The Frederick Shack Residence, a $38 million affordable and supportive housing building, officially opened Tuesday in Crotona Park East, putting 79 new studio apartments on the map at 1405 Boston Road. The seven-story property pairs most of those units with on-site support services, and local officials and neighbors turned out for a ribbon-cutting that doubled as a victory lap for broader city and state housing efforts.
According to Governor Kathy Hochul's office, 55 apartments in the Frederick Shack Residence are reserved for eligible individuals who will receive on-site supportive services. State financing for the roughly $38 million project came through Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity along with funding from the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program. The governor's office also framed the building as part of a $25 billion five-year housing plan aimed at creating or preserving affordable homes across New York State.
Kandra Clark of Urban Pathways told News 12 The Bronx that neighborhood rents at the new building will start "as low as $700 a month," with move-ins slated to begin in May. Clark highlighted amenities that try to make small studios feel less cramped, including a courtyard, on-site laundry, a communal kitchen for cooking programs, and a community room equipped with computer stations. Neighbors who came out for the opening said they were happy to see new, modern apartments in a part of the Bronx where many buildings are showing their age.
Supportive Services, Accessibility and Green Design
State officials said the residence includes eight units tailored for residents with mobility impairments and four units designed for tenants with sensory disabilities. The New York State Office of Mental Health is providing $1.3 million in operating funds to support the building’s supportive apartments. The property is fully electric and was built to Enterprise Green Communities 2020 standards, with energy-efficient touches that include Energy Star appliances and a rooftop solar array, according to Governor Kathy Hochul's office. Urban Pathways will run on-site case management and related services for eligible tenants.
Where the Project Came From
Permits for a six-story affordable development at 1405 Boston Road were filed in mid-2022, as reported by New York YIMBY, and property records show that Urban Pathways acquired the lot in 2020, according to PincusCo. State officials said the new building replaces a 29-unit single-room occupancy facility and that former tenants were relocated before demolition began. Developers then teamed up with state agencies and tax-credit investors to assemble the funding stack that ultimately paid for construction.
Named for a Longtime Advocate
Urban Pathways announced that the building will carry the name of Frederick "Fred" Shack, the organization’s longtime leader who died earlier this month. "It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Frederick “Fred” Shack, who unexpectedly passed away April 5th," the organization wrote on its website, Urban Pathways. Officials at the opening said the naming recognizes Shack’s more than two decades of work pushing supportive housing forward across New York City.
Per News 12 The Bronx, residents are expected to begin moving in this May, and the remaining apartments will be offered to community members through a housing lottery. State and city leaders said the Frederick Shack Residence is a step toward stabilizing vulnerable New Yorkers while adding modern, energy-efficient homes to a section of the Bronx that has seen relatively little new development in recent years.
