County Executive Mike Hein Meets with Senior Residents
Town of Ulster, 8/30/2010: Mike Hein joined the Senior Residents of The Birches at Chambers in their Community Room for a lively and informative discussion on senior resources and programs that are available through Ulster County. “Too often these resources are untapped, and the people who need them the most don’t know how to tap into services,” said Hein. (Alice is shown to the right of Mike Hein in the lead photo.)
Organizer of today’s event is Alice Tipp, the Senior Advocate for Birchez Associates, who services their four affordable senior communities in Ulster County. Alice works to coordinate services with the over 325 seniors who live at The Birches at Chambers, The Birches at Esopus, The Birches at Saugerties, and Chambers Court. Alice Tipp served as a county legislator for thirty years and is not shy in getting the right resources to “her” residents. “I am delighted that the County Executive took the time to be with us today. His enthusiasm is contagious and I know we all learned a great deal today,” said Ms. Tipp. Also welcoming Mike Hein were Steve and Judy Aaron the principals of Birchez Associates who built and manage The Birches at Chambers.
The Q&A portion of the program hit some topics outside the scope of strictly senior resources. Mike Hein in response to questions about taxes spoke of the need to consolidate services that are now duplicated between towns and the county. Following the formal presentation, the County Executive had the opportunity to speak briefly with many residents. Included was Joe Vanacore, a World War II Vet, who is concerned about the level of veterans’ benefits especially as he is dependent on a wheelchair these days. (Joe was recently featured in the book The Liberators: America’s Witnesses to the Holocaust by Michael Hirsh for his work with General Patton’s Tank Corps in liberating death camps in Germany.)
Harold Schumann, another resident, spent eleven years bouncing from hospitals to nursing homes before finding the appropriate ADA compliant, fully handicapped accessible home at The Birches at Chambers. He spoke to the County Executive about how happy he is now that he’s settled in his own apartment.
The Birchez Associates website, www.Birchez.com, has links on their communities pages to the resources Mike Hein spoke of in the Ulster County Care program, in addition to a variety of senior related, local recreational, historic sites, and more. To visit one of the links pages, click here.
Editor’s Note: Michael P. Hein, Ulster County Executive, was one of the presenters at the dedication of The Birches at Chambers on July 8th. For a video of his remarks, click here.
Esopus senior housing project up for award
Published: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 ESOPUS — The Birches at Esopus is one of three developments financed by state of New York housing agencies* to be named finalists in Affordable Housing Finances’ sixth annual Reader’s Choice Awards.
The Birches at Esopus is the first affordable housing community for senior citizens in the town of Esopus and provides 80 energy-efficient apartments for low-income seniors. Units are accessible to people with disabilities, and the development includes outdoor and community space, craft and media rooms, an exercise studio and an on-site nursing program, which provides services like physical and speech therapy, health and wellness programs and health aides.
Nationwide, 33 projects were chosen from 140 nominations on the criteria of community impact, cost-effective or innovative design or construction, and energy-efficient and sustainable development.
The other New York finalists are the Atlantic Avenue Residence, a 107-unit development in Brooklyn; and the 24-unit Nelson Hopkins Apartments, the Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired, in Lockport, near Buffalo.
The winners will be announced at the 2010 Affordable Housing Developer’s Summit in November in Chicago. Photo and asterick information added for website.
* nyhomes and DHCR (Division of Housing & Community Renewal)
Going Green: Affordable housing can also be sustainable
08/22/2010 12:38 PM YNN for the Hudson Valley by Terry Ettinger
Click here for link to broadcast
Affordable housing can also be sustainable, energy-efficient housing – case in point, a new 66-unit senior citizen apartment complex recently dedicated in Ulster County.“Radiant heat in the floors, 70 percent of our heat and hot water is produced with solar power, a 50 kw photovoltaic electric system, every single apartment is air-blower tested for air infiltration, the air conditioning systems have the highest efficiency ratings available, the heating systems are European in design and they know about saving energy over there because they’ve been paying more than we have. Our boilers, for example, are 97 to 98 percent efficiency,” said Steve Aaron, Managing Member of Birchez Associates. Birchez Associates was able to do this in part by obtaining state grants.
