Howard Beach residents gathered at Father Dooley Hall at St. Helen’s on Wednesday afternoon for an information session hosted by Catholic Charities on the new Senior Residence to be located at the former Bernard Fineson Center at 155-55 156th Avenue just off Cross Bay Boulevard.
Applications are now being accepted for the apartments that are available to all those over 55 years of age.
Two representatives from Catholic Charities were on hand to explain the basics of the application process and to describe some of the facilities accommodations.
Two representatives from Catholic Charities explain the application process.
Msgr. Al LoPinto, Pastor of St. Helen’s Parish as well as the Vicar for Human Services of Catholic Charities, told The Forum that he expects the applicant pool for the state of the art facility to be somewhere between 5,000 and 7,500 applicants for the total pool of less than 100 units. “The need for these types of living spaces for seniors is tremendous,” said Msgr. LoPinto, who also said he expects that the facility will be up and running with occupancy by September to October of this year.
Some of the project amenities discussed in the information session were 24-hour security; tenant garden beds, ample parking and close proximity to a supermarket, banks, mass transit and many restaurants. In addition, the units will have sound attenuated windows, air conditioning, energy star appliances, bathrooms with safety bars and emergency call systems.
A total of 96 units will be available for residence, with a designated number of apartments that will be subsidized for residents over the age of 62.. There will be a live in super and a 24-hour desk with personnel manning it. There are 83 senior units including 27 studio apartments and 56 one-bedroom apartments. In addition there will be 12 units for a developmentally disabled population. Those who live in Community Board 10 will be given preference for 50% of the total units.
A typical one-bedroom unit is comprised of approximately 586 square feet, while the typical studio has 425 square feet. There are some larger, corner one-bedroom units, which have about 718 square feet. No unit will be permitted more than two occupants and pets will be permitted according to a small weight guideline.
The application process as dictated per HUD fair guidelines provide for advertising by Catholic Charities six months before completing construction. This has begun with the facility recently having been posted in local newspapers throughout the community.
The process also calls for applicants to write a letter requesting an application. Following that, names will be placed on the waiting list through a one-day lottery process. All applications will them be reviewed for age, disability and income eligibility.
Income to be included in the consideration for applicants once they have gone through the lottery process is Social Security, pensions, wages, tips and salaries, unemployment and disability in lieu of earnings and welfare assistance. If over $5,000, 2% of income from assets held for investment (based on a percentage established by HUD).
What is not considered, as income is inheritances, gifts, money in checking or savings accounts and assets such as stocks and mutual funds.
Development costs for the project that have been committed to the project are a state subsidy of $2,105,000, Federal tax credits of $12,650,000, state tax credits of $2,600,000, funding from the borough presidents office of $1,000,000 and city council funding of $500,000 for a total of $18,855,000. There is also anticipate additional project financing in the amount of $7,310,000 which comes form a private loan of $1,800,000, state subsidy of $4,110,000 and a competitive grant of $1,400,000. The total estimated costs of the development are estimated to be at $29,415,000.
The end date for an application to be filed is April 22nd. Every application must be received by that date in order to be entered into the lottery process. Any application received after that date will be set aside for possible future consideration. Any applicant filing more than one application will automatically be disqualified from the process.
You may download an application from www.ccbq.org/howardbeachapts or by mail from: Howard Beach Apartments, LLC, C?O POP Management, 191 Joralemon Street, 8th Floor, Brooklyn New York 11201. A self- addressed envelope must be included with all requests.
By Patricia Adams
