A formal review process is underway for the construction of a 14-story building called the Court Street Residences, which will occupy the corner of Quarropas Street and Court Street in downtown White Plains. The city’s Common Council will assess the details presented by 23 Quarropas LLC, a joint venture between HANAC, Inc. a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable housing and social services, and Monadnock Development LLC, a like-minded real estate development firm. Currently, the space is a parking lot for the Westchester County Board of Elections.
Not only will the building provide 141 units of affordable studio and one-bedroom rental apartments for low-income seniors aged 55 and older, but it will also serve as the new 7,380 square-foot headquarters of office and clinic space for the LOFT, a 42-year-old nonprofit that supports the LGBTQA+ community of Westchester County and the Hudson Valley region. The space will be a mile and a half away from where the LOFT is currently located on Bryant Ave.
“I am very excited to see this happen,” says Judy Troilo, CEO of the LOFT, who is aiming for at least 60% of the units to be occupied by people in the LGBTQA+ community. “We have needed a new home for our center for a long time and the issue of LGBTQA+-affirming housing for seniors is something we have been trying to address for years; we want to create a space where people can be who they are, be authentic, respected, liked, and cared for.”
23 Quarropas LLC will be responsible for the long-term ownership once the building is completed. Court Street Residences will be divided into two leasehold condominium units, with one sector designated for the exclusive use by the LOFT, and the other for the residential component. The units are not exclusive to members of the LGBTQA+ community and are open to any seniors that qualify.
The developers of the project share the same enthusiasm and vision for the residences. “The opportunity to provide seniors in Westchester with the ability to stay and live out their retirement years in the communities that they helped build is an honor,” says Stacy Bliagos, Executive Director of HANAC, Inc.
The venture has already received 68 inquiries about submitting an application, and plans are in the works for on-site medical services, community rooms, and more.
“We have needed a new home for our center for a long time and the issue of LGBTQA+-affirming housing for seniors is something we have been trying to address for years.”
For additional information on the LOFT and the housing program, check out loftgaycenter.org.
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