166 Affordable Apartments Coming to Flatbush and Caton Near Prospect Park

An expanded market, community center and 166 units of affordable housing are now planned for the city-owned Flatbush Caton Market site at 794 Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush.

The Flatbush Caton Market was established in 2000 as an open-air marketplace for local Caribbean-American vendors selling everything from art to specialty foods to computer services. Early prospects for the market were sunny, and in 2002, construction finished on the permanent building that currently sits on the site — at the corner of Flatbush and Caton avenues just south of Prospect Park.

In 2013 the New York City Economic Development Corp (NYCEDC) began considering other ways to use the 31,855 square foot site and issued a request for proposals.

Tuesday, NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer, Borough President Eric Adams, and Council Member Mathieu Eugene announced that BRP Companies — a minority owned business enterprise — would redevelop the site with a cultural center and expanded market facilities, including a commercial kitchen, classroom, and business incubator, plus 116 units of affordable and subsidized mixed-income housing.

Twenty percent of the units will be reserved for low-income renters making $46,613 for a family of three. Another 30 percent will be set aside for residents earning $77,688 for a family of three.

The rest will be set aside for “middle income” families, according to DNAinfo. The building will be 100 percent affordable.

The new multi-use building will be designed by Freeform + Deform, an architecture firm based in Clinton Hill. A rendering shows a modern 10-story building with balconies and bright colors.

Developer BRP has also pledged to provide current vendors at the Flatbush Caton Market with a temporary space so that the market can continue operating during construction.

The Flatbush Caton Market is currently home to nearly 50 businesses, and is managed by the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) and overseen by the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS). The NYCEDC’s 2013 request for proposals asked for plans that would continue to house the market, in addition to providing new amenities.

The project has been allocated $6 million in city funding from the Brooklyn Borough President’s office, from Council Member Mathieu Eugene. The plans must still undergo a formal review process.

Brownstoner reached out to BRP Companies for additional information about the development project and will post an update when we hear back.

Announcing BRP Development to bring new amenities, affordable housing & cultural space to Flatbush Caton Market pic.twitter.com/voEw0tMIMq — NYCEDC (@NYCEDC) October 27, 2015

Dr Una Clarke speaking at the @NYCEDC presser announcing a developer for the Flatbush Caton Market pic.twitter.com/yLV2oJZlpJ — Lydon Sleeper (@lydonsleeper) October 27, 2015

Here’s a preview of what #FlatbushCaton Market will look like in the next few years #nycedc pic.twitter.com/eFSnmqd90O

— NYCEDC (@NYCEDC) October 27, 2015

@NYCEDC Commissioner Torres-Springer announcing redevelopment of Flatbush Caton Market to incl. 166 units housing. pic.twitter.com/a8sSs6mPmc — Flatbush Avenue BID (@FlatbushAveBID) October 27, 2015

.@EricAdamsBP2013 at FLatbush Caton market: “Development is not displacement.”

— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) October 27, 2015

[Photo: Nicholas Strini for PropertyShark | Rendering: via NYCEDC]

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