The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
October 2, 2012
Officials cut the ribbon on Friday for a new affordable and supportive housing development in Crown Heights.
The 90-unit complex, at 805 East New York Ave., to be known as the Concern Heights Apartments, is a project of Concern For Independent Living, a nonprofit provider of supportive housing.
Calling this “an innovative supportive housing development” because this one is both supportive and mixed-use, the organization also said it brings more than a dozen new jobs to the Crown Heights neighborhood.
The apartment complex sits on a formerly vacant lot that was acquired by Concern in 2009. With the support of Brooklyn Community Board 9, it began construction on a six- story building which includes studios, one-bedroom and two- bedroom apartments.
Concern said in a statement this is its first mixed-use building, providing housing and supportive services to formerly homeless individuals recovering from mental illness and to low-income individuals and families from the community.
All units are wired for high-speed internet access, cable and telephone. The building features multiple lounges, a computer room, exercise room, outdoor gardens and a community room for use by local organizations.
The project was made possible with funding from the NYS Office of Mental Health, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the NYC comptroller’s office and NYC Pension Funds, National Equity Fund, Community Preservation Corp., the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and Astoria Federal Savings.
The total development cost for the apartments was $30.8 million.
When Concern purchased the site, the agency promised the neighborhood it would develop an attractive building that is an asset to the community; that increased employment opportunities; encouraged the stability, self-sufficiency and productivity of adults living with mental illness; and increased affordable housing opportunities for individuals and families in the neighborhood.
“This project has succeeded in achieving all of these goals,” said Ralph Fasan, executive director for Concern for Independent Living.