Nevins Street Apartments Brings 129 Affordable Homes to Downtown Brooklyn; Includes 78 Homes with Support Services for Individuals with Mental Illness
Governor Cuomo today announced the start of construction on Nevins Street Apartments, a $72 million mixed-use affordable and supportive housing development in Downtown Brooklyn. The development complex includes the gut rehabilitation of a century-old building and the new construction of an adjacent ten-story building. Nevins Street Apartments will offer 129 affordable apartments, including 78 supportive homes reserved for individuals with mental illness and 3,100 square feet of commercial space. The redevelopment of this site will preserve affordable housing in Downtown Brooklyn and modernize the existing apartments to current standards.
«Mixed-use and supportive housing are a vital component of our overall efforts to increase affordable housing across the state and combat homelessness in communities,» Governor Cuomo said. «Nevins Street Apartments will increase access to safe, affordable homes and services for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers while contributing to a more vibrant and healthier Downtown Brooklyn.»
«This new housing development is continuing to increase the number of affordable units for residents in Brooklyn, especially for communities that are more vulnerable to homelessness,» said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. «The Nevins Street Apartments will provide affordable, quality apartments with a focus on individuals in need of support services. The project complements our Vital Brooklyn initiative to break down barriers to housing and health care, and continues our efforts to strengthen the local economy and enhance quality of life for all New Yorkers in Brooklyn and beyond.»
The Governor’s commitment to providing all New Yorkers with access to safe, affordable housing is reflected in the State’s unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan. The plan makes housing accessible and combats homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 with supportive services. The plan is a comprehensive approach to statewide housing issues and includes multifamily and single-family housing and community development. Since 2011, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested more than $2 billion to create or preserve nearly 15,000 affordable homes and apartments in Brooklyn.
Nevins Street Apartments includes the substantial rehabilitation of an existing building originally constructed in 1912-13 as a Single Room Occupancy by the YWCA for single women. Over the last 30 years, the Institute for Community Living has operated the building as an Office of Mental Health licensed transitional housing facility. The redevelopment will convert the existing single rooms to self-contained apartments.
The newly constructed 10-story building will be built on an adjacent parking lot. The design calls for the two buildings to be fully integrated and will share a single core. Building amenities include common laundry facilities, 24/7 front desk security, a community room, a gym and yoga room and a classroom.
All apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income. There is one apartment reserved for a superintendent. Of the 129 apartments, 78 will be reserved for formerly homeless individuals, including those with a serious mental illness, substance abuse disorder, veterans and young adults. They will have access to the Institute for Community Living’s comprehensive onsite support services including counseling, safety planning, public benefits management and advocacy, parenting and life skills, family reunification and stabilization, health education, social and recreational services and linkage to community services.
The residential complex is located at 50 Nevins Street between Schermerhorn and State Streets in Downtown Brooklyn. The retail space will face Schermerhorn Street, a major commercial corridor. Residents will enjoy easy access to nearby transit and all major services including shopping, medical care and public facilities.
State financing for the development includes $13.5 million in tax-exempt bonds, federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $27.3 million in equity and $9 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York State Office of Mental Health will provide $1.9 million annually for rental assistance and services for the supportive units through the Governor’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $9.6 million from the Supportive Housing Loan Program. The New York State Attorney General is providing $1 million in funds from property owner settlements. The developer is the Institute for Community Living. Additional financial support is being provided by Richman Housing Resources, HSBC and TD Bank.
Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, «Nevins Street Apartments will help create a more inclusive and diverse neighborhood in Downtown Brooklyn with 129 affordable and supportive apartments. Governor Cuomo believes that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, should have access to an affordable home near good jobs, transit and services. This development will benefit all who call Downtown Brooklyn home.»
Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, «Governor Cuomo’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative has been a great success that will help thousands of individuals and families to live independently in safe and stable housing. The 78 ESSHI-supported units in the Nevins Street Apartments in Brooklyn demonstrate the Governor’s commitment to fight homelessness, support our veterans, and help vulnerable New Yorkers get the services they need to live successfully and productively in their own community.»
Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Louise Carroll said, «The rejuvenation of this century-old building will not only protect and preserve the historical character of the neighborhood, it will deliver 129 permanently affordable homes and vital supportive services for some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Nevins Street Apartments exemplifies what we can achieve with thoughtful planning and meaningful investments that will benefit our communities for years to come. I thank our development partners and colleagues in government, for their dedication to creating affordable housing opportunities.»
Senator Velmanette Montgomery said, «I am happy to welcome a 100% low-income and supportive housing project to my district. Too often we don’t build for people who already live and work in this city, especially in Brooklyn which is becoming out of reach for most of us. This is the type of housing that realistically meets the needs of many of my constituents and provides the kinds of services that allows those with additional struggles to live independently and contribute to the community.»
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, «There’s a housing crisis in New York City and it’s so important that we create more supportive housing, preserve the affordable housing we have, and bring it into the 21st century. I am delighted that the Nevins Street Apartments will be updated and comfortable for members of our community that are most in need. I want to thank the City and State agencies who are financing this necessary project and look forward to working with them and the service provider, the Institute for Community Living, as this project moves forward.»
Matthew Schatz, Vice President, Commercial Real Estate said, «We are proud to be a part of the City and State of New York’s commitment to provide supportive housing to low-income New Yorkers in need. This project will help address both the critical need for affordable housing and the need for social services for supportive housing residents in Downtown Brooklyn. TD’s investment in making a positive impact is a part of what makes TD Bank different. «
ICL President and CEO David Woodlock said, «ICL is proud to partner with the State on a project that underscores our shared commitment to improving communities and making sure people have access to both affordable housing and the services to help them move forward in their lives. We thank Governor Cuomo, Lt. Governor Hochul, Commissioner Visnauskas, Commissioner Carroll, and Richman Housing Resources for their support of a project that will provide hundreds of New Yorkers affordable housing and, for some, the chance to get the care they need to get better.»
Kevin Hoffman, President, Richman Housing Resources, said, «Richman Housing Resources is honored to partner with ICL on 50 Nevins Street. This development is a prime example of how public-private partnerships, using federal low-income housing tax credit programs combined with support from New York State and New York City, can create affordable housing in downtown Brooklyn. We would like to thank our leading partners in this venture, HSBC Bank and Peoples United Bank, along with TD Bank, the construction lender, for their vision and commitment in investing in this neighborhood’s future. Richman shares ICL’s values of improving communities by fostering acceptance, inclusion and hope which is exactly what 50 Nevins Street will accomplish.»
About the Institute for Community Living
ICL is a not-for-profit health care organization providing trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, integrated and person-centered care through supportive and transitional housing, counseling and support services for adults, children and families. The organizations serves nearly 10,000 people each year and every night some 2,500 New Yorkers call ICL home. ICL has a special commitment to serving veterans to help them rebuild their lives and their goal is always to help people achieve greater health and well-being to lead the most fulfilling life possible.