NYC Agency Seeks Proposals for Brooklyn Mixed-Use Project

July 17, 2007
By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development has issued a Request for Proposals for a mixed-use project in an underutilized area in Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal corridor. The development is to occupy a 5.8-acre parcel and specifications call for the inclusion of a significant amount of mixed-income housing.

Long vacant and neglected, the parcel at the center of the RFP sits along the Gowanus Canal at 5th and Smith streets near the thriving Carroll Gardens and Park Slope neighborhoods. All proposals for the project must incorporate a minimum of 400 mixed-income residential units, 50 percent of which will be reserved for affordable to middle-income households. The residential component will also encompass units reserved for low-income seniors. HPD's focus on affordable housing dovetails with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's $7.5 billion New housing Marketplace Plan, which will develop or restore 165,000 units over a 10-year period. In addition to the residential segment, HPD guidelines call for the Gowanus Canal project to feature commercial space, community facility space, and a substantial amount of open space.

"Much like all of the city, there is not enough affordable housing and there is a huge demand for housing along the water, so we expect demand will be high for the project," an HPD spokesperson told CPN. Proposals must also adhere to the agency's New Construction Sustainability Requirements, mandating the use of design elements and materials that promote environmentally friendly development. The chosen developer will acquire the land from the city for a price that has not yet been determined.

A great deal of activity is on tap for the Brooklyn affordable housing market. As a testament to the commitment to low-income housing in the borough, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected a developer's revised $1.3-billion bid to purchase Starrett City, the country's largest federally subsidized apartment development, due to community concerns that the new owner would attempt to cancel affordable housing subsidies at the 140-acre, 5,800-unit property.

Atlantic Yards, the $4.2 billion mixed-use project being developed by Forest City Ratner, will include about 250 rental units to be set aside for middle- and low-income families. Proposals for the Gowanus Canal project must be submitted to HPD by October 11. "Gowanus Canal needs a jolt to bring it back to life and we believe this project will do that for this area," the HPD spokesperson added.

HPD, the largest municipal housing development agency in the United States, promotes the establishment of quality housing and viable neighborhoods in New York City. The entity is also responsible for implementing Mayor Bloomberg's 10-year affordable housing plan.

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