Construction crews have started turning dirt at River Avenue Apartments II at 1185 River Avenue in West Concourse, the Bronx, kicking off one of the corridor’s biggest affordable housing projects yet. The $225 million development will bring 292 affordable apartments to the neighborhood, with 173 units reserved for veterans, formerly homeless residents and people living with mental illness. Led by Community Access and Blue Sky Bronx, the project is the latest piece in the ongoing remake of the River Avenue stretch near Yankee Stadium.
Project Details And Funding
According to New York State Homes and Community Renewal, state support for River Avenue Apartments II includes low-income housing tax credits expected to generate about $90 million in equity, along with $60 million in subsidy and $9.8 million from the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program. Rental and operating subsidies will back 70 of the supportive units through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, while 103 supportive units will be funded through NYC’s 15/15 rental assistance program. HCR lists the total project cost at $225 million and identifies Community Access and Blue Sky Bronx as the lead developers.
Design, Amenities And Accessibility
Planned amenities read like a wish list for city living: rooftop green space and an urban farm, a children’s play area, outdoor exercise equipment and a meditation walking path, as reported by New York YIMBY. The building will be fully electric and designed to meet Energy Star Multifamily New Construction ERI Path standards, with air-water heat pumps, LED lighting and low-flow fixtures built into the plans. To improve accessibility, the project will include 15 apartments for residents with mobility impairments and six units for residents with sensory disabilities.
Supportive Services Onsite
“Community Access is excited to mark the groundbreaking of 1185 River Avenue,” Community Access CEO Cal Hedigan said in the state announcement, emphasizing the building’s supportive mission, according to New York State Homes and Community Renewal. HCR and project materials say on-site services will include individual counseling, structured group activities, harm-reduction support, medication management assistance and referrals for health and employment services. Developers describe the permanent supportive housing as a way to keep vulnerable New Yorkers connected to care while anchoring them in stable, affordable homes.
Where This Fits In
Project documents from Community Access show plans for cellar-level commercial space envisioned for a grocery store, roughly 6,000 square feet of residential amenity space, underground parking and about 8,000 square feet of green space, with a targeted opening around 2029. River Avenue Apartments II follows the nearby River Avenue Apartments I, which wrapped up construction in March 2024, and officials say the new building will push the corridor’s transformation forward while adding hundreds of deeply affordable homes to the neighborhood. Neighbors can expect a long stretch of construction activity, but city and state leaders are betting the payoff will be more housing options and on-site support for residents who need it most.
