Manhattan Courts Senior Housing Facility Up for Major Improvements
The Greenburgh Housing Authority (GHA) has been looking to improve and increase senior public housing in the township.
The GHA met with members of the Greenburgh Town Board last week to discuss a proposal for the redevelopment of the senior citizen affordable housing at 48-60 Manhattan Ave.
The existing housing facility is 40 years old, poorly constructed and unsightly, according to a letter from the GHA to the Board. The facility has been identified as a top priority for improvement.
“Being dramatically underutilized, the buildings need infrastructure repairs and improvements. The property does not meet the current code and does not have many of the resources, amenities and accessibility features that are commonplace in senior developments today,” the communication said.
“The need for senior units far outpaces our supply and there is currently a three-year waiting list, which was only open to new applicants for less than six hours on just one day out of the year due to the overwhelming demand. As we know, Westchester is one of the most expensive areas to live in the country. Many seniors simply cannot afford to stay and must move away after retirement. Moving away often means leaving the support of their families and lifelong community at a time when that support is needed.”
The GHA proposes to replace 30 units of senior housing with 82 units in a modern three-story facility that would include new and much larger units, a community room, fitness center and outdoor gardens.
White Plains-based Lothrop Associates, LLP, has been engaged by the GHA as the architects to develop the conceptual plan. Georgia Green Ventures, LLC, has been selected as GHA’s co-developer.
Concerns about the need for a zoning change to accommodate the proposed development, were eliminated when the GHA was told by the Greenburgh Planning Department that the Urban Renewal District zoning designation would be eliminated in the upcoming revision to the Town’s Consolidated Plan.
