Betances Residence Completes Construction at 443 East 142nd Street in Mott Haven, The Bronx

Breaking Ground has completed construction on Betances Residence, a 152-unit affordable and supportive housing property at 443 East 142nd Street in Mott Haven, The Bronx. The development is Breaking Ground’s first Passive House-certified building and was completed in partnership with New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

Designed by COOKFOX, Betances Residences features two eight-story towers that together comprise approximately 120,000 square feet. As a Passive House structure, the property’s high-performance façade provides greater airtightness compared to typical multifamily residential buildings. This level of insulation reduces the amount of energy needed to maintain a comfortable interior temperature, annual utility costs, and overall greenhouse gas emissions.

The mix of apartments includes 130 studios and 22 one-bedroom layouts. All of the apartments are reserved for formerly homeless and low-income adult households, plus a single unit for the superintendent. A total of 26 units were made available to current residents of NYCHA apartments.

Amenity spaces include a laundry room, a library and computer lab, a multipurpose room for events and programming, a landscaped courtyard, and a roof deck.

The building also features 4,700 square feet for a community facility with educational programming for underserved youth.

“Older adults are the fastest growing population in New York, and Betances helps ensure that our most vulnerable seniors can age in place without constant fear of losing their home,” said Brenda Rosen, president and CEO of Breaking Ground at a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month. “We are especially grateful to NYCHA and our government partners, whose commitment to expanding affordable housing is unmatched. It is a privilege to continue to invest in the South Bronx and bring this beautiful, sustainable residence, along with programs for youth, to the Mott Haven community.”

Betances Residence received capital funding from the New York City Council and Bronx borough president’s office, HPD, HDC, OTDA/HHAC, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The Corporation for Supportive housing provided pre-development funds. The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust purchased tax-exempt bonds to finance the development.

“Current NYCHA residents and low-income seniors will now have access to permanently affordable and supportive housing, a critical lifeline for our city’s seniors as they age,” said Jonathan Gouveia, executive vice president of real estate development of The New York City Housing Authority. “We congratulate Breaking Ground on the completion of this energy-efficient and thoughtfully designed building and look forward to continued partnership across city and state agencies.”

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