Work has begun on a 19-story all-affordable housing complex at 1760 Third Avenue in East Harlem, Manhattan. Designed by Dattner Architects and developed by Breaking Ground, New York’s largest non-profit supportive housing developer, the project involves the conversion of a former dormitory for Hunter College and Baruch College into housing for low-income and formerly homeless individuals with 434 units. The property is located between East 97th and East 98th Streets.
1760 Third Avenue in East Harlem, Manhattan.
Notable attendees included Breaking Ground president and CEO Brenda Rosen, City Council Member Diana Ayala, NYS HCR CEO and Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, NYC HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Commissioner, and more city and state representatives.
Last week’s ceremony officially kicking off construction at 1760 Third Avenue.
Below are interior renderings of the lobby, offices, and exterior perspectives of a public plaza.
The lobby security desk. Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects.
The lobby mail room. Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects.
The cellar reception desk. Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects.
Ground-floor entry to the offices. Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects.
An aerial view of the plaza. Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects.
An aerial view of the plaza. Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects.
The plaza courtyard. Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects.
Two hundred sixty-one of the 434 units will be reserved for individuals exiting homelessness, including a subset of 40 units for young adults aging out of foster care or who have experienced homelessness. In addition, 172 units will be set aside for households with incomes at or less than 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). The remaining unit will be reserved for a live-in superintendent. Each apartment will be refurbished, fully furnished, and fitted with kitchenettes.
Residential amenities at 1760 Third Avenue will include a multi-purpose room, a fitness center, a computer lab, a medical suite, as well as office space for Breaking Ground’s property management and social services teams. The outdoor spaces along Third Avenue will also be transformed, creating new public-facing areas with landscaping, seating, and community-focused spaces.
The developer will also provide on-site supportive services to formerly homeless residents ranging from case management, medical and mental health care, benefits and entitlement counseling, connections to employment, and more. Additionally, through Breaking Ground’s signature Tenant360 program, tenant service coordinators will also create recreational, educational, and social enrichment opportunities for residents year-round. Funding for services will be provided by contracts with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), the latter of which provided $21 million through Governor Hochul’s landmark $1 billion mental health initiative.
Breaking Ground purchased the property last June for $172 million. The building will become the fifth adaptive reuse project in New York City.
The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) provided $126 million for the acquisition, alongside additional funding from the New York City Acquisition Fund, the Low Income Investment Fund, Resolution A funds through the New York City Council, and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance/Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (OTDA/HHAC). Financing for the renovation and refitting of apartments is provided in part by $24.6 million in 501(c)3 bonds issued by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), $75 million from HCR’s Supportive Housing Opportunity Program, and with additional loans and grants from HCR, OMH, and OTDA/HHAC. Wells Fargo is providing the construction letter of credit. $10 million also came from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, and $2 million as a discretionary capital grant from New York City Council Member Diana Ayala from Fiscal Year 2024.
In addition to public and private financing, Breaking Ground received philanthropic support for the project from the Wells Fargo Foundation in the form of a $500,000 grant and a $25 million letter of credit from the bank. The Wells Fargo Foundation’s grant will assist in outfitting the building’s computer lab, medical suite, and fitness room to ensure that tenants have access to holistic health and digital literacy services. Another significant major contribution came from Ilse Melamid, who will ensure that Breaking Ground is able to establish apartments and specialized services for 40 young adults who are aging out of foster care or who have experienced homelessness.
1760 Third Avenue was originally developed as the Florence Nightingale Nursing Center, then was subsequently converted to a student dormitory in 2007 that largely hosted international students attending a variety of New York City private and public colleges and universities. The structure had been sitting vacant before work commenced.
The nearest subways from the development are the 6 train at the 96th Street station one block to the southwest along Lexington Avenue, and the Q train at the 96th Street station along Second Avenue.
The total development cost is $261 million, while construction is expected to cost $71 million, and work is planned to take approximately 18 to 24 months, putting the anticipated completion date somewhere around the end of 2026.
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This is a somewhat tame 1974 exercise in Brutalism by Breger Associates.
Why are the CUNY schools selling all their dorms? Where do the students live?
The building was originally built as the Florence Nightingale Nursing Home in 1974. CUNY had been using it as a dorm since 2008. It appears that CUNY was just renting the building. I found a 2011 article in the observer that listed 1760 Third as having been purchased by Joseph Chetrit in 2011, three years after it was renovated and opened as a dorm and six years before Breaking Ground purchased it for this coming conversion.
I am glad to know the source of these funds, which are likely not fraudulent: Thanks to Michael Young.
I remember living across the street in public housing and watching this building being built,, it was originally Florence Nightingale Nirding home and it was helpful to our neighborhood. Then it changed to a college damn and now,,,, well nowchomeless and individuals growing out of foster care will reside here. Hmmmm. I’m worried.
I Remember This Landmark Building Was Originally Florence Nightingale Home and It Was Relevant To Our Neighborhood and Community. Also I Always Pass By The Hunter College Damn Near Mount Sinai Hospital,and Now This Building Is Being Built For New Homeless People & Individuals Who Can Afford Housing Thanks To Micheal Young and The NYCDCAS.
Hate the bland brutalism – but absolutely delighted to see this kind of project happening!