Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for Glassy Gowanus Complex

An affordable housing lottery has launched for a new 11-story, 92-unit building on the corner of Gowanus’ 3rd Avenue and Baltic Street, the latest lottery to go live for a development benefitting from the area’s rezoning. The glassy new complex includes an art room, podcast room, and ball court, among other amenities. Units start from $1,020.

Included in the lottery for the so-called Baltic House, located at 556 Baltic Street (formerly 159 3rd Avenue), are 23 studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments, all rent-stabilized and income-restricted, 18 of which could be deemed truly affordable. Those are set aside for families earning 40 and 60 percent of the Area Median Income, or between $40,595 and $175,000 a year for households of one to five people, according to the listing.

Ten units are one bedrooms at $1,020 and $1,609 a month. Eight are two bedrooms renting for $1,908 a month. The remaining five apartments are aimed at households of one to five people earning 100 percent of AMI, or between $94,286 and $175,000. Studios in this bracket cost $2,608 and there is a one-bedroom renting for $3,233 a month.

According to the permits, the new corner development, which spans 3rd Avenue from Baltic to Butler streets, was designed by Jay Architect & Engineering DPC and developed by 159 Third Residence LLC, with Simon Kaufman as managing member.

In addition to the podcast room, art room, and ball court, the complex includes a children’s playroom, gym, dog run, theatre, backyard, rooftop terrace, and bike room, according to the lottery listing. Some amenities cost an additional fee, it adds. Apartments have air conditioning, washers and dryers in unit, and split unit heating and cooling.

The rent includes hot water, but tenants have to cover electricity, which includes the stove and heating. Pets under 40 pounds are allowed, subject to approval.

Renderings on the development’s site show that the units have floor-to-ceiling windows, white finishes, stainless steel appliances, marble benchtops, light wood floors and cabinetry. The building itself has a fully glass facade that climbs 11 stories on the corner of Baltic Street and 3rd Avenue. About halfway down its 3rd Avenue facade, the facade drops to five stories. All corner units appear to have balconies, as do some others, and there appears to be rooftop plantings.

There are three unregulated apartments in the building currently listed on StreetEasy, with a studio priced at $3,425 a month, a one bedroom at $4,700, and a two bedroom at $5,750 a month.

The site of the new development was previously home to a car wash and gas station. In May 2022, the longtime owner Asti Holding Corp issued a 99-year ground lease for the site to 159 Third Realty LLC for $15 million. By 2023, demolition of the former one-story industrial buildings was complete.

The 2021 rezoning of Gowanus has seen developers scoop up a number of commercial and industrial sites with low lying structures in the neighborhood and replace them with large residential developments.

Because Baltic House is taking advantage of the rezoning, it is required to include affordable units under the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program. It is also expected to receive the 485-X tax break, according to the listing.

The 556 Baltic Street Apartments lottery closes on February 9. To apply, visit the listing on New York City’s Housing Connect website.

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• Gowanus Affordable Housing Lottery Opens With $1,031 Two-Bedrooms
• Extensive Construction in Gowanus Forecasts a Very Different Neighborhood Ahead

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