Bronx residents and elected officials celebrated the grand opening of a new affordable housing complex in the South Bronx. 

The building was once a local school and is now the tallest building on the Grand Concourse after some needed improvements.  

The 26-story high-rise is bringing 277 apartments that are all 100% affordable to the neighborhood, and Councilmember Rafael Salamanca says there’s much more to offer. 

“You have a child daycare center, a health facility,” said Salamanca. “CUNY Hostos Community College took a big part of our commercial space so that they can continue their learning, and I believe that they’re going to bring in some type of food market as well.” 

For residents like Brandon Rosado, he says he could never imagine calling a luxury building like this home. 

“To you guys it’s an investment, but to us, the residents, it’s truly a blessing,” said Rosado, who moved here from Puerto Rico as a child and has lived in an apartment with 11 people since arriving. “Words can’t describe how I feel… To be able to have my own space, to be able to give my daughter the space and environment that she deserves, is amazing.” 

The complex is now the largest “passive house” in North America, which means that it is an energy-efficient building providing its residents with superior indoor air quality, according to experts.  

According to the state’s Energy Research and Development Authority, building emissions are a leading cause of the city’s pollution and that innovative buildings like this one will help create a greener future.