Lottery Opens for More Than 100 Affordable Units With Solar, A/C, Geothermal in East New York

A lottery has launched for 129 truly affordable apartments in an under-construction development that will incorporate cutting-edge green technology at 573 Emerald Street in East New York. The apartments will be in Linden Terrace II, one of three buildings that make up the 548-unit Linden Terrace development.

The eight-story Linden Terrace II building will have a total of 160 apartments as well as a recreation room, children’s playroom, outdoor terrace and more, according to the lottery website.

The first building of the trio had a ribbon cutting ceremony in March to celebrate its opening. The two other buildings are slated to be finished by early 2024, according to a Housing Preservation and Development press release. The development was funded through the city’s Mix & Match, Extremely Low-Income and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA), and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) programs, and includes housing for the formerly homeless. Forty percent of its apartments will remain permanently affordable, HPD said in the release.

Apartments included in the lottery for Linden Terrace II are for those with a household income between 30 percent and 70 percent of the Area Median Income, or between $16,183 for a single person and $115,850 for a family of seven.

The units include studios and one-, two- and three-bedrooms, with the cheapest being a studio that rents for $397 a month, and the most expensive being a three-bedroom that goes for $1,865 a month. For those earning 30 percent of AMI, a three-bedroom is available for as little as $683 a month.

The apartments are compact, with studios around 391 square feet and three-bedrooms around 887 square feet, floor plans on city’s Housing Connect website shows. Each bedroom has a closet, and three-bedroom units have two bathrooms.

Other building perks include covered parking, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, air conditioning, cable or satellite TV, security cameras, an on-site resident manager, elevator and an accessible entrance. It is smoke-free and does not seem to allow pets.

The fully electric building will use solar and geothermal for hot water and heating and cooling, according to Magnusson Architecture and Planning, the architect behind the plans. Radson Development is the developer. The project received NYSERDA’s Buildings of Excellence Award in the program’s first round.

It is not the first affordable complex to explore green technology: Gateway Elton in East New York also has solar panels, and 424 Melrose in Bushwick uses Passive House technology. Last year, City Council mandated that new construction must be electric by 2027.

Located in Community Board 5, the complex is near the L train and B15 bus, and is close to the recently opened Shirley Chisholm State Park, according to the lottery information. The lot at 573 Emerald Street has been vacant for at least 20 years, tax documents show.

HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. said in a March press release that nearly a third of the three-building complex will serve the lowest income New Yorkers, including those experiencing homelessness and in need of supportive services. “Not only are 40 percent of these homes permanently affordable to serve this community but they are also built to high standards to improve quality of life and combat the growing threat posed by climate change,” he said.

Applications for the affordable housing lottery must be submitted by November 14. Apply through NYC Housing Connect.

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