“New York State has a number of programs that help support builders and developers who are interested in trying to provide a sustainable approach to construction. I divide them into two groups; one is at the single- family level (individual homes) and the other is for multi-family homes and building support as well,” said Paul Crovella, Sustainable Construction Management and Engineering, SUNY-ESF.
Paul Crovella teaches sustainable construction management.
“The single-family home, New York State currently has a program for builders interested in going through Energy Star certification for the home. It provides money for the builders to do that and essentially offsets quite a bit of the cost,” said Crovella.
Similar programs are available for multi-family construction like senior citizen housing offering incentives for developers to think green when they’re in the design stage for upgrading the insulation, window quality and the efficiency of the heating plant, like they did at the new Birches at Chambers, and Crovella believes it’s a worthwhile program.
“It makes a lot of sense in that the individual who is building a project like that, if they know they’re not going to be paying the utility bills over the life of the building then they have very little incentive to put in a better window or improve the efficiency,” said Crovella.
Central Hudson’s Almanac Salutes Birchez’ Green Affordable Commitment
August 20, 2010: Paul Tesoro, Director of Communications for Central Hudson, hosts a daily broadcast called Almanac aired on multiple Hudson Valley radio stations. We were pleased that he featured The Birches at Chambers and The Birches at Esopus in today’s broadcast. Paul highlighted the amenities that our communities offer and how they contribute to the quality of life for our residents. In addition, the broadcast covered the green aspects that ultimately contribute not only to health but also affordability. To listen to the broadcast, click here (it takes a moment for the intro to kick in).
Low-income senior housing planned
HVBiz June 25, 2010 by Terra Thompsen
Affordable independent living for low-income seniors is the aim of a proposed $15.4 million development slated to be built on the property of the Elant-owned nursing facility in Beacon.
The project, called The Birches of Fishkill, would provide housing for seniors age 62 and older who are at 50 percent or less of median income. The facility would offer residents the prospect of independent living outside full-time nursing homes.
“It’s a real opportunity for a chance of community and a chance of a home within the communities these seniors have lived in their whole lives,” said Steve Aaron, managing member of Kingston-based Birchez Associates LLC.
The facility is to be built on the present Elant property at 22 Robert R. Kasin Way off Route 9D in Beacon. Elant at Fishkill partnered with Birchez Associates for the development of this facility and to provide health care in the communities they already serve.
The facility would provide 62 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors. The cost of buying into the community had not yet been determined.
The main building will consist of apartments, amenities and nursing offices. Two separate cottage-style buildings will provide for more apartments. All 72 apartments will be handicapped-accessible and meet the standards set forth by the American With Disabilities Act.
Amenities will include a theater, media room, community room, game room and a library.
Registered nurses and athletic trainers on the premises will provide care weekly with no additional charge to residents.
“We continue to push the envelope to provide amenities that make this home,” Aaron said.
The facility’s design is also intended to provide energy efficiency to reduce costs. A similar design at The Birches of Esopus in Ulster County was awarded a 2010 New York State Energy Research and Development Agency’s Award for Excellence.
“There are certainly not many models of affordable independent living in the country,” Aaron said.
Currently there is demand in the Fishkill community for 1,169 units of independent senior living apartments based on the waiting lists for similar facilities. The Birches at Fishkill would ease this demand, Aaron said.
The project recently was awarded $1.4 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of America and its member Rhinebeck Savings Bank.
The grant will help fund the construction, which is expected to begin in the fall pending final approvals.
