(East New York, Brooklyn) – Over four years after rezoning the site, 548 new affordable homes are sprouting up in East New York. Radson Development, Real Builders, Spring Management, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) are celebrating a ribbon cutting and lease up of the first building, fronting Linden Boulevard with 234 units, as well as the groundbreaking of phases 2 and 3, with 159 and 155 apartments, respectively. 40%, or 221 of the homes, will be permanently affordable. The affordable development was made possible by HPD and HDC’s Mix & Match, Extremely Low-Income and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA), and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) programs.
The completed building includes a diverse mix of studios to three-bedroom apartments. The rents are affordable for households earning between 30% to 80% AMI . For example, a bus driver and home health aide with a child who earn a combined $65,000 per year would qualify for a 2 bedroom for $1,437 per month. A retired teacher on a fixed income making $28,000 per year would pay $750 per month for a 1 bedroom (or $598 per month for a studio). A multiple earner family with a combined income of $95,000 per year could qualify for a 3 bedroom at $2,273 per month.
“Linden Terrace is bringing 548 affordable homes to East New York, nearly a third of which will serve the lowest income New Yorkers, including those experiencing homelessness and in need of supportive services. And, we’re building for the future. Not only are 40% of these homes permanently affordable to serve this community but they are also built to high standards to improve quality of life and combat the growing threat posed by climate change,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Thanks to our HPD team and partners Radson Development, NYSERDA, and dedicated elected officials for making this project possible.”
“This sustainably designed multi-phased development will ultimately result in 548 new affordable homes, alongside crucial supportive services. Notably, 221 of these homes will be permanently affordable, providing lasting benefit to the East New York community,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Congratulations to all our partners on the completion of the first 234 homes and breaking ground on the subsequent second and third phases of this dynamic project.”
Borough President Antonio Reynoso joined the event and applauded the new construction, urging more developments like this. “The only way to help our City’s housing crisis is to invest in more livable, high-quality, affordable housing like the development at Linden Terrance in East New York we’re acknowledging today,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “This development will help hundreds of families reach stable, affordable housing, providing them with a legitimate foundation to achieve more. Thank you to Council Member Barron and all the supporters who made this project come true.”
“Radson Development takes pride in our buildings—we want our residents to feel good about where they live. We always include tasteful, lasting materials and finishes in our units, and we construct our buildings as 100-year investments in the community,” said Dan Rad, Principal, Radson Development. The project was designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning and built by Real Builders, exceeding Enterprise Green Communities standards.
Both buildings 2 and 3 received funding through the Buildings of Excellence Competition, a one-of-a-kind $40 million design competition, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA said, “NYSERDA is pleased to see the progress on the Linden Terrace project as they celebrate with both a ribbon cutting and a groundbreaking, expanding access to supportive affordable housing that is energy efficient, as well as incorporating clean, renewable solar energy and all electric heat pumps. Buildings of Excellence projects like this one exemplify that low carbon green buildings can be beautiful, comfortable and cost-competitive to traditional fossil fuel powered buildings, moving us forward in our efforts to achieve Governor Hochul’s goal to have 2 million climate-friendly homes by 2030.”
Linden Terrace includes extensive sustainability measures to mitigate against future climate risks, such as gray water recycling, additional storm and sewer detention tanks, an elevated lobby, green roofs, solar panels and VRF heating/cooling systems. Long before the city implemented the new all-electric buildings law, Linden Terrace phases two and three were planned using all electric heat pumps.
Radson Development and partners are committed to providing Brooklyn residents with high-quality affordable homes and helping to combat homelessness as well as providing peace of mind to those most in need. Phase 1 brings a new Planet Fitness gym to the neighborhood, and phases 2 and 3 will include on-site social services provided by the Bridge. The Bridge provides supportive housing and behavioral health services to some of New York’s most vulnerable residents. “The Bridge is proud to be a part of this wonderful project. When completed, 60 homeless New Yorkers with disabilities will have their own homes and the stability and hope that this provides,” said CEO Susan Wiviot, The Bridge.
Construction on the final phases of development is slated to be complete in early 2024, and applications will be open to the community in the summer of 2023. Residents of Brooklyn Community Board 5 receive a preference for 50% of the Linden Terrace homes marketed through NYC Housing Connect.
