Lettire Construction Corp. has a reputation for building top quality affordable and supportive housing

New York City's residential development market has shifted dramatically over the past few years. Once rapidly rising luxury condominiums were in the spotlight, but now a slightly less glamorous, but exceedingly important segment of the market is taking center stage: affordable and supportive housing. Today, this arena has emerged as one of the most active areas of development, strongly supported by banks and government financing programs, spurring the creation of tens of thousands of new homes in the greater New York region. For over three decades, East Harlem based Lettire Construction Corp., under the direction of its co-founder Nick Lettire, has quietly cultivated an unsurpassed reputation for building the highest quality affordable and supportive housing in the Tri-State area. Lettire, president and chief executive officer of the company, was recently honored by The Supportive Housing Network of New York with their 2010 Private Sector Partner of the Year Award for his commitment to building high quality housing for low-income, disabled and formerly homeless New Yorkers as they work to rebuild their lives. "This type of work is extremely rewarding and I look forward to continuing our company's mission to provide the best possible quality housing to New Yorkers in need," said Lettire. Lettire and his company recently celebrated the completion of Castle Gardens, located at 625 West 140th St. in Harlem. This new supportive housing building which was co-developed by The Fortune Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the fabric of communities by promoting successful prisoner reentry, is on track for LEED-NC Gold Certification, and provides 114 affordable units, including 50 supportive studio apartments and 13 larger units for homeless individuals and families with incarceration histories. Environmentally-friendly features at Castle Gardens include an extensive green roof that utilizes a rainwater harvesting system, while also providing magnificent views of the Hudson River for residents to enjoy. Aluminum solar shades are employed on the building's south facade and materials free of toxic ingredients are used throughout the building. Throughout all of Lettire's developments, a strong commitment to green building is always present. The company is truly at the forefront of bringing environmentally-conscious design and construction principles to every project in order to ensure the vitality of these communities for years to come. Lettire is also particularly proud of his company's work on Via Verde, which will be a 20-story, environmentally-friendly, affordable and market-rate housing development with 222 residential units located on East 156th St. in the Bronx. The project, striving for LEED Gold certification, is being developed by Jonathan Rose Companies and Phipps Houses, with Lettire Construction serving as the general contractor. "It was a heated competition, put forth by Mayor Bloomberg, with 32 different groups vying to win this sustainable housing development assignment," said Lettire. "Our design for Via Verde, provided an affordable and sustainable urban lifestyle, and will be a model community for New York City, and beyond. The completed development will offer homeownership to a mix group of income levels, though all will meet 'affordable' guidelines." Lettire Construction actively participates in the economic rebuilding of the city and the creation of local jobs in the communities where they build. By working closely with government agencies, development partners and neighborhood leaders and coalitions, Lettire has furthered its mission by dramatically increasing the supply of units in this housing sector. The company's work in this arena has become the benchmark for developers focusing on building sustainable, affordable multifamily properties, both on time and on budget. As a developer and construction company, Lettire taps into a range of services and capabilities from design and planning to quality-control and cost decisions. Their extensive experience in all facets of the planning and building process allows them to determine realistic cost estimates, material pricing, hiring the best subcontractors and vendors, and overseeing construction at every project. Lettire's hands-on approach continues to the actual job site, where the principals maintain a regular presence. It's this involvement throughout the entire process, expertise and breadth of services that has Lettire presently building nearly 1,000 units of affordable and supportive housing throughout the Tri-State area, including the following projects. With its increasingly busy development arm and consistently active construction division, Lettire is confident that the company's strong reputation, track record and unique understanding of this housing sector will keep them at the top of their industry for generations to come.