Back to School? Two Sites for a New Rosendale Town Hall Offered
Development Team Member from Birchez Associates, LLC, Nadine Feiden Shadlock, Esq. presents the maps of the proposed complex. Photo by Rochelle Riservato
Shawangunk Journal, July 15, 2010 by Rochelle Riservato
ROSENDALE – On July 13, a special Rosendale Town Board meeting was held in order for the town board, and the public, to hear several presentations in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Creek Locks Road Property Development, one of which suggests using the Tillson School as the site for a new Rosendale Town Hall.
The firms that submitted Requests for Proposals were Birchez Associates, LLC, and Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO).
The first development presentation was presented by Birchez development team. Their “out-of-the-box” approach to the design included the suggestion to utilize the long abandoned Tillson School for the municipal complex, and the Creek Locks Road property, 1.8 miles away from the school, for the intergenerational housing, recreational area and creek access.
The Birchez development team attorney, Feiden Shadlock, said the Tillson School, with its 27,240-square feet, more than provided enough space for the board’s 14,000-square foot request for a new Town Hall.
She explained the space overage could provide storage, a conference and lunch room, and many amenities along with opportunities for future rentals of office space to professionals or service providers. In addition, the 8.4 acres of surrounding land could provide many future options for the town.
Describing the school as a “magnificent, masonry structure” Shadlock, stated that the building had other major pluses. She cited it was historic, structurally sound and would last far longer than a newly built wood structure whose life span typically is only 50 years.
Addressing the board she said, “If you’re serious about sustainability — the ultimate act is to recycle an old building,” while stressing that, in the long run, renovation would cost less than a newly-built structure.
Steve Aaron, founder of Birchez, said, “I have spoken to the school district — they want to get it [school] off their books.”
Renovation of an old structure opens up opportunities for municipal monies from agencies such as Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) according to Feiden Shadlock.
“The best part,” she said, “is that we anticipate anywhere between eight and twelve months for you to be in an energy-efficient, solar-paneled Town Hall.”
The Birchez proposal also included the Creek Locks property to include 72 intergenerational housing unit rentals; 40 units with elevators for seniors 55 years and older with onsite support services; 32 family unit rentals; and a suggested option of reserving some of these family units for future home ownership conversion for first-time home-owners and empty-nesters.
The site plan also included the preservation of a park-like, meadow area and walking and nature trails in the footprint where the Town Hall would have been.
However, Birchez provided an alternate site plan that does include a Town Hall in the event the Town Board and residents decide the facilities should be on one property. The all-inclusive design also eliminated the housing that could eventually be privately owned.
With the all-inclusive site plan, Feiden Shadlock said, “The sad part is that you are losing the opportunity for home ownership.”
At the presentation’s conclusion, Aaron said he could now reveal that the recently opened Birches at Chambers had funding from Warren Buffet.
The next proposal was presented by the not-for-profit agency Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO). This team used a power-point presentation manned by Guy Kemp, Director of Community Development, with RUPCO Executive Director Kevin O’Connor and Kemp explaining each of the slides.
O’Connor explained that during his past eight years with RUPCO, he has helped 1,360 families in Ulster County. He stated, “We work with communities and have obtained $12.7 million in grants and loans to support green, affordable housing in rural America.”
RUPCO presented drawings of two site plans. The “Engineer’s Potential Site Plan” illustrated a Creek Locks property development consisting of 50 to 60 housing units, including both apartments and townhouses, a Town Hall, and park areas.
The RUPCO Sketch Plan visualized 38 senior rental units, 20 family workforce housing units, 6 home ownership units, a 10,000-square foot, two-story Town Hall with a 5,000-square foot footprint and parklands.
In a later phone interview, Kemp stated that the reason the sketch plan depicted a 10,000-square foot structure was that, “The RFP was first issued [to RUPCO] several years ago without specific space needs provided by the town, so the site plan sketch shown was done prior to any knowledge that the town desired a 14,000-square foot structure.” However, he said the Town Hall could be built as a two-story, 14,000-square foot building with a 7,000 square foot footprint, which would include a subterranean basement.
