Where Is Affordable Housing Promised for ‘Burg?


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The City hasn’t only failed to live up to its promises for parkland, but has built less than 2 percent of the affordable housing it pledged in exchange for rezoning the North Brooklyn waterfront, DNAinfo reported. Eight years ago the City said rezoning would allow 1,345 affordable units on City-owned land in North Brooklyn; in fact, only 19 have been built. The track record is slightly better for privately owned affordable housing: Out of 2,203 promised affordable units, 788 have been built. The City says more affordable housing is in the works, including in the Domino conversion and the controversial Greenpoint Landing complex. A group of nonprofits and local pols are planning a protest Wednesday to demand the City build more affordable housing in the area, where rents have skyrocketed to Manhattan levels. The rally will take place at 6 pm Wednesday, May 22, on Kent Avenue and North 7th Street.
City Built Less Than 2 Percent of Affordable Units Promised to Williamsburg [DNAinfo]

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The Shelton Begins Closings Next Month



The big, 13-story Bed Stuy build The Shelton will begin closing units early in May, and occupancy will begin immediately after said closings. The 83-unit, middle-income building features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The developers held an affordable lottery for 30 percent of the units in January 2012; market-rate units hit the open market one month later. According to a press release, “The remaining units include: two-bedrooms priced from $395,000 to $456,500 (including a penthouse with private terrace) with 986 to 992 square feet of living space, and two 1,113-square-foot three-bedroom homes from $445,000 to $455,000.” The building hit the 70 percent mark last September.
Bed Stuy’s The Shelton Is 70 Percent Sold [Brownstoner] Bed Stuy’s The Shelton Hits the Open Market [Brownstoner]
The Shelton Gets Bricked [Brownstoner]
Bed Stuy’s The Shelton Tops Off [Brownstoner]

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Cranes Out at Huge Affordable Greenpoint Build



Site work is well under way at the affordable and market-rate build at 1133 Manhattan Avenue, between Box and Clay streets. The building isn’t going up yet, but a few massive cranes were digging up the ground the other day. A rendering for the 210-unit residential building planned here came out earlier this year. The studio, one- and two-bedroom units will be half affordable, half market rate. The building will also have 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail along Manhattan Avenue, a roof terrace, lounge and parking garage. It’s supposed to be ready for occupancy by late 2014.
Look of Greenpoint Build on Manhattan Avenue Revealed [Brownstoner]
New Building Planned for Northern Tip of Greenpoint [Brownstoner] GMAP

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Facade Finished for Putnam Court



Behold, the final product at Dunn Development’s supportive housing project in Clinton Hill, Putnam Court. Looks just like the rendering! The city held a lottery for the apartment units, reserved for low-income singles and formerly homeless people, last November. The developers are finishing up interior work and expect initial occupancy around the end of May. They are also still accepting applications to add to the rental log, which will form the basis of the waitlist after initial rent-up is completed. An application for that is here.
Affordable Units Available for New Putnam Build [Brownstoner]
Developer Addresses Concerns on Putnam Project [Brownstoner]
Putnam Court, Rendered [Brownstoner]
Big Dig at Putnam Avenue Lot [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Affordable Build Going up This Month [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Lot to Become Affordable Housing [Brownstoner] GMAP

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Brownstone in Park Slope Sells for Half Off



A brownstone at 501 Garfield Place in Park Slope has sold for $800,000, half off its former sales price, according to a tipster who alerted us to the sale. The property was not listed, but formerly changed hands for $1.6 million in 1996, according to PropertyShark. It was an arm’s length transaction, said our informant, who added that he thought the banking crisis in Cyprus might have had something to do with the sudden drop in value. Formerly a Building of the Day, the brownstone was designed by Montrose Morris and located just a stone’s throw from Prospect Park on one of the best blocks in Park Slope. Inside, the brownstone’s original details were perfectly preserved, with new mechanicals, including updated kitchens and baths. “The marble went on for acres and the back wall was blown out with custom-made iron windows,” said someone who saw the interior before the sale.  ”I’m not sure if the seller got in over his head with the renovations — or maybe conforming to Landmarks’ requests for historic windows was the last straw.” A real estate agent we contacted who requested anonymity, said “In 30 years of selling real estate, I’ve never seen anything like this. Run for the hills.” We are looking into emigrating to Canada. Does anyone know more?

