Inclusionary Housing program extended to Atlantic Ave. and Fulton Street. On July 25, 2007, the City Council approved the 99-block rezoning plan for the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill neighborhoods in Brooklyn, including a proposal to apply the City’s inclusionary housing provisions to blocks along Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street.

Located adjacent to downtown Brooklyn, the residential neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill have faced increasing development pressure during the past five years as developers began to replace the small brownstones that characterize the area with 11- to 13-story apartment towers. Under the previous zoning, which dates back to 1961, a 97-block area allowed residential and community facility development without any height limit under an R6 zoning designation. Community groups and residents urged City Planning to protect the neighborhood’s lower density. (more…)

Image Credit: NYCHA.

The funds will go toward improving security lighting and lead abatement. On December 31, 2020, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced that the agency received a $24.7 million Emergency Capital Needs Safety and security Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to be used to address resident health, safety and security concerns.  (more…)

Ribbon cutting to open Stonewall House, the City’s first LGBT-friendly senior affordable housing development. Image Credit: HPD

The project is a part of NYCHA’s efforts to build 10,000 units of affordable housing over the next decade. On December 17, 2019, the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD) announced the opening of Stonewall House, a new LGBT-friendly affordable elder housing at 112 St. Edwards Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The project is the first elder housing in both the City and State to be designed as “LGBT-friendly.” (more…)

142 South Portland Avenue. Image credit: Google Maps.

The 100% affordable housing development faced height and scale opposition by neighborhood residents. On April 11, 2018, the City Planning Commission heard proposals for the 142-150 South Portland Avenue Rezoning in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The rezoning is led by the Hanson Place Adventist Church, who seeks to develop a mixed-use residential building. The proposal will create a new 13-story building owned by the Church.  The plan will also allow for commercial use on the ground floor. The applicants are represented by Sheldon Lobel P.C.  (more…)

Mayor Bill de Blasio delivers the 2015 State of the City address at Baruch College. Image Demetrius Freeman/Mayoral Photography Office

Affordable housing issues, including rent-regulation, mandatory inclusionary zoning, and more were highlighted in the speech.  On February 3, 2015 Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered his second State Of The City address from Baruch College.  The Mayor spoke at length about the affordable housing crisis facing New York City and the programs his administration has begun or will propose to address the problem.

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