FORT GREENE — The city is planning to build an affordable housing development for seniors on a grassy area in the Ingersoll Houses.
The building is slated to go up an 11,500-square-foot lawn area at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Street across the street from Fort Greene Park and within the confines of the public housing development.
The building will be 100 percent affordable and designated for seniors over the age of 62 who earn less than 60 percent of the area median income. There will also be a community room on the first floor, along with newly planted trees along the south side of the building.
It is unclear how tall the building will be and how many residential units it will contain.
“Our seniors are the fastest growing population in New York City and we should all be so honored to join their ranks one day," Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo said in a statement. "As our seniors are living longer and healthier lives, affordable housing will be critical in preserving the socioeconomic and intergenerational diversity across the five boroughs."
Last week the city issued a call for developers to submit applications to build and manage the new site. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) will continue to own the land and will require developers to submit a plan to train and hire NYCHA residents during and after construction.
Developers must also keep current residents regularly informed of the project's progress.
The city requires that NYCHA residents have preference for 25 percent of the units.
The city plans to select a developer by the end of the year.
The new building is part of the mayor's NextGeneration NYCHA plan that aims to earn a surplus of $230 million over the next 10 years — up from a projected $2.5 billion deficit over the same period — by leasing the lots to developers to build both affordable and market-rate housing.
