Affordable, senior development rises in the Bronx

A new mixed-use buildings at 700 Manida Street in the Bronx will offer 108 affordable apartment units, with 48 of those units reserved for seniors.

The 102,0000-sf building will include studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Originally designed as six stories of affordable apartments for families, the project didn’t become financially viable until it was decided to add senior housing. The project was able to expand the allowable floor area by about 45% through the addition of senior units.

“We were limited to about 55,000 square feet of residential development on this site, and less than 60 units. Then we explored a new possibility, utilizing a recent Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA) modification, the Affordable Independent Residences for Seniors program, which allows for increases in density when set-asides for seniors are part of the program,” says Alex Brito, AIA, Principal at RKTB, in a release.

In addition to the apartment units, the design also includes 7,100 sf of landscaped yard in the rear of the building and 3,700 sf of street-level community facility space for uses such as doctor’s offices, after-school programs, or daycare.

The eight-story building’s massing is broken into sections that step down toward the adjacent low-rise brownstones. A set-back massing at the main entrance, materials that alternate between masonry and metal paneling, and solar shades over window openings add depth and visual interest.

The building is slated for completion in summer of 2020.