BUILDING AWARD WINNER: D&F Development Brings Quality Design to Affordable Housing
BY JEN KHEDAROO
The Pavilion at Locust Manor is an eight-story, 85-unit rental building that provides affordable housing. D&F Development Group, LLC, owner and developer of the property, will also manage the newly constructed property.
Peter Florey and Leonard D’Amico, principals at D&F Development, have led their team in over 20 affordable housing projects. The Pavilion at Locust Manor features amenities such as elevators, visual intercom system, security cameras, central air, parking lot, laundry room, community room and bicycle storage.
Much of the funding was made possible through the New York City Housing Development Corporation. Bank of America not only lent money towards the project but also provided a considerate amount of funding, Florey said.
“The building is 100 percent affordable,” Florey said. “One of the things we wanted to do was reach across a spectrum of economic bands, not just reach those folks that were below 60 percent of the area median income.
“We wanted to also reach a lower income group that were slightly below that and also reach groups that were above it,” he added. “We have a range from 50 to 90 percent of the area median income.”
D&F Development Group wanted to design a building that fit well into the surrounding area and is reflective of the architecture that exists in the neighborhood.
The project took about two years to complete with the help of architect Gerard Caliendo. Florey explained that D&F Development Group are very particular about the design elements and appearances of their projects.
“Just because it’s affordable housing doesn’t mean it should look like a blank box,” Florey said. “There should be some creativity and distinctive design principles that go into the architecture.” Some of these distinctive features include the treatment around windows, cornices and the quality materials that they used.
“It’s a beautifully designed affordable project that both the residents and the surrounding community can be proud of,” he said. “I love to see more of this type of project in the city.”
