Facility to provide transitional housing for formerly incarcerated women. The Planning Commission approved a 49-unit, seven-story new building to serve as a substance abuse treatment facility and transitional housing for 70 homeless women ex-offenders, of whom an estimated 28 will have children residing with them. The new building, which will be funded by the New York State Homeless Housing Assistance Program, will be located at 435 East 119th Street in East Harlem and managed by Project Greenhope, a residential transitional treatment program for formerly incarcerated women. The application required the Commission’s approval of a UDAAP designation, disposition of City-owned property, and a special permit to increase the permitted floor area.

The site, located on a primarily residential block, comprises two City-owned lots on the north side of East 119th Street between Pleasant and First Avenues which currently contain a community garden that will be relocated. Project Greenhope manages an existing facility on East 119th Street and plans to move all 62 of its residents into the new building. Residents of the new building would either be in transition from incarceration to independent living or referred as an alternative to incarceration. The proposed 36,225 square-foot building will include an on-site nursery and day care center, a community garden and a yard for recreational activities. (read more…)