Aug 4 2006
A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the opening of a new supportive housing facility in the center of Brooklyn. Notable attendees were sponsors and supporters of the CCM organization’s ‘Georgia’s Place’ named after their founding chairperson, the late Dr. Georgia McMurray. Distinguished ribbon cutters included Ruthann Pickering (NYS OTDA HHAP), Timothy O’Hanlon (NYC HPD), Luis Acosta (NYS DHCR), Laura Grund (NYC DHMH), Mike Litvin (HUD), and George Nashack (NYC DHS).
Richard Vitto, Founding Partner at OCV architects, headed up the 2-year project. It is one of many in his career as an urban supportive housing architecture specialist.
Georgia's Place will be welcoming residents who are homeless and in need of mental health services. This new construction in Bedford-Stuyvesant supports the 48 private units with an on-site mental health clinic, a communal dinning room, dinning terrace, basketball court and a common room. The architecture is all designed by OCV to provide inviting homes for people with special needs.
Over the years Richard Vitto has partnered with many local non-profits and government agencies as the architect of facilities to house, help and re-acclimate people. His experience as an architect has given him skills to help non-profits cope with the financial, community and functional issues as well as the architectural design and construction of these havens. Mr. Vitto believes that certain critical architectural features — like open, light and comfortable common spaces — are an investment in the future of the less fortunate and the community at large. “Building something of quality for this population,” Vitto says, “revives the communal heart of a neighborhood and inspires us, and the surrounding residents, to take care of each other — making a better New York.”
Amy Larovere, consultant to CCM and many affordable housing agencies, highly recommends OCV Architects to all of her clients. “The design is thoughtful - beautiful,” Ms. Larovere said, “OCV helps to navigate the bureaucratic process. They do their job and I don’t worry about it”. She went on to state, “Rich Vitto is well respected by City and State agencies, non-profits and foundations.”