Low-income apartments to get makeover

Three rent-stabilized apartment buildings in the northwest Bronx are being revamped as part of a citywide effort to provide sustainable yet affordable housing for low-income residents. 

Last week, Enterprise Community Investment, Inc., the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation announced a $22.8 million deal to provide renovations for 106 total affordable apartments at 3058/3060 Bailey Ave., 2085 Walton Ave. and 2432 University Ave. 

The updated apartments will feature new bathrooms, kitchens and appliances along with new boilers and roofs, as needed, according to the city agencies. Plumbing, electrical systems and new windows will be added to two of the three buildings. 

Danny Echavarria, the superintendent of 3058/3060 Bailey Ave., said contractors are expected to work in vacant spots once the renovations begin. Each address houses nine apartments.

“Last week, there was an engineer walking around the building, but I don’t know when exactly they’re going to start working,” Mr. Echavarria said.

Residents said that repairs on the units are long overdue. According to Mr. Echavarria, bathrooms in the two buildings were renovated about a decade ago, but deteriorated soon after. 

“At the time, it looked good,” he said. “It’s been over 10 years. All the tiles in the bathroom started falling down.”

He added that some of the apartments’ kitchens still have steel cabinets that were popular generations ago. Residents were also dealing with roof leaks and mildew on their walls, he said. 

Renovations have already started at 2432 University Ave. At 3058/3060 Bailey Ave., the project is slated for completion by April 2016.  

“The residents will enjoy the same apartment they’re living in, just with improvements,” said Daniel Magidson, a vice president for Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. “Without the backing of the public agencies, none of this would have happened.”