At the meeting’s conclusion it was obvious the two proposals had many differences, which will result in much input and many questions to each of the firms competing for the project from, not only the Town Board, but from the public in future meetings.
The next phase for Birchez Associates
Aaron’s Birchez Associates opens fifth affordable housing facility in Ulster
Kingston Times, July 15, 2010 By Carrie Jones Ross Pictured Below Right: Library/Game Room at The Birches at Chambers
The enigma stealing sleep from the burgeoning legion of baby boomers – “Where can I afford to live when I retire? Will it be safe? Will it be clean? Will I be lonely?” – just got a little easier to figure out.
Dignitaries from the county and state joined other people of influence and three full tents of perspiring seniors during last Thursday’s oppressive heat wave to cut the ribbon commemorating some 75 seniors (62 and older) moving into the fully sustainable and LEED-certified 66 newly-constructed, 600+ square-foot apartments at Birches at Chambers on Maple Lane in the Town of Ulster. Chambers is fifth in a line of desperately-needed affordable housing projects in Ulster County built by developer Steve Aaron; his previous projects include Chambers Court, Birches at Esopus, Birches at Saugerties and Birchwood Village. The $16 million complex will be the first platinum-rated LEED-certified project of its kind in Ulster County.
Imagine paying a fixed monthly rent between $596 and $721 for a one-bedroom apartment. What would you get? Well-lit, freshly-carpeted halls with security cameras? Laundry rooms furnished with handicapped-accessible, brand-new machines for the long-gone bargain price of $1 a wash on every floor? A secure computer room with four flat-screen panel monitors? A free gym filled with new machines and classes just an elevator ride away? A beautifully furnished library with games and a community room with a kitchen and French doors leading to a patio? Media room with kitchenette? Would you expect beautifully kept grounds with a full-time groundskeeper and state-of-the-art security? In all likelihood, no, but Aaron’s new project promises all those amenities.
The community was designed for those who earn less than 60 percent of the area median income (currently $29,480 for a single person). The shift to friendlier colloquialisms reflects our slowly evolving views on affordable housing. Aaron emphatically concurred with the opening ceremonies speech given by County Executive Mike Hein when he stated, “It’s not about bricks and mortar, it’s about people – dignified housing for people.”
Aaron explained that his company has been dedicated to answering seniors’ and working families’ mounting housing crisis and has “gotten a little smarter” with each project. “We didn’t start off wondering what to do to be LEED-compliant,” Aaron explained. “But we found that we were already doing all that anyway.”
Birches at Esopus and Saugerties got the ball rolling forward with Energy Star appliances and energy-efficient radiant floor heat. Aaron took the Birches at Chambers project all the way, by including even more things like 97 percent-efficient Swiss-made boilers to accommodate the smart-design European heating system and solar hot water heaters. There are also energy recovery units recycling air through HEPA filters also pouring into a series of cooling condensers for air conditioning, eliminating the potentially harmful bacteria that collect in vents and ducts and saving big money for residents on extra-tight incomes.
Birchez is also referred to as “phase two”, conjoining the 2005-built Chambers Court community, oriented for 55 and older active lifestyle seniors. Aaron broke ground for Birches at Chambers in February 2009 to build the facility for residents with mobility issues. A community dining hall is in the works, at which point Birches at Chambers may likely go in the direction of assisted living, he said. Each apartment does have a kitchen (equipped with Energy Star appliances), however, those residents who do not cook rely upon the Meals on Wheels program.
Elant Home Health Care has an office in Birches and holds twice-weekly wellness clinics. ”We meet with the families, and if they opt for services we link with their primary practioner and devise care plans,” Elant health coordinator Kelly Ketcham explained. The goal, Ketcham stressed, is, “to keep people in their home setting, prevent hospitalizations and nursing home placements.” She added, “I do this for my head and heart, because that’s what I would want done for me.”
