The Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship

See the Work

Serviam Gardens

Senior Housing and Alternative Land Development Strategies

“The project is important in ways beyond the 240 units of affordable housing it will provide. The land is being made available by the Ursulines in a way that sustains their mission, as well as helps them provide for the future of their overall campus community. This creates a model that other orders will be able to use. This could make attractive land available for development in communities where such land is increasingly scarce.”

— John Reilly, Executive Director, FBHC

Serviam Gardens is a two-phase senior housing development planned for a vacant lot on the campus of Mount Saint Ursula’s. The lot is part of a nine-acre piece of land that includes a girls’ high school, and is connected to an Ursuline convent.

FBHC’s development strategy works in the favor of the Ursuline Sisters as it allows the convent to generate revenue for their operations and convent community. The program for the site, a 240-unit senior housing proposal, aligns with the Ursuline mission and allows the convent to sustain their land without the actual sale of the church or of its property. Concurrently, the lease agreement provides FBHC land to develop much needed housing with scarce land options.

The housing will be affordable to low- and moderate-income seniors. The current plan proposes smaller units, thereby reducing the footprint, parking requirements on the property, and the number of people sharing the overall campus. Additionally, FBHC will renovate and reuse existing convent structure by converting it to housing, community and administrative space.

As development progresses, FBHC, with the assistance of Esther, will continue efforts to ensure the execution of sustainable design and construction practices, as well as effective community programming.

Gallery

(hover over image to zoom)

by Oaklander, Coogan, Vitto Architects (OCV)
Project overview
by Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation
Aerial view of site

Project Summary

Location:: Bronx, New York
Bedford Park
Program Scope: Affordable rental housing units; Community centers; Child-care facilities; Common residential amenity rooms; Common courtyards/terraces; Retail units; Structured parking units
Project Status: On-the-boards

Location:

Bronx, New York
Bedford Park

Project Scope

83,046 sq ft gross site area

New construction

8 stories + basement

151,652 sq ft gross project area

Program Scope

Affordable rental housing units

Community centers

Child-care facilities

Common residential amenity rooms