Construction has started on a $118 million mixed-use affordable housing development in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Brownsville.
Known as Bridge Rockaway, the development will offer 174 affordable apartments, including 87 with supportive services, and 39,000 sq. ft. of ground floor manufacturing space which will be available for lease to light manufacturers. The manufacturing space will be separately owned and operated by GreenpointManufacturing and Design Center, a nonprofit industrial developer, and it is expected to create up to 35 jobs.
The project’s general contractor, Mega Contracting, plans to partner with Building Skills NY and HireNYC to hire locally for the duration of construction, Brooklyn Paper reported.
The development team consists of The Bridge, Mega Development and GreenpointManufacturing and Design Center.
“Quality affordable homes and good paying jobs are the foundation for successful and thriving communities, and that is what we are delivering to Brownsville with this important investment,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a May 17 statement. “Bridge Rockaway is an innovative collaboration between state and nonprofit partners that will bolster our continued efforts to revitalize Central Brooklyn.”
The development will consist of two residential towers, one with six floors, and another with seven floors, separated by an 11,000-sq. ft. garden. All 174 apartments will be affordable to households earning 70 percent of the Area Median Income or less. There is one superintendent unit.
Thirty-five households will have access to on-site supportive services and rental subsidies funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. These homes will be reserved for seniors and veterans in need of supportive services.
An additional 52 apartments will be reserved for chronically homeless adults. Services for these individuals will be funded through the NYC 15/15 Congregate Supportive Housing Services Program administered by the New York City Human Resources Administration and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. On-site supportive services will be provided by The Bridge.
Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center will operate a 39,000-sq. ft. manufacturing space on the building’s ground floor that will provide affordable small scale manufacturing facilities to approximately 10 to 12 local businesses. It is expected that the facility will create up to 35 jobs.
Residential amenities will include a ground floor community facility space, a continuously-staffed lobby reception area, and a community garden. Additional residential amenities will be on the second floor including social services offices, a computer room, a community kitchen, a multipurpose room, bicycle room, storage, and laundry facilities.
State financing for the residential portion includes $11.4 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $46 million equity and $16.9 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is providing $6.5 million through the Homeless Housing Assistance Program. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development is providing $17.1 million in support.
Empire State Development has agreed to support the $11.8 million manufacturing space with a capital grant of up to $1.6 million. The grant was recommended by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council and reflects New York State’s efforts to revitalize and grow New York’s manufacturing sector and support small businesses.