Aaron, who sits in good company on the executive committee of the Ulster County Housing Consortium, has his eyes on the horizon line of several locations including Fishkill, New Paltz and Ellenville. Aaron recently also submitted a building proposal in the Town of Rosendale in response to their request for affordable senior housing.
A myriad of agencies came together to make the building possible, including Enterprise Community Investments who notably found investors to actually finance portions of the project during this tight-fisted economy. One such financier was the “Oracle of Omaha” – Warren Buffett, who according to Aaron, has been financing affordable housing for years.
It did not come together without some issues, though. Aaron, who supported and employed former Town of Ulster supervisor Nick Woerner, got into a dispute earlier this year over alleged safety issues at Chambers Phase II with the town board led by the man who beat Woerner, Supervisor James Quigley. The spat held up the project’s temporary certificate of occupancy, which held up some of the first residents’ moving-in dates. Charges and counter-charges flew between Aaron and Quigley, but the dispute was resolved on March 31, allowing residents to claim their apartments.
They love it here
A group of residents rested in the bright, crisp entrance room from the day’s oppressive heat during the ribbon-cutting and subsequent luncheon, talking excitedly in a group about their appreciation of the new facility. Resident Clara McGill said that she always enjoyed visiting Kingston as a place to shop and dine, but never before considered living there until Birches at Chambers was built. “I have rented most of my life, and I have never seen anything like this place. It’s incredible here. Sometimes I even feel guilty for having this place,” McGill said. Lifelong Kingston resident “Mary” agreed. “We have fallen into a gold mine here. It was a little rough in the beginning, but I don’t think we could ask for a better place to live. The amenities are incredible.”
The residents commented on how often they see Aaron and his wife Judy, and how easily they can communicate with the couple. They love the decor (for which Judy is responsible), the fitness studio, their apartments (“It’s beautiful!” they crooned), and asked the Kingston Times to put out a message of sincere thanks to everyone on their behalf; to the Aarons, groundskeepers, maintenance and security.
To discuss the article in Ulster Publishing’s forum, click here and scroll to the bottom of the article.Alfred A. DelliBovi Honored on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives
Hinchey honors FHLBNY for its Affordable Housing Program
NEW YORK, July 15 Forbes.com – Since 1990, the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York has provided more than $220 million in grants to more than 750 affordable housing initiatives across New York State through its Affordable Housing Program (“AHP”). These projects have helped create, rehabilitate or preserve more than 30,000 affordable homes for low-income families, seniors and the workforce across the Empire State, and have generated more than $3.5 billion in total development costs for local economies. On July 8, at the dedication ceremony of The Birches at Chambers, a state-of-the art, affordable senior living community in Ulster, New York, which was partially funded by the AHP, Federal Home Loan Bank of New York President and CEO Alfred A. DelliBovi was honored by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) for the Bank’s contributions to affordable housing.
“Under the guidance of president and CEO Alfred A. DelliBovi since 1992, the Federal Home Loan Bank ofNew York has helped community lenders across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands advance housing and community growth,” Congressman Hinchey said in a statement for theCongressional Record.
In his comments at the event, Mr. DelliBovi thanked Congressman Hinchey for his continued support of affordable housing initiatives across New York’s 22nd District. The AHP has been especially active in the 22nd District, supporting 51 projects with grants of more than $18 million, helping to create nearly 2,300 affordable homes.
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York
The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York is a Congressionally chartered, wholesale Bank. It is part of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, a national wholesale banking network of 12 regional, stockholder-owned banks. The FHLB of New York currently serves over 330 financial institutions in New Jersey, New York,Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The mission of the Federal Home Loan Banks is to support the efforts of local members to help provide financing for America’s homebuyers.
| CONTACT: Eric Amig | |
| (212) 441-6807 | |
| Brian Finnegan | |
| (212) 441-6877 | |
SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of New York
Seniors Finalists – The Birches at Esopus
SPECIAL FOCUS
Readers’ Choice Finalists
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE • July/August 2010
The Birches at Esopus is one of four national finalists for Senior housing in the magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice competition. The excerpt for The Birches at Esopus follows.
