West 80’s

The West 80’s are two buildings, which were part of NYC Housing Preservation and Development , have been renovated by WSFSSH. WSFSSH helped existing tenants relocate to safe permanent housing while gut renovations took place. Several tenants opted to return to the renovated buildings when it re-opened in 2010. The transitional units are home for the Dorot Homelessness Prevention Program.

Building Overview

Address

208 W 84th Street, 44 W 87th Street, New York, NY 10024

Date Opened

(Pending)

Number of Units

84th Street: 20 independent apartments – studio, one and two bedroom units      87th Street: 7 studio apartments; 15 single room occupancy units run by Dorot’s Homeless Prevention Program

Architect

Redtop Architects LLP

General Contractor

MDG Design and Construction Corp.

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services
Fire Alarms & Other Safety Features

WSFSSH at West 108

WSFSSH at West 108 stands as a beacon of hope on the Upper West Side, offering 79 affordable housing units for families and 119 supportive studios for formerly homeless individuals over 55 years old. Recognized with the 2022 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award and the Affordable Housing Finance 2022 Readers’ Choice Award, this 193,000 sq ft complex sets a high standard for affordable housing developments. WSFSSH at West 108 prioritizes community health and warmth, featuring a federally-qualified health center and warm interiors designed by Dattner Architects. Its dining room, with floor-to-ceiling glass offering views of the neighboring park, embodies its commitment to inviting natural light. The complex also includes space for our Valley Lodge Shelter that offers 110 beds for homeless seniors and community meeting spaces. WSFSSH at West 108 addresses critical housing needs while fostering a sense of community and well-being.

Building Overview

Address

145 W 108th Street, New York, NY 10025

Date Opened

April 1, 2021

Number of Units

79 family units of affordable housing and 119 units of supportive housing

Architect

Dattner Architects

General Contractor

Procida-Butz

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services
Fire Alarms & Other Safety Features

John & Carroll Kowal House

John & Carroll Kowal House, named after founding board member John Kowal and his wife Carroll, strives to improve the lives of single adults in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing. Advocating for the preservation of SRO housing, WSFSSH responded to a proposal by New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development to develop a model SRO housing using Section 8 Modified Rehab. Despite financial constraints, Kowal House opened in November 1988, embodying the vision of supportive SRO housing.

Building Overview

Address

149 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY 10025

Date Opened

November 7, 1988

Number of Units

72 SRO (single room occupancy) units for persons with very low incomes, persons with experience of homelessness

Architect

Elliott Rosenblum, Architect

General Contractor

Sparrow Construction

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services
Fire Alarms & Other Safety Features

Independence House

Originally constructed in 1967, this 120-unit Mitchell Lama building was at risk of losing its affordable status. With assistance from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), WSFSSH’s purchase ensures the preservation of affordability for existing tenants, many of whom are seniors . Through HPD project-based Section 8, residents will benefit from significantly reduced rents.

Building Overview

Address

176 W 94th, New York, NY 10025

Date Opened

XX, XX, 20XX

Number of Units

120 independent apartments

Architect

Shakespeare, Gordon

General Contractor

Vlado

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services
Fire Alarms & Other Safety Features

Kurt & Leah Schneider Apartments

The Kurt and Leah Schneider Apartments is funded by the HUD 202 Program. The site, which was once a community garden, is named after local leaders Leah and Kurt Schneider, honoring their legacy of social justice activism. Leah’s vision for affordable housing in Manhattan Valley led to the preservation of over a thousand units. Residents, selected through a random lottery, enjoy safe and inclusive housing in the heart of Manhattan Valley.

Building Overview

Address

11 W 102nd Street, New York, NY 10025

Date Opened

February 26, 1999

Number of Units

54 independent apartments for elderly persons with very low incomes

Architect

Schuman, Lichtenstein, Claman & Efron Architects

General Contractor

HRH Construction

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services
Fire Alarms & Other Safety Features

Ben Michalski Residence

The Ben Michalski Residence was opened in July of 1997, after renovating the formerly city-owned building into 18 single rooms with private bathrooms. It was financed with a grant from the New York State Homeless Housing Assistance Corporation, equity provided by the National Equity Fund through the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, and loan from the Affordable Home Loan Bank. The building is named in honor of Ben Michalski who was a gay political activist on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, involved in progressive politics during the 1970s and 1980s. He was committed to many issues like mass transit and anti-gentrification.

