Chair Louis questions on achieving high percentage of family-sized units
Chair Louis asks how the project achieves a high percentage of family-sized units. Kelly Biscuso explains the scale allows Phipps to design buildings they believe in with larger units, and Matthew Washington adds that Phipps is mission-driven and owns/manages buildings long-term.
Two quick questions, and I'll hand it over to Councilmember Felice.
The project would have a larger number of two to three bedrooms, as you just mentioned, than most 100% affordable housing applications that come through this committee.
Can you explain how you were able to accomplish this goal?
Sure.
Thank you for picking up on that.
I mean, it's something we pride ourselves in at FIPS is that we, in part, by trying to build at this scale, it allows us to try and design the buildings we really believe in.
So to be able to staff a concierge at the front desk, to be able to have larger units.
And so we've, I think in part, having the scale, having the experience we do, we've definitely proven out on previous projects we've done recently that we can accommodate that amount of bedroom sizes.
And we really are aiming to build housing for families.
larger units than typical.
So I think it's part of our track record, part of our model, and part of how we design buildings from the inception.
So it's part of why we're putting this proposal in front of you today to be able to accomplish that.
And Chair Lewis, if I may add, you know, we're a mission-driven organization, and we know that there's a need for housing for families.
When you look at the financing models, a lot of them are looking at unit count and don't really distinguish between a studio or a three-bedroom or a two-bedroom when you're looking at the financing, but it's important for us to push because of the communities that we serve.
You know, we're not a developer who builds buildings and runs away.
We own and manage our buildings and have been doing so since the 19, we still have one of our buildings since 1931 that we're still managing today.
And so it's important to us that we are serving the communities that we're a part of.
And it's also why we build community centers in these neighborhoods.
And we're building a new community center, not far from this project here on 180th Street and Boston Road, but it's serving and it's really pushing on that mission to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.
Thank you for that.
Very noble.