WSFSSH at West 108th Street Supportive Housing Complex Debuts on Manhattan’s Upper West Side

Developers and local officials recently celebrated the completion of WSFSSH at West 108th Street, a new supportive housing complex on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The project comprises two buildings at 143-159 West 108th Street and 103 West 108th Street and was developed by the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, a non-profit organization that helps sponsor and program new affordable housing properties in the five boroughs.

The organization’s target demographics are the elderly, older persons living with serious mental illnesses, homeless populations, and individuals living with physically handicapping conditions. Dattner Architects served as the architect of record.

Now complete, the main residential component includes 79 units for low-income households and 119 supportive studios for formerly homeless residents, the majority of whom are over the age of 55 and living with serious mental illness, struggling with substance abuse, or are in need of assistance with daily living. The entire mix of units ranges from studios to three-bedroom floor plans.

Residential entry at WFSSH at West 108 – Alexander Severin, courtesy Dattner Architects

Section diagram illustrates floor plans at WSFSSH at West 108 – Dattner Architects

Photograph of lobby-level seating at WSFSSH at West 108 – Alexander Severin, courtesy Dattner Architects

“This project is a huge win for our community,” said New York City Council member Mark Levine. “It will provide desperately needed affordable housing, social services, medical care, park improvements, school upgrades, and more. A revitalized 108th Street will be a vibrant, welcoming new destination for local residents of all backgrounds, and I am incredibly proud we were able to secure so many benefits for the neighborhood.”

Amenity spaces include an exterior garden, a fitness center and recreation rooms, communal lounges, a children’s playroom, and a seventh floor terrace with light landscaping and planters. On-site supportive services include case management, crisis intervention counseling, and medication and nutrition services.

In addition to housing, the complex also includes a health center operated by the Institute for Family Health, which offers primary care and specialized services at low or no cost to the entire Upper West Side community. There is also a storage facility for Central Park Medical Unit ambulances, public restrooms to serve the Anibal Aviles Playground which bisects the complex, and community meeting spaces.

Photograph of lobby at WSFSSH at West 108 – Alexander Severin, courtesy Dattner Architects

Daytime photograph of lobby at WSFSSH at West 108 – Alexander Severin, courtesy Dattner Architects

Photograph of dining room at WSFSSH at West 108 – Alexander Severin, courtesy Dattner Architects

Daytime photograph of WSFSSH at West 108 – Alexander Severin, courtesy Dattner Architects

Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail

Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews