Working as the architects and urban designers allowed us to create a place based approach to rezoning the former Stevenson Commons in the Bronx’s Soundview neighborhood as Stevenson Square. The project expands the existing Mitchell-Lama development with its first phase of WXY’s design for 166 new affordable units, including the design of 144 units for senior housing. Through thoughtful urban planning, we balanced housing needs by creating new blocks within the former “towers in the park” development.  

Faced with the challenge of integrating new housing without disrupting the existing neighborhood character, we saw an opportunity to find a place for more housing by reintroducing a walkable street focus. Achieving this required reimagining the relationship between Stevenson Commons and its surroundings, particularly Lafayette Street, to create new through streets and activate underperforming spaces. The rezoning process was essential to unlock these opportunities, allowing for higher density and expanded commercial areas. 

Our design reshapes the block and create multiple walkable lane connections to make Lafayette Street into a lively corridor, encouraging foot traffic and drawing residents toward Soundview Park. In the form of a new community park, tennis courts, community center the addition of seven new brick and pebble dash stucco buildings are composed into a connected urban fabric. The project makes alternatives to car travel more viable by incorporating bike storage, carshare facilities, and adding this housing close to bus and future rail connections. The first phase on Lafayette Street, the set of three six and four story buildings with ground-floor accessible townhomes introduce thru ventilation for new homeowners and a welcoming street presence that maintains a human scale while promoting community cohesion.

The result is more than just housing—it's a new chapter for the neighborhood — with 166 affordable housing units, including a six-story senior building with 114 units and two homeownership buildings with 52 units.    

The design promotes recreational access and economic growth by enhancing connections to Soundview Park and Lafayette Street's retail corridor. It prioritizes sustainable transit options, including carshare and public transit, and addresses zoning challenges to enable new commercial spaces and a parking facility with over 150 spaces.