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66 Rockwell Accepting Applications for Affordable Units



Applications are now being accepted for 63 affordable rental units in the under-construction tower at 66 Rockwell Place, formerly known as 29 Flatbush Avenue. Studio, one-, and two-bedroom units are allotted for families with up to four people with income of $20,640 to $42,950 a year. You can see a full breakdown of the income requirements and rental prices after the jump. You can also download the affordable housing application right here (applications must be postmarked by May 21, 2013). The 456-foot tower will have a total of 327 apartments. The developers aim to start leasing the market rate rentals this summer.
Name Change, Facebook Page for 29 Flatbush [Brownstoner] GMAP
Construction Moving Quickly at 29 Flatbush Avenue [Brownstoner]
29 Flatbush Finally Coming Together? [Brownstoner] (more…)

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Two Trees’ Ambitious New Proposal for Domino


Two Trees has revealed the full extent of its plan for the old Domino sugar refinery site: A SHoP Architects-designed rethink of the 11-acre site. The SHoP designs, which we got a peek at last week, are very simply a huge step forward architecturally and are a refreshing change from the same-old, same-old we’ve come to expect from new buildings in Brooklyn. If implemented, the new design will more than triple the amount of office space in the neighborhood, adding more than 600,000 square feet of commercial space,  and increase the overall square footage of the site by 10 percent.
Rendering Courtesy SHoP Architects and James Corner Field Operations (more…)

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Bed Stuy Affordable Housing Project a Go



Construction’s begun at 482 Franklin Avenue, a lot next to the Brooklyn Library between Jefferson Avenue and Hancock Street in Bed Stuy. What’s to come: an eight-story building with 92 units of housing. The architect on record is Aufgang + Subotovsky Architecture and Planning. Last we heard the development will be affordable housing, and that was recently confirmed by a person involved with the project. Construction is expected to last two years. A tipster notes: “Thankfully, they saved the two huge oaks at the front of the lot after clearing out all the other trees that had sprouted up. I hope that is a sign that it will not be something hideous.” Renovation has also started up at the prewar building next door, he said. The owners are renovating the apartments, replacing the windows and fixing up the facade. GMAP

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Affordable Homes Slated for Brownsville


A parking lot on Mother Gaston Boulevard in Brownsville will be transformed into a 12-story apartment building with low-income and supportive housing, the New York City Housing Authority has announced. CAMBA Housing Ventures is the developer of the project. Above is a rendering of the building, known as the Van Dyke Supportive Housing Project, which will be located between Dumont and Livonia Avenues. The development will include 100 apartments consisting of 44 one-bedrooms and 56 two-bedrooms. At least 30 percent of the units will go to homeless families or those at risk for homelessness. A quarter will be set aside for NYCHA residents, and the rest will go to low-income families earning as much as 60 percent of the area median income, or $51,540 a year for a family of four. Also on site will be a mental health clinic, community space, and employment training. Nonprofit CAMBA, an affiliate of the developer, operates job training programs and plans to train NYCHA residents to apply for construction jobs on the project. CAMBA Housing Ventures has developed 396 units of housing in Brooklyn and has 459 more in development. Construction should wrap in the summer of 2014.
Rendering via CAMBA Housing Ventures

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Look of Greenpoint Build on Manhattan Avenue Revealed



Greenpointers nabbed the above renderings for a seven-story, 210-unit residential building planned for Manhattan Avenue between Box and Clay streets. The developers filed plans for this site, which holds a warehouse, one year ago. The 210 apartments will range from studios to two-bedrooms, with half of them priced affordably and the other half priced at market rate. The building itself will have an on-site parking garage, a rooftop terrace, media and game rooms, a fitness center, and a resident lounge. Along Manhattan Avenue at ground level will run 8,000 square feet of retail. According to Greenpointers, “Preliminary construction appears to be under way and is scheduled to be completed in late 2014.”
New Development at Manhattan and Box [Greenpointers]
New Building Planned for Northern Tip of Greenpoint [Brownstoner] GMAP
Rendering via Greenpointers

