McCoy Place

The Alpert Group and the Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County came together to build a 40-unit community that provides a safe and nurturing environment for special needs individuals – focusing on accommodations for populations with Asperger’s Syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis. The development is comprised of five two-story buildings and one stand-alone community building. The buildings were designed to match the aesthetic characteristics of existing homes nestled in wooded lots throughout the area.

The McCoy Road site presented the design team with a number of development challenges and restrictions, including steep slopes, substantial wetland areas and designated state open waters both on and adjacent to the property. Despite these challenges, McCoy Place still provided 20 fully accessible ground floor units designed for residents with sensory sensitivities to both physical and social environments.

The one-story community building offers residents a private space to meet with their social service provider, enables the residents to gather for larger social functions, and also provides smaller intimate areas for quieter activities and events. In addition, an on-site exercise space allows residents to engage in physical activities and therapy. An expansive outdoor gathering area is available to both residents and members of the larger community. McCoy Place is truly an integrated special needs community and a model for future developments of its kind.