A new housing project has broken ground in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, according to News 12. It sits at Spofford Avenue and Casanova Street, directly across from where the city's first-ever grocery store is set to open.
An official described the project as just one example of broader efforts to rewrite the relationship between City Hall and the people of the Bronx, the station reported.
Of the units, 58 will be reserved for supportive housing serving New Yorkers coming out of homelessness and those living with serious health conditions, according to News 12.
Another 38 units will be rent stabilized and offered through the housing lottery system, the station reported.
It is the 13th development in the portfolio of the Doe Fund, a nonprofit focused on breaking cycles of homelessness through supportive work opportunities and wraparound services, from case management and health care coordination to employment support, according to News 12. The property was purchased by the Doe Fund in February 2020.
The big question, the station reported, was why it took more than six years just to break ground. A report from the mayor's speed task force found that delays often stem from slow environmental reviews, outdated permit systems, staffing shortages and other hurdles.
According to News 12, the city has increased investments by 60% to $1 billion over the next two years in order to expand supportive housing and move projects along faster. The Casanova project is set to be completed by October 2028.