Grace’s Place senior housing
LOCATION: Far Rockaway, Queens, NY
PROGRAM: Mixed-Use Affordable Senior and Supportive Housing
TOTAL AREA: 41,750 SF
CLIENT: Brisa Builders
PARTNERS: Dagher Engineering; Mega Contracting Group; GZA GeoEnvironmental; RDG Consulting Engineers; ZeroEnergy Design
Grace's Place is a completed nine-story mixed-use affordable housing development in the heart of Far Rockaway, Queens, designed to provide low-income and formerly homeless seniors with the opportunity to age in place with dignity. Developed for Brisa Builders, the project brings together 56 affordable independent senior apartments, 25 supportive housing units, a superintendent's residence, supportive services offices, a community room, and an outdoor recreation plaza to create a vibrant, service-oriented residential community. The project was conceived as an investment in the long-term vitality of the neighborhood, helping longtime residents remain connected to the community they call home.
Designed to Passive House standards, Grace's Place prioritizes resident health, comfort, and long-term sustainability. A high-performance building envelope, energy recovery ventilation, all-electric systems, and low-VOC, asthmagen-free materials create healthy indoor environments while reducing operational costs for residents on fixed incomes. The building also incorporates an 18.06 kW rooftop solar canopy that powers essential building systems and common areas, contributing to Enterprise Green Communities standards, NYC Green Property certification, and compliance with Local Laws 92 and 94.
The architecture emphasizes daylight, intuitive circulation, and shared community spaces that encourage social interaction and well-being. Despite significant construction challenges, the project team successfully delivered the building on an accelerated schedule through close collaboration between the owner, architect, and contractor. Today, Grace's Place stands as an important addition to Far Rockaway's affordable housing stock and a model for resilient, sustainable, and community-focused senior housing.