East Clarke Place Senior Residence is a 122-unit, LEED-Platinum, affordable senior housing development in the Bronx. In response to the overwhelming demand for affordable senior housing in New York City, East Clarke Place offers 121 (plus one super’s unit) apartments for seniors aged 62 and older with incomes no greater than 50% of AMI. 100% of the units are affordable and 37 are set aside for formerly homeless seniors.

Designed as a vertical village to encourage socializing and movement, the emphasis on community and well-being begins at the entrance. Residents and guests are welcomed into a bright lobby with 13-foot-high ceilings. The building’s many gathering spaces are distributed across all 14 floors, conveniently accessible from the main circulation spine. In addition to a large community room that opens onto a rear garden on the ground floor, there are furnished lounges on every floor, a 12th-floor roof garden adjoining a sunlit reading area, and roomy alcoves that project from the glazed corridors above. Large windows and glass walls provide equitable access to daylight and views for all occupants.

Sharing the best views is an inclusive design move and yields large amounts of natural light, positively impacting mental health and physical safety. The panoramas of the Bronx from the 12th floor terrace and views of the New York City skyline from the elevator lobbies also connect residents to the community. The lounges on each floor offer distinct programming to encourage residents to move between floors and interact with neighbors.

Through zoning strategy, environmental initiatives, and resident safety and wellness interventions, East Clarke Place sets a new standard for quality of life in affordable senior housing. East Clarke Place was one of the first developments to use New York City’s Affordable Independent Residences for Seniors (AIRS) zoning program, which allowed the team to maximize the number of apartments in an amenity-rich building with a variety of recreational spaces and services. With energy performance and long-term operational cost savings a priority, the building is LEED-Platinum certified and has an efficient envelope and a rooftop solar array.

Location: Bronx, New York
Developers: Volunteers of America – Greater New York and Robert Sanborn Development, LLC