The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and NYCHA are partnering with Blue Sea Development and Gilbane Development to create 154 affordable units for senior citizens in Bushwick, the agency announced Monday.
Linden Court, a 13-story building, will rise at NYCHA's Bushwick II Houses on Linden Street, between Knickerbocker and Wilson Avenues.
The project is part of HPD's Senior First initiative, a three-pronged strategy to make more homes accessible to seniors and people with disabilities; developing new senior housing on NYCHA and other city-owned lands; and preserving more of the senior housing originally developed through federal housing plans.
"Through Housing New York, we continue to put our seniors first, seizing every opportunity to create more affordable housing on public sites," said HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. "The selected proposal will create new homes for seniors on underused NYCHA land, providing an anchor of affordability to both individuals and communities."
The new senior residence will include approximately 3,000 square feet of community space for senior social and health services run by JASA, one of the city's largest agencies serving older adults. Linden Court will also bring a senior center with an art gallery and café, warming kitchen and two large multi-program rooms which can be divided to accommodate small classes and events. The Brooklyn Arts Council will provide additional cultural programming.
"The variety of services and programming provided by JASA and the Brooklyn Arts Council will further enhance healthy living and cultural opportunities at Linden Court, through seniors' fitness areas, spaces for art and social gatherings, and healthy food options through rooftop community gardening, to name a few," said Blue Sea Development Company Principal Les Bluestone.
Linden Court will serve residents age 62 years and older, where 25 percent of the units will be set aside for NYCHA residents and 30 percent of the apartments will be reserved for homeless seniors. NYCHA will maintain the ownership of the land to ensure long-term affordability, city officials said.
