New York State Homes and Community Renewal Announces Completion o...

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas today announced the completion of Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic, a $143 million affordable and supportive housing development in Jamaica, Queens that provides 173 homes for older New Yorkers, including 52 apartments with supportive services for seniors struggling with homelessness. Developed by Breaking Ground, the 15-story building also includes a state-of-the-art health center operated by Community Healthcare Network, bringing medical services directly to residents and the surrounding community. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 35,000 affordable homes in New York City, including 3,000 in Queens. Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic continues this effort and is part of Governor Hochul's $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

[proposed] "Today we are celebrating the opening of 173 new affordable and supportive apartments that will give older New Yorkers in Jamaica a safe and healthy place to call home," Governor Hochul said. "Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic is exactly the kind of investment that makes New York more affordable and livable for everyone. By bringing together affordable housing, supportive services, and quality health care, Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic expands access to care, lowers costs for older New Yorkers, and strengthens the entire community. This is what it means to create an affordable New York where people can live a with stability, security, and support."

Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic includes 121 apartments for seniors age 62 and older with incomes up to 50 percent of Area Median Income, and 52 units with supportive services for residents age 55 and older who have experienced chronic homelessness. All apartments receive project-based Section 8 rental assistance administered by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. There are nine units to accommodate residents with mobility impairments and four units to accommodate for residents with hearing and visual impairments.

Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic is co-located with a 15,000-square-foot Health Center operated by Community Healthcare Network. Located on the ground and cellar floors of the building, the clinic provides primary medical and psychiatric care to residents and serves the broader community.

Breaking Ground provides on-site supportive services for residents through a contract administered by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, with services including case management, employment readiness guidance and assistance accessing benefits.

The building was constructed to exceed Passive House standards and is among the most tightly constructed buildings to receive such certification in New York City. Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic is all-electric and features a rooftop solar array, high-efficiency heating and domestic hot water systems, Energy Star appliances, triple-pane windows, low-flow plumbing fixtures and centralized energy recovery ventilation. The project also incorporates active design principles and a landscaped outdoor terrace.

The development includes a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a multipurpose community room, library, fitness room, computer room, laundry facilities, bicycle storage, free Wi-Fi and a landscaped outdoor terrace.

Located at 97-10 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, the building is near Jamaica Station and extensive public transportation options, including the Long Island Rail Road, AirTrain JFK, subway and bus service. The development is also close to neighborhood retail, health care, and other community resources.

Financing for Sutphin Senior Housing includes a mix of public and private sources, including $12 million in HCR subsidy and Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from HCR that are expected to generate nearly $53 million in equity. The development was also supported by more than $950,000 from the Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between HCR and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is providing $6.7 million through its Homeless Housing and Assistance Program. Other financing includes $15 million through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development's Senior Affordable Rental Apartments Program and $3 million in discretionary support from the New York City Council and Queens Borough President. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York provided $1.5 million through its Affordable Housing Program.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Opening Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic marks an important milestone in our work to expand affordable housing that supports the health and well-being of New Yorkers. These 173 apartments provide older New Yorkers with the stability of an affordable home, while the on-site clinic connects residents and the broader community with essential medical and psychiatric care. The development's all-electric design and sustainability standards also demonstrate Governor Hochul's commitment to building housing that is healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient. We thank Breaking Ground, Community Healthcare Network and our State and City partners for bringing this innovative development to life."

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, "We are grateful for Governor Hochul's continued commitment to the creation and preservation of supportive housing, providing critical support for vulnerable New Yorkers. The opening of Sutphin Senior Housing will provide much-needed safe, permanent housing to older individuals who have experienced homelessness, along with direct onsite access to health care and essential support services that will help them achieve and maintain stable lives in their community. Thank you to all our project partners and special thanks to Breaking Ground for their longtime leadership in providing supportive and transitional housing."

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "The completion of the Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic demonstrates the positive impact of aligning affordability, energy efficient design, and community investment to provide access to modern, high-quality housing for New York's senior population. The clean energy building solutions featured in this development will help lower energy use while creating a healthier, more comfortable living environment for residents in Queens and supporting the long-term performance of the building."

Senator Charles Schumer said, "I'm proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which I worked to protect and expand, has generated $53 million to help build 173 new affordable homes in Jamaica, Queens. Sutphin Senior Housing & Clinic includes apartments with supportive services for formerly homeless seniors and an on-site health center. I commend Governor Hochul for her continued efforts to create and preserve affordable housing across New York, and I will not stop fighting for the federal resources needed to support these critical efforts."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "The affordable housing crisis in New York City is out of control. The most vulnerable people in our city - like senior citizens -- continue to be priced out of their homes while vacancy rates across the city are at historic lows, especially for affordable units. The development of Sutphin Senior Housing & Clinic is a step toward change in our community, and I will continue to fight for federal resources to expand access to more affordable housing and supportive services."

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said, "To the nearly 175 seniors who are moving into this beautiful new building, welcome home. The unprecedented housing crisis facing our city hits our older adults the hardest, especially those living on fixed incomes or on the sharp edge of poverty and homelessness, making developments like the Sutphin Senior Residence that much more critical. Ensuring our seniors can age with grace and dignity in their own communities means not just building the housing they need, but connecting them with the support services they need as well, and that is what the built-in health clinic courtesy of Community Healthcare Network will provide. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Breaking Ground and all our partners for taking this bold step to address the severe shortage of affordable, supportive senior housing in New York City."

Senator Leroy Comrie said, "Ensuring that our seniors can remain in the communities they helped build requires us to address their needs in a complete and thoughtful way. Stable housing, accessible health care and supportive services are all essential to helping older New Yorkers live with dignity and greater independence. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued investment in affordable housing and for recognizing the importance of projects like Sutphin Senior Housing and Clinic. This development is a welcome addition to Jamaica and reflects what we can accomplish when state, city and community partners work together to meet the needs of our seniors."

New York City Councilmember Nantasha Williams said, "New York cannot meet its housing crisis by focusing on how much we build without being equally serious about who can afford to live in what we build. That is especially true for seniors, who have spent decades building our communities and are now confronting rising housing, health care and everyday costs, often on fixed incomes. Sutphin Senior Housing advances the same vision for Jamaica that guided our work on the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan: growth that expands affordability, allows people to remain rooted in their community, and is paired with the services and investments that make it possible to live with greater stability. These 173 homes, including supportive housing for formerly homeless seniors, and an on-site health center represent an important investment in Jamaica and in the people who have helped shape this community. I thank Governor Hochul and her administration, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Breaking Ground, Community Healthcare Network, and our City and community partners for helping bring this development to completion."

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development First Deputy Commissioner Adam Phillips said, "Sutphin Senior Housing embodies HPD's continued commitment to expanding New York City's affordable housing supply for those who need it most. This project will provide more than 170 homes for low-income seniors, as well as case management, recreational activities, and self-sufficiency workshops. The building will also be home to a state-of-the-art, Federally Qualified Health Center on the ground floor. We are proud to be part of a project that addresses the needs of our senior residents, and that will allow them to age in place while receiving the services they need."

President and CEO of Breaking Ground Brenda Rosen said, "At Breaking Ground, we strive to provide our tenants with a safe, affordable home alongside the resources they need to live healthy, independent lives. At Sutphin Senior Housing our partnership with Community Healthcare Network allows tenants to access high-quality care right where they live, while the broader Jamaica community gains an important new healthcare resource. We're proud to bring this model to Queens and excited about what Sutphin Senior Housing will mean for the entire neighborhood. None of this is possible without the commitment to supportive and affordable housing by our partners in government and the private sector. We are grateful to celebrate this moment with Governor Hochul, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the New York City Council, HCR, HPD, OTDA, NYSERDA, Capital One and JP Morgan, and most importantly the tenants who now call this building home."

Managing Vice President and Head of Community Finance at Capital One Desiree Francis said, "Affordability is one of the most urgent challenges facing New Yorkers, and finding affordable housing can be incredibly difficult, especially for seniors. The opening of Sutphin Senior Housing & Clinic responds to this challenge and the specific needs of seniors in the Jamaica, Queens neighborhood and across New York City. Capital One is proud to partner with Breaking Ground, the State of New York, the City of New York, and Community Healthcare Network by providing a $68 million letter of credit and $60 million in LIHTC equity to deliver 173 safe, supportive homes paired with essential on-site care."

Governor Hochul's Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York's housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes - for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. More than 450 communities throughout the state have been certified Pro-Housing, including New York City.

As part of the FY27 Budget, Governor Hochul secured a number of landmark reforms to New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her "Let Them Build" agenda. "Let Them Build" also includes executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.

The FY27 Executive Budget completes the Governor's current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 87,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The Executive Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.