Howard B. Kimmel, chairman of the Kimmel Housing Foundation, last week announced that Apex II, a 35-unit development for senior citizens, workforce families and the physically challenged, is progressing toward completion. Kimmel expressed his board of directors' appreciation to Jeff Levine of Douglaston Development, which is the joint sponsor with the foundation and is building Apex II, and said the foundation hopes the new building will be occupied in early 2009.

The second Apex housing unit is located adjacent to Apex I at 498 Union Avenue in Westbury/New Cassel. Of the 35 units, 19 are one-bedroom units and there are also eight two-bedroom dwellings for workforce families. There are also two large ground-floor efficiency units, open to Union Avenue, a major thoroughfare. These are live-work units, which will permit two householders, possibly wheelchair bound, to live in and work out of their apartments. As a result, an attorney or an accountant can support their families even though they are physically challenged.

Finally, there are six other efficiency units that form two three-bedroom apartments. Thus, each of these three-bedroom apartments might be described as shared living units with private bathrooms and Dwyer kitchenettes. These efficiency units will have additional areas: a large kitchen, a dining and a living room. As a result of sharing, normally lonely people will have the "best of all worlds." They will have privacy and they will have the advantage of having caring companions. If they are older senior citizens, they can expect to live independently outside of a nursing home for an estimated five additional years.

To assure the community has the greatest possible opportunity, applications have been sent prospective tenants and are also available by contacting Cynthia Williams, community outreach coordinator, at the Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation, 211 Garden Street (997-9399) or Stanan Management, 33 Front Street in Hempstead (486-1000). In addition, application forms can be obtained through Councilman Robert Troiano's office (869-7799/7691). Further information is also available from the North Hempstead Community Development Agency (CDA), 51 Orchard Street, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577; 621-6770.

Persons who are physically challenged who are over 55 years of age are encouraged to apply until Stanan Management stops taking applications, since the Kimmel Housing Foundation expects that Stanan may not have enough applications to rent the "special needs." Stanan will also maintain a waiting list for future rentals. Tenant selection in these apartments is the responsibility of Stanan Management and Family and Children's Association. The joint sponsors - the Kimmel Housing Foundation and Douglaston Development - are not involved in the tenant selection process. Tenants will be selected by lottery from those applications received and, to assure compliance with state regulations, the applications will be opened before representatives of UNCCRC and Councilman Troiano at Stanan's office and the processing will begin.

Please note, the Kimmel Housing Foundation reminds all interested parties of the importance of examining the details of the apartments as well as noting the rent and income eligibility requirements and schedules, as approved by the State of New York, as listed below: