The first phase of a major affordable housing development in East New York broke ground on Tuesday, marking the start of a project that will initially create 385 affordable and supportive homes.
Phase 1A of the Innovative Urban Village housing development on the Christian Cultural Center's campus will offer apartments to households earning up to 80% of the area median income, and 94 apartments reserved for households eligible for on-site support services, such as case management, legal services, nutritional support and social services.
Once complete, the $271 million project will create a total of 2,000 affordable apartments in 10 buildings, and feature community space with child care, senior services, workforce development and a new performing arts center.
“The best way to tackle our city’s housing crisis is to build more affordable housing, and that is exactly what our administration is doing," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. "Innovative Urban Village will bring more homes, more jobs, and more joy to Brooklyn, while giving more New Yorkers access to a brighter future in this vibrant community."
New York remains committed to keeping the state affordable and ensuring everyone has a safe and modern home to call their own, said Governor Kathy Hochul.
“This project is helping us fight the housing affordability crisis while also prioritizing improvements that will make the neighborhood more livable for families," she said.
Innovative Urban Village will feature all-electric heating and cooling, solar panels, green roofs with drought resistant vegetation to reduce heat and water consumption, electric vehicle charging stations, low-flow fixtures, LED lighting, and ENERGY STAR appliances.
The project is a joint-venture partnership between the city, state, Christian Cultural Center, The Gotham Organization and Monadnock Development. It was designed by Practice for Architecture and Urbanism and SLCE Architects. The Urban Resource Institute will provide the on-site support services.
“We are confident that the ripple effects of this dynamic mixed-income community will be felt far beyond East New York, setting an example for all of New York to follow," said Christian Cultural Center Senior Pastor Rev A. R. Bernard.
