Four buildings, comprising 57 affordable housing units in Bed-Stuy, will be transferred to IMPACCT Brooklyn, allowing tenants to remain in their homes.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, IMPACCT Brooklyn executive director Jamal Clayton Robinson, NYS Homes and Community Renewal commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas and NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development commissioner Dina Levy announced the saving of the buildings on Sept. 16.
“All New Yorkers deserve access to safe and affordable housing,” said James. “During a time of great uncertainty and distress for these tenants, I am proud that my office was able to negotiate a sale that allows them to remain in their affordable homes.”
The four buildings are located at 201 Pulaski St., 709 Lafayette Ave., 327 Franklin Ave. and 335 Franklin Ave.
The buildings were previously owned by Food First HDFC Inc., a charitable nonprofit organization that attempted to sell the buildings to a commercial purchaser. According to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General, Food First had attempted to sell the building to resolve its debts, violating state law.
The Legal Aid Society notified the OAG in April of 2024 that Food First planned to auction the building without seeking approval from government agencies or approval of the purchaser. Involved government agencies have informed Food First that the sale could not proceed.
As the new owner and manager of the building, IMPACCT will now oversee the rehabilitation of the four properties while ensuring the 57 units remain affordable. The HCR is loaning $3 million to allow IMPACCT to purchase the buildings, which will finance the units to be reserved for low- and moderate-income tenants.
According to Visnauskas, the funding not only allows tenants to keep their homes, but "Will ensure these century-old multi-family buildings will be maintained and continue to be a vital part of the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.”