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Mixed-Use, Affordable Project Going up in Crown Heights



A huge affordable housing and commercial development is in the works for Crown Heights. The project in question is 250 Utica Avenue, on the corner of Lincoln Place, and it will consist of twelve stories of residential and four stories of commercial space. L&M Development Partners, also of the Navy Green development, are building it out, and last week they presented their plans to Community Board Eight’s land use and housing committee. The plan consists of 87 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, most targeted at 60 percent of the area medium income. L&M is working with nearby St. Matthews Church on this development, and will construct a community facility for the church. The developers will reserve 26 units for veterans, with eight of those units specifically going to formerly homeless veterans. The commercial space will include a day care center on the first floor, a discount market on the second floor, and a discount gym on the third floor. The commercial space will be LEED certified and the residential portion will be energy efficient, complete with a landscaped roof. The development will also include 18 ground-level parking spaces for residents and an underground lot with 87 spaces. L&M has already started site excavation and expects the commercial space will be finished in about 18 months. The time frame for completing the residential portion is about 20 to 22 months. GMAP

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Burg Waterfront Rentals Half Gone in a Month


The 160-unit affordable and market rate waterfront apartment building at 15 Dunham Place in South Williamsburg is half leased after only a month, according to listing agent Corcoran. At the same time, the building has received its certificate of occupancy, and move-ins began Saturday. Half the units are affordable and have already been leased. According to The Real Deal, 23 market-rate apartments are still listed as available on Streeteasy. ”Renters have been attracted to the incredible location on the Brooklyn waterfront and the fact that each unit has iconic views of the Manhattan skyline, the East River or Williamsburg Bridge,” said Corcoran agent Christine Blackburn in a press release. The building was designed by Greenberg Farrow and built by L&M Development Partners. It has a 13,000-square-foot common terrace, gym, laundry, part-time doorman, parking and bike storage. Above, the greenwall in the lobby.
Dunham Place Reaches 50 Percent Leased Mark [TRD]
Mixed-Income Affordable Waterfront Build in South Burg Now Renting [Brownstoner]
Listing for 11 Dunham Place PHK [Corcoran]
Affordable Rents on Williamsburg Waterfront [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photo by Corcoran

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Upkeep at Affordable Building on Waterfront


A tipster sent in these photos of a building on the Columbia Street Waterfront that seems to be getting some work done. An affordable housing banner from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development hangs on the scaffolding. We thought maybe this eight-unit building at 143 Columbia Street was being converted into affordable housing, but it appears that already happened in the early ’90s and the brick facade is merely being repointed. As far as we can tell, the building was converted in the early ’90s by the Carroll Gardens Association Inc. The current owner is the South Brooklyn Renewal Housing Development Fund Corp., and the only permits filed since the early ’90s are ones for repointing and a sidewalk shed. Anyone have any more information?

(more…)

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Developers Receive Award for Navy Green Project



The Navy Green, the massive affordable development under construction between Flushing, Park Avenue, Vanderbilt and Waverly Avenue, was recently recognized by the The New York State Association for Affordable Housing. NYSAFAH held its first annual Awards for Excellence Fall Reception last week and awarded Dunn Development and L+M Development Partners the “Downstate Project of the Year.” (An award goes to an upstate project, as well.) The developers were judged upon design, financing, construction techniques, affordability, community need, supportive services and energy efficiency. Currently three building are finished at the project. Once complete, there will be four multifamily buildings, 23 townhomes, 8,000 square feet of ground floor retail and community facility space, and a 32,000-square-foot common green.

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Bushwick Convent May Be Turned Into Affordable Housing



A Bushwick nonprofit set up by Vito Lopez is eyeing a former convent to develop into affordable and special-needs housing, reported DNAinfo. The proposal has been greenlighted by Bushwick Community Board 4, and Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council and developer Georgica Green are applying for tax credits and subsidies from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. If the proposal is approved by the state, the building should be ready by the end of next year. The project would cost about $25 million and employ about 40 people. Half the units in the building would consist of three-bedroom apartments for large families and half would be studios for special-needs residents. The building will also provide counselors, security, outdoor space, and nurses. (more…)

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Affordable Build in PLG Gets Public Airing



