Affordable Housing Building Opens in Far Rockaway
On Monday, August 4, Bowery Residents’ Committee (BRC), Camber Property Group, and the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) celebrated the opening of Robert C. Wood Apartments, a $100 million, eight-story building located at 18‑26 Redfern Avenue in Far Rockaway. The development features 147 new permanently affordable apartments, and includes the Wanda Patterson Women’s Residence, a 100-bed shelter reserved for single women
The project replaces three vacant buildings that were acquired by Camber and BRC in April 2022. The residential side of the building contains 125 studios, nine one-bedroom, and 13 two-bedroom apartments. Of the studios, 88 units are supportive housing reserved for formerly homeless individuals. All apartments are affordable to households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).
“The Robert C. Wood Apartments project is more than just an affordable housing project, it is an innovative new community and home for New Yorkers who need it the most,” said Rick Gropper, Founding Principal at Camber Property Group. “Thanks to our partnership with BRC, we are able to provide much-needed affordable housing as well as shelter space and community services focused on recovery. We look forward to being a fixture in this community for decades to come.”
“Another day, another major affordable housing investment here in Far Rockaway!” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said after the ribbon cutting on August 4. “Honored to cut the ribbon today on the Robert C. Wood Apartments — named for the late HUD Secretary and father of today’s special guest, New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan — as we give 147 families a chance to live comfortably and affordably in this community.”
“This tremendous project marks another important step in our ongoing efforts to transform the shelter system and aggressively expand the creation of supportive housing in New York City,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. Resident amenities at the building include full-time security and maintenance staff, social service programming space, a community room, outdoor recreational space, bike storage, building-wide WiFi and a laundry room. The project is financed in partnership with Citibank, Freddie Mac, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Supportive Housing Loan Program, and the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) NonProfit Owned initiative. The building was designed by UAI, constructed by Fifth Ave Builders, and won the 2025 NYC Brownfield Partnership Award for Sustainable Building Design.
The shelter component, with its own dedicated space and entrance, was financed through a Credit Tenant Lease (CTL) with the New York City Department of Homeless Services.
“Today, alongside Camber Property Group, we dedicate BRC’s newest permanent supportive housing program to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Robert C. Wood, a man who spent his life championing the needs of the underserved,” said Muzzy Rosenblatt, Chief Executive Officer and President of Bowery Residents’ Committee. “The Robert C. Wood Apartments and the Wanda Patterson Women’s Residence exemplify the passion, dedication, and innovation that are core of BRC’s work as we strive to implement solutions that will help vulnerable New Yorkers create pathways from homelessness to home. This project would not have been possible without exemplary government partners like NYC DSS for investing in housing subsidies and NYC HPD for providing capital.”
