After more than 10 years of organizing, the communities of Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant have won a major victory. The city approved the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, or AAMUP, which will bring 4,600 new homes to the area. Of those, 1,900 will be permanently affordable for local residents. This marks one of the biggest steps toward fair and balanced development in Central Brooklyn in many years.
The plan was shaped by strong community input. It builds on an earlier proposal from Brooklyn Community Board 8 called M-CROWN. The plan transforms Atlantic Avenue’s underused industrial corridor into space for affordable housing, small businesses and community gathering places. Since 2022, more than a dozen public meetings were held to gather ideas and feedback. The Community Vision and Priorities Report guided the plan. Brooklyn Community Board 8 remained involved throughout and ensured the city respected the community’s needs. In May 2025, the board gave the plan its official approval.
The AAMUP will deliver 4,600 new homes with 40% set aside as permanently affordable. It will add 522 deeply affordable units on seven public sites. These include 240 units with Department of Education space at 457 Nostrand Avenue, 150 units on a Metropolitan Transportation Authority site at 1110 Atlantic Avenue and more than 100 units on state-owned land at 1024 Fulton Street. The plan uses Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Option 1 to ensure affordability for families earning between 40% and 80% of the area median income.
The plan includes $215 million for infrastructure, streets and parks. Atlantic Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to Nostrand Avenue will be redesigned to be safer and more welcoming. Six parks and playgrounds, including Dean Playground and Underhill Plaza, will be fully renovated. The plan also calls for upgrades to bike and pedestrian safety and improvements to nearby MTA subway stations.
To support residents, the plan provides $1.2 million for tenant legal services and $2.9 million for tenant organizing. More than $9.85 million will help people become homeowners through local community groups. Additionally, $7.6 million is allocated for programs to prevent tenant harassment and expand access to legal rights and counsel.
The plan also promotes local economic development. It dedicates $1.5 million to workforce programs targeting local residents. New zoning rules will encourage growth of light industrial businesses and cultural spaces. The plan protects creative and industrial uses at sites like 1000 Dean Street. It also includes $500,000 for a study to explore new uses for the Bedford-Atlantic Armory site.
What sets this plan apart is ongoing community involvement. The City Council and the Department of City Planning have pledged to hold oversight meetings twice a year. This ensures the community will continue to have a voice as the plan moves forward. The Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan aims not only to build homes but also to prevent displacement and support long-time residents. It is a significant step toward making Central Brooklyn a place where everyone can live and thrive.
