New York Construction Report staff writer
Gov. Kathy Hochul this week announced the completion of a 322-unit affordable housing development in East Flatbush and the groundbreaking of a neighboring 261-unit project, marking the latest milestones in the state’s $1.4 billion Vital Brooklyn Initiative.
The two developments — Utica Crescent and Sparrow Square — will add 583 affordable apartments and expand access to health care, supportive housing and community services in Central Brooklyn, one of the state’s historically underserved regions.
With the latest projects, more than 2,500 affordable homes have been completed or are under construction through the Vital Brooklyn Initiative, according to the governor’s office.
“These two transformative developments in East Flatbush bring the promise of the Vital Brooklyn Initiative to life — creating affordable apartments and expanding access to health and community services in an area of the city that has been underserved for decades,” Hochul said in a statement.
Utica Crescent, a $256 million development built on a former parking lot adjacent to Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, includes 322 apartments for households earning up to 80% of the area median income. Eighty-nine apartments are reserved for older adults eligible for on-site supportive services.
The development also includes a health care center operated by One Brooklyn Health System, retail space, a grocery store, community facilities and recreational amenities. Seventeen apartments are designed for residents with mobility disabilities, and seven are equipped for residents with sensory disabilities.
The project was developed by Monadnock Development, CB Emmanuel and Equity Developers LLC. It was financed through a combination of state tax-exempt bonds, low-income housing tax credits and state subsidies, with supportive services funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative.
Construction also began on Sparrow Square, a $242 million, all-electric affordable housing development on the former Kingsboro Psychiatric Center campus. The project is the first New York City development to break ground under Hochul’s $1 billion mental health initiative.
The first phase includes 261 affordable apartments, with more than 100 reserved for vulnerable households and people experiencing homelessness who will have access to on-site supportive services. Plans also include community space, a ballet studio and social service facilities.
When the three-phase redevelopment is complete, the site is expected to include up to 1,081 affordable homes, with about 9% designated for homeownership.
The project is being developed by Douglaston Development and Breaking Ground with financing from New York State Homes and Community Renewal, the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
The Vital Brooklyn Initiative combines investments in affordable housing, health care, open space and economic development to address longstanding health and economic disparities across Central Brooklyn neighborhoods.
