Bronx juvenile detention center’s conversion gets city council committee backing

The planned conversion of the Bronx’s former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center into affordable housing is moving forward with the approval of the City Council’s Land Use Committee. The Committee voted unanimously (15-0) in favor of the development, which will create 740 affordable apartments, and various recreational facilities.

While the full City Council still has to vote to approve the development, the Land Use Committee’s unanimous vote is a positive indication about the project’s approval.

In October 2016, the city awarded a contract to a team comprised of the Gilbane Development Company, Hudson Companies, and Mutual Housing Association of New York to redevelop the five-acre site, which had been shut five years prior to that.

The development team has since brought on WXY architecture + urban design and Body Lawson Associates to design the project, and hopes to complete it in three phases, the first of which will wrap in 2021.

In addition to the affordable housing, the massive development will also have 49,000 square feet of light industrial space, 48,000 square for community facilities, and 21,000 square feet of retail space.

Before signing off on this project, the City Council member representing the area the project is located in, Rafael Salamanca, ensured that the units that won’t be permanently rent-regulated will remain affordable for at least 60 years, according to The Real Deal.

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• Bronx juvenile center’s conversion to affordable housing gets fresh renderings [Curbed]