Casa Celina, a new affordable housing development in the Soundview section of The Bronx, has officially topped out. The building is located at 1001 Thieriot Avenue and will comprise 205 mixed-income units for seniors and formerly homeless adults.
The Casa Celina development team includes Xenolith Partners, The Kretchmer Companies, Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA), and ELH Mgmt. LLC. City agencies involved in the project include New York City Public Housing Authority (NYCHA), the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and the NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
The breakdown of apartments will include 46 one-bedrooms and 158 studios, all reserved for individuals and families at 50 percent area median income. A total of 62 units will be set aside for the formerly homeless adults.
“This project demonstrates NYCHA’s commitment to address the urgent need for affordable senior housing for NYC residents to age in place,” said NYCHA executive vice president of Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia in a statement when the project broke ground in October 2021. “We are proud to work with all of the partners who have helped advance the quality and resiliency of affordable housing design while providing community programming and services to NYCHA residents and the surrounding neighborhood.”
Updated rendering of Casa Celina – Renderings by Nightnurse Images courtesy of Magnusson Architecture and Planning
Aerial rendering of Casa Celina – Renderings by Nightnurse Images courtesy of Magnusson Architecture and Planning
View of construction at Casa Celina
As described by Magnusson Architecture and Planning, the building was designed to promote mental health and a sense of community. This includes oversized windows throughout for abundant natural light, resident lounges on each floor, and social spaces that help prevent a sense of isolation for residents living alone. Amenity spaces will include a 1,725-square-foot senior community space, a fitness room, laundry facilities, and a landscaped roof terrace where yoga classes and gardening will be available.
JASA and New York City’s Department for the Aging will provide staffing for the senior community space.
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Lots of potential in Soundview for more of these types of developments. Lots of underutilized housing grounds that could accommodate new towers. Neighborhood is much safer than 30 years ago and will likely continue to improve especially with investment.
Neighborhood has improved versus that period but unfortunately still many issues with violent crime, particularly due to the numerous housing projects in the area.
But new development can help improve the area by bringing in an influx of new people. Most of which will also be lower to moderate income but higher earners than those who live in the various NYCHA developments that account for a very significant percentage of the area’s residential units. Diversifying the economic profile somewhat.
Casa Celina architecturally and in terms of density is an excellent development for Soundview. Many of those tower-in-park complexes can support several more of these as you mention.
This, this is what the Bronx needs more of. Architecturally pleasing, well integrated with the streetscape, and good density.
Hurray!
More Buildings!
More People!
More Density!
More Traffic on our streets, subways and busses, etc.,
While our fragile infrastructure
continues to crumble.
How can I apply
I live directly across the street and my question is “what about parking??”. These buildings should have designated parking for their tenants. We currently have a parking war going and now it’s going to get worse. As a lifetime NYC resident and taxpayer – NYC work smarter not harder, please!
Easier parking or affordable housing. To modify the design to accommodate additional parking (and btw seniors are much less likely to drive, especially lower income seniors in NYC), would drive up construction cost. Parking reduces affordability.
NYC’s biggest mistake was making it too easy to own a car.
I agree with the previous comment about parking. I too live in the neighborhood and cars are parking in our area blocking driveways, fire pumps and even accessible sidewalks on the corners. I’m constantly calling 311 to have these cars removed. Not to mention that this building is actually being built on a large parking lot that belonged to NYCHA. They took away something that’s absolutely needed to build this building. I get the whole gentrification and providing housing, but most families have cars too. Some households have 2-3 cars. How and when will this be addressed??
In this area most households do not have a car. The Sotomayor Houses has a lower rate of car ownership than the general community. And a lower income senior building will have an even lower rate of car ownership than the community in general.
The Soundview-Bruckner Tabulation area:
60.2% of units have no vehicle available
30.7% of units have 1 vehicle available
8.3% of units have 2 vehicles available
0.8% of units have 3 or more vehicles available
The Sotomayor Houses and a couple adjacent blocks/Census tract Bronx 44:
66.6% of units have no vehicle available
30.2% of units have 1 vehicle available
3.2% of units have 2 vehicles available
0% of units have 3 or more vehicles available
And I want to add the parking problems in the area will never be solved. Though most people do not have a car in the area, there are already far too many cars to make parking a vehicle on the street easy. Even if a parking garage were integrated into this development it would not solve the problem.
It’s too easy and too cheap to own a car in NYC. Area needs residential parking permits for cars registered in NYC only and far more strict parking enforcement. More meters and higher costs. More priority for public transportation.
This is an issue in much of the city. And the city needs to start discouraging people from buying or leasing a car.
What age does Senior has to be and how do we apply
Can I move to NYC from Utah and get one of the studios! I am low income and should qualify.
Yes yes i like it. Thank you
HELLO MY NAME IS DERNICE FORD
LOOKING FOR A ONE BEDROOM FOR ME AND MY HUSBAND WE BOTH ARE DISABLED CAN YOU HELP US WE WOULD GLADLY APPRECIATE IT and yes we want bronx on theriot
I would appreciate an application for Casa Celina. I have been living in the same apartment in Parkchester for 33 years. My Landlord, Charles Hernandez, called me on Thursday, August 3rd to inform me that my apartment is going to be sold as a short sale. He can no longer pay the bills since he lost 10 others to short sales two years ago. I am 73 years old (74 in October). For the first time in my life I’m feeling anxiety over my housing. I’ve always paid my rent on time. I have a credit score of 822. Any consideration you give me for a 1 bedroom apartment will be greatly appreciated.