The transformation of the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center in East Flatbush into an affordable, supportive housing complex is underway after developers secured funding for the project’s first phase.
Breaking Ground and Douglaston Development on Wednesday said they secured $242 million to advance the first stage of the Sparrow Square development.
Phase I will be comprised of two 10-story residential buildings that will have 261 affordable residences available to low and moderate-income individuals earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income. Of the 261 residences, 117 units will be designated as supportive housing. Shared amenities will include a fully equipped gym, bike storage and terraces.
Phase I includes construction of an 8,800-square-foot community facility for the Brooklyn Ballet, designed to support arts programming and community engagement, as well as a new private drive to be named Sparrow Way aligned with 43rd Street to integrate the residential buildings and community facility into the surrounding street grid, officials said.
“The closing of Phase I of Sparrow Square marks an exciting step toward delivering much-needed affordable and supportive housing for the East Flatbush community,” Brenda Rosen, president and chief executive officer of Breaking Ground said in a statement. “In addition to more than 250 units of housing, this project will also bring wraparound services and stability that help people thrive."
The project is part of the state's $1.4 billion Vital Brooklyn Initiative, which is turning state-owned land into housing, healthcare and community-oriented developments. When completed, the 7.2 acres of Sparrow Square will include about 1,000 affordable and supportive housing units.
“Phase I represents a major step forward in our commitment to creating high-quality, affordable homes that strengthen the communities we serve,” said Liz Oakley, chief development officer at Douglaston Development. “By bringing new housing, cultural space, and improved connectivity to East Flatbush, we’re proud to help advance the goals of the Vital Brooklyn Initiative and support long-term neighborhood vitality.”
Each building will be designed to Passive House standards, with all electric utilities and high-performing insulation. The project will also feature EV charging, sustainable stormwater management practices, solar panels and green roofs.
The first phase is financed through a combination of state tax-exempt bonds, subsidies and tax credits, as well as funding from Homeless Housing & Assistance Corporation and the New York State Office of Mental Health.
The Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs Alternatives is serving as the project’s investor and provided nearly $240 million in financing.
Hill West is the Project Architect, with Adjaye Associates serving as Design Architect.
Work to start Phase I is underway, officials said. Construction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2029.
