NEW YORK, NY, June 13, 2018 – The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) joined the People’s Firehouse, Inc. (PFI), St. Nick’s Alliance, and project partners to celebrate the completion of renovations at Monsignor Alexius A. Jarka Hall. The six-story elevator building has 63 studio and one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors and one Superintendent’s unit, with 13 apartments set aside for formerly homeless seniors. The building was built in the early 1990s and has had no major repairs since construction.
“As we continue to expand our work through Housing New York, a key priority is keeping our city's seniors in their homes and neighborhoods. Jarka Hall Senior Residences received needed improvements to ensure that these 64 homes, 13 of which will house formerly homeless seniors, will remain affordable and high-quality for residents who helped build this city,” said HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. “I thank our partners at People's Firehouse and St. Nick’s Alliance for their ongoing efforts to protect our city’s seniors, prevent displacement, and keep New York City affordable for all.”
“Monsignor Alexius Jarka Hall provides 63 stable, safe, and affordable homes for seniors,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Preserving important projects such as this one, in partnership with committed local non-profits like the People’s Firehouse and St. Nick’s Alliance, helps to ensure that there will continue to be a place for everyone in the vibrant Williamsburg community and the city as a whole.”
“The People’s Firehouse, Inc. is pleased to report that with the help of our sister organization St. Nicks Alliance, and other partnering organizations, Jarka Hall is about to take a significant step in its history,” said Daniel Rivera, Executive Director of the People’s Firehouse, Inc. “We broke ground for Jarka Hall in the 1980s and completed the construction, and opened the building for seniors in 1991. After more than a quarter century of constant use, even the best-kept home environments need replenishments and upgrades. Today we celebrate the building’s new life.”
Michael Rochford, Executive Director of St. Nicks Alliance said: “We are very proud to work with People’s Firehouse to preserve, refinance and rehabilitate Msgr. Jarka Hall! The building will serve another generation of neighborhood seniors!”
As part of the City’s efforts to protect our most vulnerable aging senior populations, this $18.8 million preservation effort funded much-needed building repairs and locked-in affordability for another 35 years. Rehabilitation work included a new roof, windows, boiler and hot water heaters, the installation of air conditioning in the first floor common areas, and an emergency call/intercom system. The project also benefited from a complete lobby renovation. In addition, each residential unit was refurbished with kitchen upgrades, new interior doors, flooring, baseboard heating, and bathroom fixtures. Tenants were able to remain in place during renovations.
“I am so pleased to know Monsignor Alexius Jarka Hall is updated, is refreshed and up to date for our seniors. This is a wonderful project and will serve our community so very well. I commend everyone involved with helping accomplish this important renewal,” said Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol (D-North Brooklyn).
“Preserving affordable housing for our most vulnerable populations, particularly low-income and formerly homeless seniors, is crucial to ensuring Brooklyn remains a place where everyone can thrive in their golden years,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “I commend HPD Commissioner Torres-Springer, St. Nicks Alliance, and the People’s Firehouse for leading this renovation of Monsignor Alexius A. Jarka Hall in Williamsburg. We must continue to push forward on creating and preserving affordable housing across our borough.”
The preservation of Jarka Hall was facilitated by an Article XI tax exemption provided by HPD, $9.3 million in tax-exempt bonds from HDC, and more than $7.1 million in low-income housing tax credit equity. Richman Housing acted as tax credit investor and Citibank provided credit enhancement. All units benefit from an existing Project Based Section 8 HAP contract provided by HUD.
Jarka Hall is extending affordability on valuable affordable housing in the fast changing neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The development also furthers the City’s efforts to finance the construction and preservation of 300,000 homes throughout the five boroughs by 2026.
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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked with fulfilling Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York Plan which was recently expanded and accelerated through Housing New York 2.0 to complete the initial goal of 200,000 homes two years ahead of schedule—by 2022, and achieve an additional 100,000 homes over the following four years, for a total of 300,000 homes by 2026. For full details visit www.nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.
The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is the nation’s largest municipal Housing Finance Agency and is charged with helping to finance the creation or preservation of affordable housing under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York plan. Since 2003, HDC has financed more than 140,000 housing units using over $20.2 billion in bonds and other debt obligations, and provided in excess of $1.8 billion in subsidy from corporate reserves. HDC ranks among the nation’s top issuers of mortgage revenue bonds for affordable multi-family housing on Thomson Reuter’s annual list of multi-family bond issuers. In each of the last five consecutive years, HDC’s annual bond issuance has surpassed $1.3 billion. For additional information, visit: http://www.nychdc.com
