Two-Phase Bella Vista Opens for 164 Households
Middletown, June 11, 2018 — Leaders of New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Office of Mental Health and Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, were joined by Warwick Properties, ACCESS: Supports for Living, and The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) to cut the ribbon for the Bella Vista apartments, a four-building, 164-apartment affordable housing development in Middletown, New York that includes supportive services for special needs and formerly homeless residents.
RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal, said,“Bella Vista is a concrete example of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to provide affordable housing that is combined with services to help ensure all New Yorkers can find a home, and stay in it. With the opening of these safe, comfortable homes, we are helping to create a stronger economic foundation for Middletown.”
The project reflects Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s commitment to providing all New Yorkers with access to safe, affordable housing through his unprecedented $20 billion, five-year plan to create or preserve more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 with supportive services. The plan is a comprehensive approach to statewide housing issues and includes multifamily and single-family housing, community development, and rent stabilization.
Located on the same property on Orange County Highway 78, Bella Vista I consists of 76 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and the adjacent Bella Vista II provides one-two-and three-bedroom homes for 88 households. Apartments are in buildings with a community room, library, lounge, laundry facilities and tenant storage as well as on-site parking for tenants. Warwick Properties developed the project, Devon Management Corp. manages the property and Access: Supports for Living, Inc. which is a non-profit organization provides support services to the residents with a history of homelessness and other special needs in 41 supportive units that includes counseling, case management and employment supports and eight units for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Financing for the development was delivered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal through federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, and a subsidized loan. The New York State Office of Mental Health will provide rental subsidy and supportive housing services for 46 supportive housing tenants at both projects through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, and the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities provides rental subsidy and a loan for the eight supportive housing tenants at Bella Vista I. For Bella Vista II, CPC is providing an $8.75 million construction loan as well as a SONYMA-insured $2.45 million permanent loan funded through its partnership with the New York State Common Retirement Fund.
Since 2011, HCR has built or preserved more than 9,770 units of affordable housing in the Hudson Valley with about $786 million in HCR resources for projects with a total value of $2.1 billion. In Orange County, that includes more than 1,300 units in Orange County with about $56.3 million in HCR resources with a total value of more than $119.5 million.
Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, said, “Governor Cuomo’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative is helping individuals with mental illness live in safe, stable housing and receive the services they need to enjoy independent and productive lives. Bella Vista I and II were among the first developments to receive ESSHI funding, and they are great additions to the local community.”
Kerry A. Delaney, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, said, “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the Bella Vista project, and others like it, empowers people with developmental disabilities to be participating members of their communities. Expanding community-based residential opportunities for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities benefits both the individual and the community to which he or she contributes.”
Senator John J. Bonacic said, “As the need for affordable housing continues to grow, I’m pleased that Warwick Properties, led by Jonah Mandelbaum, has joined with Access Supports for Living, Inc., and my colleagues in state government to once again step up to help fill that need. This 164-unit complex will provide affordable housing opportunities to low-income individuals as well as those with developmental and physical disabilities, and allow them to live independent, high-quality lives.”
Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther said, “Middletown and Orange County are not immune to the affordable and supportive housing shortage in the state and Bella Vista helps address that challenge. This development provides our neighbors with a great place to live that will strengthen our community. I commend the Governor for his commitment, our colleagues in the state, county and city governments who have worked so hard with the development, social services and financing teams to bring this project to completion. And most of all, I say to the residents, ‘Welcome home!’”
Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said, “This project is an example of what is possible when Government and the private sector work together to benefit our residents. I congratulate Jonah Mandelbaum, Access: Supports for Living, New York State and the County’s Community Development Director, Rich Mayfield, for their collective vision in making Bella Vista a reality.”
Middletown Mayor Joseph M. DeStefano said, “This is an important development. Bella Vista will enhance the quality of life for all its residents, with support services available to enable people to live as independently as possible. This shows what can be achieved when you combine the dedication of the Governors’ team, our colleagues in the city and Orange County, the developer, service provider, financial supporters and all our partners. It’s an example of Middletown at its best.”
Jonah Mandelbaum, President of Warwick Properties said, “I am so happy for the residents who now call of Bella Vista their home. This is not about a deal or a project, it is about people. I am grateful to my organization, Governor Cuomo’s dedicated teams at the State agencies, our partners at Orange County and Middletown, ACCESS: Supports for Living and financial professionals for their expertise and commitment.”
Amy Anderson-Winchell, President and CEO of Access: Supports for Living, said, “As each of these homes are built on strong foundations, the homes, themselves, provide the strong foundation for a rewarding life for people with complex needs. Residents receive support to successfully live here through Access and thanks to the support of Governor Cuomo, Commissioners Visnauskas, Sullivan, Acting Commissioner Delaney, and our partners. Together with Warwick Properties, Access has been a part of creating more than 570 homes with 130 set-aside for people with special needs.”
Dominick Buffa, Senior Vice President for Regions Affordable Housing said, “Regions Affordable Housing wishes to congratulate Jonah Mandelbaum of Warwick Properties, Inc. and his Co-General Partner, Access: Supports for Living Inc. for their work to create affordable housing for 162 families, of which 54 apartments will receive supportive services tailored to their needs. We wish to acknowledge the contributions made by the State, County and local governments, in particular the offices of HCR, HFA, OPWDD, OMH, and SONYMA and JPMorgan Chase and JPMorgan Capital Corporation for their subsidies, loans and investments in this important project. A project like this could not be done without such a diverse team of skilled and dedicated professionals working together to help society provide care and housing for those in need.”
Doug Olcott, Senior Vice President and Regional Director at Community Preservation Corporation said, “When we fund a housing project, it’s not just an investment in bricks and mortar, it’s an investment in the future of the community and the people who will call it home. The Bella Vista II Apartments is a vital source of quality affordable and supportive housing that will provide a hand-up to working-class families and those in need of a safe and stable place to live. I’d like to thank our partners at Warwick Properties and ACCESS: Supports for Living, Governor Cuomo’s teams at HCR and OMH, and Comptroller DiNapoli and our funders at the CRF for their commitment to investing in housing opportunities throughout the state.”
# # #
About the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC)
Established in 1974, CPC is a nonprofit affordable housing and community revitalization finance company that believes housing is central to transforming underserved neighborhoods into thriving and vibrant communities. To date the company has leveraged approximately $9.7 billion in private and public investment to finance more than 170,660 units of housing. CPC’s work with its partners has helped revitalize countless neighborhoods and provided quality housing for families, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. Visit CPC at communityp.com, and on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.