The Empire State’s head honcho announced a plan to construct dozens of affordable units with access to social services in Brownsville as part his scheme to revitalize Kings County.
“Affordable, safe housing with access to social services is critical to building a healthy, successful future for individuals and their families,” Governor Andew Cuomo said. “The redevelopment of this East New York Avenue site will be an integral part of the Vital Brooklyn Initiative to deliver affordable housing opportunities to Central Brooklyn.”
The new development, called The Rise, will bring 68 affordable apartment units to the intersection of East New York Avenue and Strauss Street, where various non-profit organizations will offer services, including job-readiness training and legal help, to residents and the surrounding community.
Residents will have access to two lounges, a community room, three laundry rooms, outdoor terraces, bicycle storage and free WiFi.
The development will also feature 10,000 square feet of green space which will include a rooftop farm and greenhouse managed by Project EATS that will provide homegrown produce and job training. Multiple outdoor terraces outfitted with raised gardening beds are reserved for the exclusive use of residents.
The state has partnered with the Xenolith Partners LLC, Community Preservation Corporation and Community Solutions International Inc to develop the mixed-use complex.
The development is being funded through Cuomo’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative, a $1.4 billion program to improve the health and wellbeing of central Brooklyners, who suffer health issues at higher rates and have limited access to nutritional foods. Through the state-sponsored program, the government has built community playgrounds, parks and affordable housing developments throughout the center of the borough with plans to spend $578 million to construct 4,000 affordable housing units.
