Sharon and her son needed a new home. Grandma Victoria and her daughter Sarah moved to the unit next door afterwards. Brittany’s not due yet for another few months but needed somewhere safe and accessible to her hybrid job. In this new housing development off of 128th St and Convent Ave in West Harlem, single parent families and their support systems collectively thrive under their naturally made, comfortable new community. A built-in preschool on the lower level with other shared amenities, such as daycare and afterschool care, and a “backyard” for inside-yet-outside play for children emphasize the kids-first approach to housing. However, the caretakers and parents are not forgotten. Perched above the backyard’s hill, parents have access to an office with 180 degree views to observe their children playing below. While taking phone calls, families are still connected with visual sightlines – an inspired element from the slopes and curves of the New York street grid at this particular point in the neighborhood.
