Affordable Senior Housing Coming to East Harlem

Much-needed affordable housing for low-income seniors is coming to the gentrifying East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.

1 of 4

Vanni Archive

Located in Manhattan overlooking the East River, Draper Hall ble… Read More Located in Manhattan overlooking the East River, Draper Hall blends old and new structures to create an 100% affordable housing development with access to services and open space. Residents will begin moving into the project, which was developed by SKA Marin and designed by Dattner Architects, in October.

Vanni Archive

Draper Hall's 203 units will serve residents 62 and older; a… Read More Draper Hall's 203 units will serve residents 62 and older; all rents are Sec. 8 vouchers.

Vanni Archive

The project has involved a complex substantial renovation of an … Read More The project has involved a complex substantial renovation of an existing 14-story building with a two-story podium. The building previously had been used as a nurses' residence for Metropolitan Hospital and had spaces for classrooms, presentations, and community facilities. The residential portion of the building had been dormitory-style rooms.

Courtesy Dattner Architects

The location of the project is extremely desirable; built on the… Read More The location of the project is extremely desirable; built on the shores of the Manhattan skyline, Draper Hall has unobstructed water views of the East River. The location also is accessible to public transportation, jobs, services, and amenities.

Draper Hall, which will open its doors in September, will provide 203 units with project-based Sec. 8 vouchers for seniors 62 and older earning up to 50% of the area median income.

“There is tremendous need not only in New York City but all over the United States for senior housing,” says Sydelle Knepper, founder and CEO of developer SKA Marin. “The problem is exacerbated here, and there’s very little senior housing with services available.”

SKA Marin is completing the adaptive reuse of Draper Hall, which was originally home to a nurses’ dormitory and a training facility operated by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. and has been vacant since flooding during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

The development includes the gut rehab of the existing building and a 14-story new-construction addition to create one-bedroom apartments and an elevator lobby. The two-story podium is being transformed into a new multipurpose community room with views of the East River as well as a state-of-the-art health center and adult day program. Part of the podium was demolished to create additional outdoor space for the seniors.

In addition to the services provided on-site, the building is located across from the Metropolitan Hospital and close to the new Second Avenue subway.

“The location is phenomenal for a senior building, and I think we will see when the lottery finishes that there will be thousands of applications showing the need,” says Knepper.

The $84.6 million development received tremendous support from the city. Tax-exempt bonds were issued by the New York City Housing Development Corp. during construction with a construction loan by Citi Community Capital covering the first mortgage. Raymond James Tax Credit Funds also provided the low-income housing tax credit equity.