WILLIAMSBURG — More than 70,000 people applied for affordable housing at a Williamsburg building with just 38 units, officials said.
The lottery for the new, seven-story building at 59 Frost St., where rents will start at just $640 per month for a studio, opened in October.
When applications closed on Dec. 22, more than 70,000 people had applied online in hopes of nabbing a spot in the building just two blocks from McCarren Park, according to a Department of Housing Preservation and Development spokeswoman.
That's far more applicants than at nearby 1133 Manhattan Ave., where nearly 60,000 people applied for 105 units earlier this year.
"All of our housing lotteries receive a large response, but location tends to be a significant factor when we see those that are as heavily subscribed as 59 Frost St.," HPD said in a statement.
Rent for one-bedrooms at the building will start at $689 per month, while rent for two-bedrooms will start at $835 per month.
People earning 50, 60 and 80 percent of the area median income will qualify for the apartments. A person who makes between $25,338 and $29,400 could qualify for a one-bedroom, while a household with a minimum income between $30,412 and $33,600 could qualify for a two-bedroom unit.
Residents living within Brooklyn Community Board 1 boundaries, including Williamsburg and Greenpoint, will receive preference for half of the units.
City employees, people with visual or hearing impairments and people with mobility impairments will receive preference for several units as well.
The building will feature amenities including a community room, outdoor space with a playground, bicycle parking and a laundry room.
In addition to the 38 units that were part of the lottery, the building will have eight units reserved for the developmentally disabled. A final unit will be reserved for a super, according to HPD, meaning the building has 47 units total.
Applications for 59 Frost St. are still being compiled and reviewed, HPD said. People who are eligible for an apartment will begin hearing from the city in March.
The $12.9 million project, by Dunn Development Corp., is expected to be ready for tenants to move in next year.
