Affordable Local Housing

Thirty-seven affordable new housing units have been put in a lottery in the Brownsville neighborhood.  The eight floor building – known as Edwin’s Place – has set prices which begin at just $666 a month.   There are 26 one-bed units; 9 two-bed units and 2 three-bed units.  Prices are capped at $1,279 per month. The building – currently under construction – will comprise 24-hour security, a computer lab, garden, laundry room, storage for bikes and a workout room.   Architects are Robert A. M. Stern and Breaking Ground developers.  In 2018 the land became an LLC, having previously been an HPD. Housing unit applications must be submitted by July 8, 2020.

In addition, 10 days ago a lottery for income-restricted units in Brooklyn was launched. The two buildings have been earmarked to make up for those 100 or so families/individuals who have been on the waitlist in the Crown Heights/Prospect Heights neighborhoods. The location – 816 Washington Avenue and 615 Sterling Place is in walking distance from the Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum, the central branch of Brooklyn Public Library, Mount Prospect Park. The construction was completed last year. Applications close June 12, 2020.

Seniors, Social Distancing and Isolation: Finding a Solution

Social distancing can be incredibly isolating for everyone but especially those who are not able to connect virtually.  That category of people is often the elderly population, many whom do not even own devices that can enable them to connect to the rest of the world.

Thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio, that problem may be solved.  With a program that has received $5 million in funding, 10,000 seniors who live in NYC Housing Authority units will be getting tablets connected to the web.  Initially this program will start in Brooklyn and thereafter be in other regions around NYC.  As well as providing the tablets to the seniors, they will receive help through the phone to guide them through the process of becoming web-savvy.

This announcement was given as part of a larger approach to the fight against COVID-19 which includes walk-in testing for the novel coronavirus at these housing developments as well.