Odyssey House will officially open Park Avenue on Wednesday, June 23rd at 10 am. Adolfo Carrion, Regional Director, US Department of Housing & Urban Development, will be on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Open for occupancy since March, Park Avenue is a new 50-unit, single occupancy building for men and women with special needs. The building provides a supportive, independent living environment for individuals who have overcome many life challenges, including mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, and homelessness. The tenants have all completed treatment for mental illness problems and are able, with minimal support, to live in community-based housing.
The building has a number of amenities designed to allow tenants to live independently, including a well-furnished gym, laundry room, multi-purpose meeting room, communal dining room, and lounges on each floor to encourage socialization. The landscaped backyard features an art installation by the Odyssey House Art Project, “Becoming Whole,” which explores life’s journey of discovery from infancy through adulthood.
The project was developed by Odyssey House with capital and operational funding from New York State Office of Mental Health and capital from low-income housing tax credits. The land was acquired from New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development through ULURP. The building was designed by Urban Architectural Initiatives and built by Rende Contracting Corporation.