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Supportive Housing Comes To Washington Heights

By Carla Zanoni | February 16, 2011 4:39pm
A rendering of the building Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) plans to begin building a six-story supportive housing complex at 2142 Amsterdam Ave., between 166th and 167th streets.
A rendering of the building Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) plans to begin building a six-story supportive housing complex at 2142 Amsterdam Ave., between 166th and 167th streets.
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Courtesy of CLOTH

By Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Formerly homeless and mentally disabled people will be one step closer to finding a home in Upper Manhattan should a plan to build a supportive housing development receive final approval from the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD).

The Community League of the Heights (CLOTH), a Washington Heights-based nonprofit, announced that it planned to build a six-story supportive housing complex next year at 2142 Amsterdam Ave., between 166th and 167th streets.

"HPD has made its commitment, it’s now just a matter of dotting our Is and crossing our Ts,” said Yvonne Stennett, CLOTH’s executive director.

CLOTH executive director Yvonne Stennett said tenants would be provided with case management at the independent living residence in an effort to foster self-sufficiency.

A rendering of the building Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) plans to begin building a six-story supportive housing complex at 2142 Amsterdam Ave., between 166th and 167th streets.
A rendering of the building Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) plans to begin building a six-story supportive housing complex at 2142 Amsterdam Ave., between 166th and 167th streets.
View Full Caption
Courtesy of CLOTH

Residents will receive job and life skill training as well as case management services from mental health staff while living at the residence.

"Whether social or employment skills — we will help them build those skills," Stennett said.

The group hopes to begin construction in early 2012, which could be completed by mid-2013.

Stennett said the development would feature 42 studio apartments featuring private bathrooms and kitchenettes, for rent to 41 people who would be accepted to the development.

A superintendent for the building will live in one studio apartment full time.

Once plans for the development are finalized, CLOTH will select tenants from the city's list of formerly homeless people along with its own list of possible tenants.

Up to 40 percent of the accepted residents will be people who live in, or have participated in, programs in Community Board Districts 9 and 12.