According to the Q at Parkside blog, Community Board Nine will meet with developer Tom Anderson concerning the new development planned for 33 Lincoln Road near Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. This is the former site of the controversial 20-story glass tower. The new proposal will be a 133-unit affordable rental building with twenty percent of the units affordable to low-income families and 80 percent affordable to middle-income families. According to the Q at Parkside, there is some local concern about the affordable housing aspect of the project. The CB9 meeting will be held Tuesday at 7 pm, at 400 Empire Boulevard.
Tuesday CB9 Meeting Agenda [The Q at Parkside]
PLG Tower Plans Scratched for Nine-Story Rental [Brownstoner]
Nine-Story Rental Planned for Old Prospect Park Tower Site [Curbed]
Two Buildings for the PLG Glass Tower Site? [Brownstoner]
PLG Tower Site Officially Sells [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Action at PLG Tower Site [Brownstoner]
Would-Be PLG Tower Site Sold? [Brownstoner]
Site for Glassy PLG Tower Hits the Market [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB

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Affordable Units Available for New Putnam Build



Putnam Court, the affordable housing development going up in Clinton Hill, began marketing for the non homeless studio units. There are 24 studio apartments with a rent of $613, for those making an annual income between $22,068 and $29,050. If you are interested in applying, you can download the application here. The other 34 units are reserved for formerly homeless people with psychiatric issues, which was the cause of some concern for Clinton Hill residents this spring. Currently the developer is about 65 percent complete with construction. Here’s a rendering of the final project.
Developer Addresses Concerns on Putnam Project [Brownstoner]
Putnam Court, Rendered [Brownstoner]
Big Dig at Putnam Avenue Lot [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Affordable Build Going up This Month [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Lot to Become Affordable Housing [Brownstoner] GMAP

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More Affordable Units Available at 40 Vanderbilt



The Pratt Area Community Council is still accepting applications for 40 Vanderbilt, the affordable studio apartment building within the under-construction Navy Green complex. PACC held the first lottery here last year. According to a bulletin by Community Board Two, studio units are available for single adults with incomes ranging from $21,774 to $28,650, and monthly rents are between $492 and $664. The units come furnished and with on-site social services provided by the nonprofit Brooklyn Community Housing and Services. Apartments are available for immediate occupancy. Here are all the details about the building and how to apply. When all is said and done at the Navy Green project, there will be 458 units total (both affordable and market rate) as well as commercial space, a common green area, and community facility spaces. Update: this post has been updated due to previous inaccuracies about the rents and income ranges.
More Affordable Units Available at Navy Green [Brownstoner]
Photo via 40Vanderbilt.org

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Bike Lanes, Affordable Housing on CB1 Agenda Tonight



If you can make it out to the Community Board One meeting tonight, there are quite a few agenda items of note up for discussion. The first is for the creation of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway on West Street (photo, above) from Eagle Street to Quay Street in Greenpoint. The Department of Transporation and the Department of Design and Construction will present a schematic for a two-way separated bike bath; a planted buffer, speed tables and improved pavement markings at intersections; and the relocation of existing above ground utilities to underground. That’s a full twelve blocks of bike lanes along the waterfront! Next up: the proposal for an “urban farm site” at 104 Moore Street, a vacant lot between Graham Avenue and Humboldt Street in Bushwick. It will be used as an enhancement to the nearby Moore Street Market. Finally, the Williamsburg nonprofit St. Nicks Alliance will present a proposal to develop affordable housing with commercial space at 695 Grand Street, between Graham and Manhattan avenues. The meeting is tonight at 6:30 pm at 211 Ainslie Street in Williamsburg.
Photo by Google Maps

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Fulton Street Affordable Housing Nearly All Rented



The nine-story mixed-use affordable building at the corner of Fulton and Albany in Bed Stuy we have been following for a while is almost all rented and has been renamed the Acacia. (It was the Bradford.) There are five units at market prices still left, according to Streeteasy, with a one-bedroom going for $1,887. All the units feature granite and stainless steel kitchens. (The affordable units started at $377 for a one-bedroom.) To us, this seems like an attractive addition to this corner of the neighborhood. What do you think?
Listing for 1560 Fulton Street [MNS]
Rendering via MNS

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