French American Aid for Children was delighted to visit The Eliza, a newly opened mixed-use and affordable housing development co-developed by our grantee, The Children’s Village, in Manhattan’s Inwood neighborhood. Opened in June 2024, The Eliza is home to the new Inwood Branch of the NYPL and 174 deeply affordable apartments, all occupied by individuals and families selected through a carefully administered, need-based application process.
During our visit, we toured the building’s impressive community spaces, including Universal Pre-K classrooms and the Activities, Culture, and Training (ACTS) Center, which features a state-of-the-art STEM robotics lab, teaching kitchen, performance space, sensory room, and classrooms designed to support youth and families. We were also fortunate to enjoy lunch prepared through the on-site Teaching Kitchen, where young people gain hands-on culinary training and valuable work experience. We thank Jeremy Kohomban and Jamila Baucom for the warm welcome, informative tour, and for sharing their inspiring vision for integrated, community-centered affordable housing.
