our older neighbors — those who have spent their lives contributing to our city,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Atrium at Sumner is a true model of quality, dignified, and affordable housing for older adults, including the formerly homeless and NYCHA residents, and yet another example of how our administration is steadfast in our mission to provide New Yorkers not just better housing but also a better future.”

“I’m thrilled to see nearly 200 new affordable homes for seniors, combining environmentally conscious architecture, community services, and amenities built with this population in mind,” said Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “With opportunities for New Yorkers exiting shelter, and NYCHA residents, the Atrium at Sumner serves as a thoughtfully designed space for senior members of our community to call home.”

“It is a truly remarkable feeling to have come together to create nearly 200 new affordable housing units on NYCHA property for New Yorkers in need,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “This new, beautiful building will be home to a thriving senior community and provide a new quality of life to formerly unhoused members of the community. We are deeply appreciative of our partners in this endeavor to provide the Atrium at Sumner’s residents with the comprehensive care and exceptional level of comfort that they deserve in their golden years.”

“Today isn't just about a building, it's about aging in place with dignity,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Too many older New Yorkers struggle with homelessness, with some forced to live on the streets, but here at The Atrium at Sumner, formerly homeless and low-income older New Yorkers will be welcomed into 190 deeply affordable homes. In a city often defined by concrete and a relentless pace, the Atrium at Sumner creates a space centered around nature, community, and well-being, fostering a sense of belonging and stability.”

“By effectively leveraging underutilized land, Atrium at Sumner delivers 190 deeply affordable homes for older New Yorkers, coupled with critical services that will help residents age with dignity,” said New York City Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “Congratulations to everyone involved in the creation of this innovative senior housing development.”

“NYCHA is proud to celebrate the completion of Atrium at Sumner Houses,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia. "By activating underutilized land on our property, we are able to provide NYCHA seniors with beautiful, affordable housing. We are also providing the Sumner development with new community space, access to services, and beautified grounds. This building is a shining example of how NYCHA and other City agencies can come together to reinvest in, rebuild, and restore our NYCHA communities.”

“The Atrium at Sumner redefines affordable housing for older adults by integrating thoughtfully designed apartments with Selfhelp's comprehensive Active Services for Aging Model (SHASAM),” said Selfhelp Community Services Chief Executive Officer Stuart C. Kaplan. “The onsite social worker ensures each resident’s wellbeing is supported to allow residents to age on pace in their own home. Selfhelp is proud to be part of the development team that is bringing the Atrium at Sumner to the Bedford-Stuyvesant community, and we look forward to welcoming the new residents home.”

“The completion of the Atrium at Sumner marks not only a milestone in collaborative urban development but also in our commitment to housing equity and dignity for seniors in New York City,” said Riseboro Community Partnership Chief Executive Officer Scott Short. “This project stands as a testament to sustainable, inclusive housing and I am proud to witness the culmination of our collaborative efforts in benefitting our community's most in need.”

“We’re grateful to all our government partners for allowing us to bring this landmark design to the Sumner Houses and Bed-Stuy communities,” said Lettire Construction Corp. Executive Matt Gross. “We’re proud to continue the legacy of Raymond Ballard and set a new standard of affordable housing that benefits not only the residents but the surrounding community.”

“Growing up in social housing in the Bronx gave me a unique perspective on the importance of community and high-quality affordable housing. I took this insight to task when designing the Atrium at Sumner Houses – I wanted to create a place that felt like home to the residents,” said Studio Libeskind Principal Design Architect Daniel Libeskind. “I hope this project serves as a powerful example of how good design can have a positive impact on society.”

Located on Marcus Garvey Boulevard between Park Avenue and Myrtle Avenue, the new building is organized around a central atrium with corridors overlooking a year-round indoor garden on the second floor. Atrium at Sumner was designed by the world-renowned architecture firm Studio Libeskind; developed by Urban Builders Collaborative, LLC., RiseBoro Community Partnership, Inc., and Selfhelp Realty Group - The Melamid Institute for Affordable Housing; and built by Lettire Construction Corp.

The Atrium at Sumner was designed in accordance with Passive House standards, resulting in 60 to 70 percent less energy consumption compared to the average New York City apartment building. The new building features a community garden for residents and outdoor seating adjacent to the building's entrances. The Sumner Houses campus' open space next to the new building also received new landscaping, walking paths, lighting, seating, and bioswales providing protection from extreme storms.

The building’s amenities include a 24-hour attended lobby, free broadband in common areas and apartments, on-site building manager, laundry on the second and ninth floors, a multi-purpose community room, a library/computer room, bicycle storage room, exercise room, emergency pull cords and built-in air conditioners in each apartment, and handrails in common areas. The building also offers onsite social services through Selfhelp’s Active Services for Aging Model (SHASAM), with voluntary social work support for each resident and a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE Center) on the ground floor which residents may join.

Permanent financing for the $132 million project at the Atrium at Sumner includes $41 million in HDC bonds; a $12 million subsidy from HDC's Extremely Low & Low-Income Affordability (ELLA) and HPD's Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) programs; roughly $63 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity; $3.5 million in Reso A funds from Mayor Eric Adams as Brooklyn Borough President, former City Council Members Corey Johnson and Robert Cornegy, and the City Council's Black & Asian Caucus; $2.2 million from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York; $300,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and $10 million from other sources.

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 528,105 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.