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MAP: 1,100 Affordable Housing Units Coming to Downtown Brooklyn

By Janet Upadhye | August 6, 2014 7:22am | Updated on August 8, 2014 6:07pm
 There are nine new developments planned for the Downtown Brooklyn area in the next three years.
Upcoming Affordable Housing in Downtown Brooklyn
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BROOKLYN — Downtown Brooklyn and nearby areas might be filled with luxury digs, but more than 1,000 affordable apartments are coming to the neighborhood in a boon for those who can't afford the city's soaring apartment prices.

Over the next three years, nine developments will be built, bringing nearly 4,000 residential units to the area — and 1,100 will be set aside as affordable housing available to the public through a lottery process.

The city recently announced it would spend $350 million to renovate 7,500 apartments around the five boroughs as affordable housing.

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Competition can be steep for affordable units — some with prices as low as $546 a month for a studio apartment and two-bedrooms for less than $900.

Earlier this year, the lottery for 60 Water St. in DUMBO offered 58 low-income units for residents making up to $23,520 for a studio and $41,950 for a two-bedroom.

More than 10,000 applications were received for the spots by the time the lottery, which is handled by the state, closed on April 7, according to Rob Solano, director of Churches United For Fair Housing.

Among the new affordable apartments coming to Downtown Brooklyn are hundreds in the planned developments near the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

This includes 282 at BAM North 1 at 598 Fulton St. — almost half of the building's 586 planned units.

The area is scheduled for a glitzy makeover that includes new museums, dance studios, public plazas and theaters by 2016.

To be eligible for affordable housing, applicants must fall within specified income ranges, which can vary greatly.

For example, single-person households must make between $19,024 and $29,400 to qualify for studios and one-bedrooms at 60 Water St., whereas individuals can earn up to $117,600 and qualify for a one-bedroom at 1133 Manhattan Ave. in Greenpoint.

Solano recently offered workshops for residents looking to score affordable housing in the Downtown Brooklyn area and more than 800 residents packed a Clinton Hill church to get tips on how to get applications seen by HPD.

The workshop is part of a series spearheaded by Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in partnership with local politicians and developers.

“The lottery process for affordable housing can be mystifying and we recognized this as an impediment for our residents being able to compete effectively for them,” said Partnership President Tucker Reed in a statement.

“This effort is coming at a key juncture to help ensure that the growth happening in our neighborhood benefits those who have long called it home.”

For instance, small errors can disqualify applicants from the lottery, including the use of whiteout on paperwork and mailing applications in large envelopes. 

The next workshop will take place Nov. 13 at the Hanson Place Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

On Feb. 4, 2015 there will be another at Pratt Institute and the third workshop will take place on June 10, 2015 at Ingersoll Community Center. The last will take place Oct. 6, 2015 at Church of the Sacred Heart in Fort Greene.

Check HPD's Housing Connect website for a list of open lotteries and tips on how to apply for these buildings. None of the following lotteries have opened:

Atlantic B2, 461 Dean St.
181 affordable units
Developer: Forrest City Ratner
Completed: late 2015

BAM South, 286 Ashland Pl.
60 affordable units
Developer: Two Trees Management Company
Completed: late 2015

BAM North 1, 250 Ashland Pl.
282 affordable units
Developer: Gotham Organization, Inc.
Completed: unknown

The Hub, 333 Schermerhorn St.
150 affordable units
Developer: Douglas Steiner
Completed: late 2016

300 Livingston St.
132 affordable units
Developer: TF Cornerstone
Completed: late 2016

8-16 Nevins St.
37 affordable units
Developer: Sequoia Development Group
Completed: late 2016

210 Livingston St.
60 affordable units
Developer: Benenson Capital Partners and Rose Associates
Completed: late 2017

BAM North 2, 280 Ashland Pl.
46 affordable units
Developer: Jonathan Rose Companies
Completed: unknown

City Point Phase 2, 1 Dekalb Ave.
125 affordable units
Developer: BFC Partners
Completed: spring 2015