Building Overview

Address

206 W 84th Street, New York, NY 10024

Date Opened

July 7, 1997

Number of Units

18 studio apartments

Architect

Cetra/Ruddy Architects

General Contractor

Lettire Construction

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services

Fania Gersham House

In the early ’80s, West Side Seniors for Action advocated for WSFSSH’s project in a vacant building on 105th Street. Led by Fania Gersham, the group secured HUD funding and Section 8 housing subsidy for the 28-apartment complex. Fania, a lifelong activist, played a pivotal role in securing Social Security for older adults in 1935. Her legacy lives on in the Fania Gersham Apartments, which opened in her honor on August 16, 1988, providing affordable housing for seniors and physically disabled individuals with low incomes.

Building Overview

Address

140 W 105th Street, New York, NY 10025

Date Opened

August 16, 1988

Number of Units

28 independent apartments for elderly and/or physically handicapped person with very low incomes

Architect

Rosenblum-Harb Architects

General Contractor

Sparrow Construction Corp.

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services

Valley Lodge

Valley Lodge shelter originated in response to the 1980s homelessness crisis, established through a rapid application process led by Betsy Wallace and our former Executive Director Laura Jervis. Local leader Leah Schneider identified two tenements on 108th Street for its creation. Offering transitional housing, Valley Lodge provides meals, social services, medical care, and more to 92 residents. Over 1,500 individuals transitioned from Valley Lodge to permanent housing, contributing to WSFSSH’s understanding of the needs of seniors who are homeless and facilitating the development of permanent housing options. Today, Valley Lodge operates alongside our West 108 building, offering 110 beds to homeless seniors, serving as a bridge to stable housing.

Building Overview

Address

143 W 108th Street, New York, NY 10025

Date Opened

May 3, 1988, rebuilt and opened on Ferbruary 28, 2022

Number of Units

110 beds to homeless seniors

Architect

Dattner Architects

General Contractor

Procida-Butz

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services
Fire Alarms & Other Safety Features

The Westbourne

The Westbourne marked a pivotal moment in NYC housing as it was the first privately owned SRO for non-profit. With support from HPD and NEF, the building underwent extensive renovations to provide permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. Today, it houses 128 tenants in single-room suites with shared amenities.

Building Overview

Address

930 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10025

Date Opened

March 28, 1987

Number of Units

128 SRO (single room occupancy) units for persons with very low incomes, persons with experience of homelessness, and preexisting tenants

Architect

Siris/Coombs Architects

General Contractor

Galaxy General Contracting Corp.

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services

Red Oak Apartments

The Red Oak building was once a nursing home owned by the Little Sisters of the Poor. The property was aquired in 1980 and transformed it into 230 apartments for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Named after a majestic red oak tree on-site, the Red Oak offers on-site social services and houses an Older Adult Center, embodying WSFSSH’s dedication to supporting the older adult population.

Building Overview

Address

135 W 106th Street, New York, NY 10025

Date Opened

March 3, 1983

Number of Units

230 independent apartments for elderly and/or physically handicapped person with very low incomes

Architect

Schuman, Lichtenstein, Claman

General Contractor

DIC-Underhill Contractors

Building Services

WSFSSH’s unwavering commitment ensures that crucial support services are available to residents, setting a precedent for compassionate care.

24 Hour Security
On-Site Laundry Services
Active Recreation Program
On-Site Social Work Services

Red Oak Older Adult Center

Our building proudly hosts an Older Adult Center, providing a vibrant hub for residents and neighbors alike. Enjoy a range of activities, from fitness classes and art workshops to social gatherings and educational seminars. Stay active, engaged, and connected.

Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4pm

Contact: (212) 749-7015

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