Affordable Housing Development ‘El Borinquen Residences’ Now Complete at 3401 Third Avenue in The Bronx

Developers and city agencies recently celebrated the completed of El Borinquen Residences, a new, deeply affordable property in The Bronx. Located at 3401 Third Avenue in the Morrisania neighborhood, the ten-story building houses 148 affordable apartments, including 29 homes for seniors at or below 30 percent Area Median Income (AMI), and 90 units designated for the formerly homeless and youths aging out of foster care. The latter includes access to on-site supportive services.

The remaining apartments are for households earning at or below 60 percent of the AMI.

“Affordable and supportive housing is a fundamental component to addressing homelessness across the state,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Building on the successful opening of the El Borinquen Residence, my administration is implementing our $25 billion, five-year housing plan that will allow us to continue to make important investments in communities like The Bronx.”

The property was developed by Comunilife, a New York city-based organization that helps fund and create affordable and supportive housing properties in Latino communities. The organization selected Alexander Gorlin Architects to design the building which features concrete spans and columns arranged in a box-grid pattern with vibrant window panels meant to evoke the neighborhood’s Puerto Rican Heritage.

Within the property, available units include 112 studios, 35 one-bedroom apartments, and a two-bedroom unit for the super. Amenity spaces include a laundry room, a community lounge, a computer lounge, bike storage, a rooftop garden, and a landscaped courtyard. Supportive services include individual case management, mental health referrals, job readiness training, and financial literacy workshops, all provided by Comunilife.

Residential entrance and elevator bay at 3401 Third Avenue – Alexander Gorlin Architects

Aerial drawing illustrates site and roof plan at 3401 Third Avenue – Alexander Gorlin Architects

“With the completion of the El Borinquen Residence, more of our neighbors experiencing homelessness and mental illness will have a place they can call home,” said New York City mayor Eric Adams. “Our administration’s ‘Housing Our Neighbors’ blueprint finally treats homelessness as a housing problem and we’re working to solve it with a housing solution, and supportive housing projects like El Borinquen are a critical part of making that solution reality.”

State financing for the El Borinquen Residence includes $7.7 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $23.2 million in equity and $14.3 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $14.2 million through the Supportive Housing Loan Program.

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