Officials from a nonprofit group along with community members held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday to unveil plans for a new affordable housing development.

The nonprofit group The Bridge is building the development at 3500 Park Ave. There will be 115 units with some reserved for those who were once homeless as well as mentally ill residents and disabled veterans. The other units will be open to the rest of the community.

"That corner has been a little eyesore so it will bring some vitality back to the community," says Etta Ritter, of Community Board 3. "It's gonna give it more life."

The units will be open to those who make below 60 percent of the area's median income. People can apply for the units through a lottery system, which will be open a few months before the building is ready. 

"It's really a fantastic feeling," says Susan Wiviott, the CEO of The Bridge.

The project is expected to be completed in about two years.