Liberty Landing Supportive Housing

 interesting place, Art Deco (architecture), public housing estate, 1931_construction

16-story Art-Deco residential building originally completed as a 9-story building in 1931. Designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon as the Seamen's House YMCA, the building was converted to drug rehab center in 1967, and to a medium-security women's prison in 1974. The south wall features a red-and-pink abstract mural called Venus, painted in 1970 by Knox Martin - now mostly eclipsed by the condo next door. Before Superstorm Sandy hit in October 2012, Bayview's 153 prisoners were evacuated and sent to other facilities. The building sustained $600,000 as a result of storm damage and remained closed due to NYS Budgetary reasons.

After an international design competition in 2016, Deborah Berke Partners won the commission to transform the former facility into a permanent home for the girls’ and women’s rights movement in New York City. However, that plan faced an abrupt cancellation by the NoVo Foundation and Goren Group in 2019. It was then converted by COOKFOX Architects to residential for Camber Property Group and Osborne Association, with a 7-story addition built on top. The development yields 124 permanently affordable housing units, with 74 dedicated to formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as 15 short-term transitional homes for individuals with mental health challenges, on-site supportive services, and a 9th-floor outdoor terrace.

The main facade is clad in brown brick, with a chamfered corner at the intersection of 11th Avenue and 20th Street, where there is a 2-story Art-Deco stone entry. The 7-story expansion is enclosed in a light brick façade with floor-to-ceiling windows, rounded corners, and is capped with a mechanical bulkhead with a matching curved massing.

www.osborneny.org/stay-informed/supportive-housing-prog...
www.architakes.com/?p=11074
www.aiany.org/news/in-the-news-july-31-2024/
archive.org/details/sim_architectural-record_1932-05_71...