Archinect - News

First phase of mixed-use affordable housing development atop former juvenile detention center site opens in the Bronx

2022-06-22T15:11:00-04:00

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced the completion of the first phase of a five-acre redevelopment project called The Peninsula. The project will bring hundreds of affordable homes and community amenities to the former site of the Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in the Bronx’s Hunts Point neighborhood. It is the site where Adams was held at 15 years old.

In 2011 the detention center was closed after 54 years in operation, and was notorious for its poor conditions. Today, the initial $121 million phase of the mixed-use development has been completed, including 183 affordable units for New Yorkers earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income, with 18 homes specifically reserved for individuals who previously experienced homelessness. In addition, the building features a range of amenities, including a community room, a children’s playroom, a fitness room, and bike storage space.

The development includes a cultural arts center with a state-of-the-art black ...

Empowering people with architecture: Victor Body-Lawson presented the Leader in Housing Award by the AIA New York Chapter

2021-06-28T13:12:00-04:00

Architect, educator, artist, and public housing advocate Victor Body-Lawson has spent much of his career working towards community-driven designs that focus on integrating design, arts, and architectural education for more equitable urban solutions. Body-Lawson's work spans New York, other neighboring cities along the East Coast, Cuba, and projects in West Africa. He advocates for equitable, urban residential projects and architects serving as their own real estate agents. His contributions to challenging public housing and propelling affordable housing initiatives have positioned him as a force in the industry. On Wednesday, June 24th, the AIA New York Chapter awarded Body-Lawson with the Leadership in Housing Award.

Home Street Residences by Body Lawson Associates

Born in Nigeria, Body-Lawson came to the United States for school and attended Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C where he pursued architecture. He received his M.Arch at Columbia University where he worke...