A ceremony held on August 10 marked the start of construction for Baez Place, a $86-million affordable and supportive housing development in the Claremont section of the Bronx.

The project, located at 334 East 176th Street, will consist of an eight-story building featuring 154 affordable homes - 86 of which will include on-site supportive services for formerly homeless residents. Plans call for a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans, reserved for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income level.

"We're tackling housing insecurity and homelessness head-on with this project that will deliver high-quality, affordable homes to New Yorkers," said Governor Kathy Hochul in a news release announcing the project's groundbreaking. "This development on Baez Place in The Bronx will uplift the entire community with more than 150 units of housing as well as wraparound services for seniors and people experiencing homelessness, the latest effort from our $25 billion housing plan to unlock opportunity and give families a safe, stable place to call home."

Community Access Inc., is serving as both developer and service provider for Baez Place, which will offer individual counseling, self-help groups, employment referral, and medication management to residents, among other services.

ESKW Architects is designing the building, which will also include outdoor green house for residents - including a communal greenhouse at the rooftop.

Funding for the project comes from tax-exempt bonds, federal low-income tax credits, and other state and local sources.