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Project Summary: Dove Street Independent Housing
SPONSER/DEVELOPER
Capitol Hill Improvement Corporation with
Apricot Housing
Corporation for AIDS Research, Education & Service
AIDS Council of Northeastern NY
ARCHITECT
Dorgan Architecture & Planning
CONTRACTOR
Zandri Construction
| FUNDERS: | TYPE: |
| NYS Homeless Housing Assistance Program | grant |
| Capital District Community Loan Fund | loan |
| HUD Hopwa | grant |
DEVELOPMENT TYPE:
New construction, eight unit elevator rental
RESIDENT PROFILE:
Formerly homeless individuals with a disability.
DENSITY: 38 units per acre
DEVELOPMENT PROFILE
| Type | #/Units | Size (sf) | Rents |
| 1 BR | 8 | 650- 780 | 30% of income or DSS shelter rent |
| Total | 30 | | |
Laundry: in each unit.
Courtyard/play: rear and side yard with garden. picnic and passive recreation.
Parking: 8 surface spaces on-site and additional on street spaces
Total site area: 9045 Sq. ft
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CONSTRUCTION TYPE
Concrete block foundation, wood frame with brick veneer.
DEVELOPMENT COSTS:
Land Costs: $38,000 plus cost of relocating utilities - approx. $25,000.
Total development Cost $750,000 ($93,750 per unit) (completed 1997)
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DOVE STREET INDEPENDENT HOUSIING, Albany, New York
Dove Street independent Housing is designed in a manner which provides an opportunity for formerly homeless people living with AIDS and other disabilities to conduct independent lives and to share in community events to the extent they wish. This small project, of eight units, is appropriate to the scale of the neighborhood yet provides a critical density which allows provision of on-site services and development of community within the building. Great care was taken in designing a structure which responds to the architectural character of the historic Center Square / Hudson Park neighborhood. The architect worked closely with community residents and advocates for the tenant population.
Todd Strehlow and Tim Palmer - committed members of he development team - advanced personal funds, without any guarantee of repayment, to obtain control of this ideal project site. Too often affordable housing is relegated to marginal locations with construction problems due to lack of predevelopment funds. This site is in a diverse urban working class rowhouse community. The next parallel street to the west includes a major grocery store, public transportation, community services and the City's most interesting neighborhood commercial strip. Hospitals, employment centers and recreation facilities are in close proximity. The site offers a very attractive view down Irving Street to the east and along Dove Street to Lincoln Park toward the South.
The neighbors had long-term involvement with the community development corporation, Capitol Hill Improvement Corporation, sponsoring this project. Community members were actively involved in planning the building and continue to support the project. As a result of this involvement and the success of past projects, the proposed homeless housing received unanimous endorsement from the neighborhood association at the same time that many similar projects were being rejected by local communities. This support is critical to the development process and the quality of life for residents.
Design was complicated and enriched by the many stakeholders in the project. The property is located in an historic district where the character of new construction is carefully regulated by ,both, local standards administered by a review committee and by independent review from the State Preservation office utilizing the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. In addition an active design advisory committee appointed by the neighborhood association participated in detailed reviews of the project. One advantage of this complicated process was the it was not possible to cut any of the exterior design features on the building facade after project approval as this would have necessitated a new review. Funders' and sponsor's understanding of lifecycle costs was critical to achieving the high quality of construction as was the contractor's commitment to execution of each detail.
The project has been well received by the community and the residents. Neighbor Charles Sullivan says that the Dove Street project is a "real community asset". Capitol Hill Improvement Corporation executive director Mark Besse comments that, "It is amazing the difference that stable housing has made in the lives of the residents. We've seen real empowerment. Each resident is taking progressive steps to achieve their personal goals for family, employment and health. The community in the building is very important." Fermine Caraballo a project resident testifies, "I love my apartment. It's beautiful - my unit is both long and wide enough - you can fit furniture and have company. It's a wonderful apartment. You don't hear noise from other apartments. It's built solid. I love my apartment .... my family tells me never let it go."
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