A 19-Storey Plan Voted Down, a 10-Storey Plan Unfunded: An Upper Manhattan Baptist Church Site Tries Senior Housing

• A 164-unit senior housing project was proposed on the site of Rocky Mount Baptist Church in Fort George, Manhattan
• The nine-storey building would serve low-income seniors with on-site social services
• Earlier proposals for 19 and 10 storeys failed
• The project was expected to rely on low-income housing tax credits

A Baptist church site in upper Manhattan was the subject of yet another housing proposal in 2019. The Real Deal reported on 11 June 2019 that RiseBoro Community Partnership and Coconut Properties were planning a 164-unit building for low-income seniors on the site of Rocky Mount Baptist Church at 37 Hillside Avenue in Fort George.

The nine-storey, 64-foot building would have nearly 102,000 square feet of zoned floor area. It would “provide housing for low-income seniors and have onsite case-management and social services,” and was expected to be financed with tax credits. SLCE Architects was the designer.

The site had a history of stalled plans. A 19-storey complex that required zoning variances was voted down by Community Board 12. A 10-storey project approved by the board in 2010 fell through when the partners did not obtain the low-income tax credits needed to finance construction.

Representatives of the church could not be reached, RiseBoro did not return requests for comment, and Adam Zeidel, chief executive of Coconut Properties, declined to comment.

The story illustrates two common obstacles to church-land housing: neighbourhood resistance to height and density, and dependence on public subsidies such as tax credits. A project can win approval and still fail if the financing does not come through.

As Jamaica’s population ages, demand for senior housing is likely to grow, and church land is a natural place for it, close to the congregations that already care for older members. The Fort George experience suggests Jamaican churches should size projects to what neighbours and planners will accept, secure financing before seeking approvals, and look for partners experienced in senior care. Diaspora members, many of whom worry about ageing parents at home, may be natural supporters of such projects.

Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com