ULSTER PARK, N.Y.— The Birches at Esopus is the first affordable housing community in the town of Esopus, an area encompassing 40 square miles with about 9,500 residents.
Overlooking the Hudson River, the new development provides 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments for seniors earning no more than 50 percent and 60 percent of the area median income.
Birchez Associates, LLC, an experienced Hudson Valley affordable housing developer, built an amenity-rich development where residents can age in place, says Steven Aaron, managing member.
Eight units are handicapped accessible, and all units are handicapped ready with roll-in showers installed. All units have emergency pull cords so seniors can call for help.
The development encourages an active lifestyle, with ample outdoor and community space. An exercise studio is staffed with a fitness coach. Understanding that isolation is a common issue for seniors, Birchez Associates also funds a senior advocate to lend a sympathetic ear and guide residents on services.
To assist in the residents’ heath-care needs, the firm has teamed with nonprofit Elant, Inc., on the “Nurse Is In” program, which brings a nurse to the property for regular office hours.
The development is also notable for its green design. It has been recognized by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for achieving more than 30 percent savings over the state energy codes. Solar panels provide about 70 percent of the domestic hot water for the building and 40 percent of the heat.
The $18 million development was funded largely by bonds from the New York State Housing Finance Agency, enhanced by the State of New York Mortgage Agency and low-income housing tax credits syndicated by First Sterling.
Additional financing partners include the New York State Housing Trust Fund through the Division of Housing and Community Renewal and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. The town of Esopus and Birchez also contributed to the deal. —Donna Kimura for Affordable Housing Finance; Photo: John Halpern
Developer: Birchez Associates, LLC
Architect: Kurzon Architects
Major Funders: New York State Housing Finance Agency; First Sterling; New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal; State of New York Mortgage Agency; Federal Home Loan Bank of New York; the Town of Esopus
Affordable, sustainable senior housing in Kingston
By: Beth Croughan for YNN News, Hudson Valley
KINGSTON, N.Y. — “We’ve met lots of friends, we have lots of fun.” click here for the video
Clara McGill has lived at the Birches at Chambers with her husband for the past two months. And her experience has been more than she expected. ”I’ve rented most of my life and I’ve never seen anything so beautiful, it’s beautiful. And it has everything,” McGill said.
Everything, for just about $770 a month. The 66-unit apartment complex is one of Ulster County’s newest in affordable housing.
“People’s incomes have dropped who perhaps have put money away for retirement and perhaps they’re forced out of their houses or apartments because they can’t pay market rent. People are living longer and the baby boomers are coming of age. So it’s a significant need,” said Steve Aaron of Birchez Associates.
And while the newest of Steve Aaron’s four affordable senior housing complexes tries to fill that need, it also aims to meet others. According to Michael Colgrove, a representative from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, “this building will use about 25 percent less energy then had it been built with normal construction practices.”
The main building in the complex was recognized as being a New York Energy Smart building. It also qualifies for Platinum LEED certification, which is the highest achievement in sustainable construction. ”Which makes it a building that has been adhering to best practices is the type of mechanical equipment that’s used. For example the boiler is high efficiency boiler that modulates, it has a brain to it so to speak,” said Joseph Malcarne, an energy consultant.
The building also features a radiant heating system in the floors and plans are in place to install solar panels to heat the buildings water supply and offset some electricity costs.
“This construction shows that it can be done, you can meet the highest standards of environmental construction while still building affordable housing,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein.
And for resident Clara McGill, green meant much more than just lowering her electric costs.
“The trees, the flowers, everything is so beautiful,” McGill said.