Nov. 8- Tanya Towers is a public housing residence for deaf, hard of hearing or low-income seniors on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The New York City Housing Development Corporation will spend $4.4 million renovating the development, which is home to 138 tenants with disabilities.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer kicked off the groundbreaking ceremony while sign language interpreters translated everything for the residents in attendance.
“We have an opportunity to make sure that whatever physical setback you may have, whatever issue that may get in your way, that there is a role for government and the private sector to figure out solutions, so that everybody has an opportunity to live in the greatest city of the world,” Stringer said.
Tanya Towers is one of the only low-income housing options for deaf residents in New York City. The development is named after Tanya Nash, a woman whose life mission was to help deaf Jews in the late 1930s and 1940s. The residence opened in 1973 as one of the Mitchell-Lama housing developments for affordable housing.
Blanche Adams has lived in Tanya Towers for 21 years. She spoke through a sign language interpreter.
“My children had already grown up and I was older, so I decided to move here,” Adams recalled. “I had to wait several years. It was a little bit frustrating but then finally there was a spot open for me and I was able to move in and I really love it here.”
The renovation means Adams will get a new kitchen, but she won’t have to move out of her unit. She’s already happy with some of the cosmetic changes she’s seen at the towers.
“I’m really excited when I go out in the front. I feel like it’s much better, they have benches. All the deaf people can sit around and talk. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a new style. It looks different. Before, the benches and the seating area was really old and deaf people would even bring their own chairs so they can communicate with each other,” Adams added.
The complex is also getting an updated elevator, new boiler and new windows. The first phase of improvements is in progress and the second phased of construction should be completed by 2013.
