Rendering of the new senior housing development Weeksvillage. Image Credit: HPD.
On June 22, 2023, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) announced plans to develop 200 affordable senior homes in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The project, called Weeksvillage, will be developed by CAMBA Housing Ventures (CHV) on underutilized NYCHA land within the Kingsborough Houses campus.
The 13-story building will house a mix of 156 studios, 43 one-bedroom units, and one superintendent’s unit. It will be designed to be fully accessible and promote independent senior living. The ground floor will include a lounge and game area and a multi-purpose room that opens to an outdoor plaza, and the second floor will feature additional community rooms and a fitness center that connects to an outdoor terrace with a walking loop, exercise and stretching area, and social deck. There will also be a library, computer room, and additional decks indoors and on the roof.
The building’s design, including its height, geometry, and color palette of brick red tones, is both modern and respectful of the surrounding Kingsborough campus and Bergen townhouses. Additionally, the building is oriented southwest to northeast to maximize sunlight and reflect the site’s orientation and the direction of Kingsborough Houses. The Development Team also incorporated the principles of NYCHA’s Connected Communities Guidebook for construction on NYCHA campuses, which is most evident in the activation of all frontages and the connections to the elevated terrace west of the site.
In addition to providing residents with a welcoming, accessible, and attractive place to live, the new development will also bring a range of services for the community focused on improving health, fostering community, and supporting economic development. Such services include health screenings, medication management, and memory care service, as well as market-style access to fresh, local fruits and vegetables from nearby farms. Access will also be provided to small business workshops, technology and financial counseling, and job training, in addition to nutrition sessions, culinary classes and flower arranging lessons. CHV has also established goals for Passive House, Enterprise Green Communities (EGC) 2020, WELL, and Fitwel certifications to provide high-performance healthy housing.
The project is part of the City’s Senior First initiative to develop and preserve senior housing on NYCHA land and support the growth of New York’s aging population. Thus, the residences will be affordable to senior households earning up to 50 percent of the Area Median Income, and residents will benefit from Section 8 project-based vouchers. However, availability will be limited, as nearly half of the homes will be set aside for NYCHA residents and seniors experiencing homelessness.
CHV President and CEO Joanne M. Oplustil stated, “We will ensure the seniors living there are empowered to age in their community with dignity and fulfillment. Our services will foster engagement, promote mental and physical health, and create a stable environment for residents to thrive.”
HDC President Eric Enderlin stated, “In addition to delivering much-needed affordable housing for low-income and formerly homeless seniors, CAMBA Housing Ventures will offer an array of workforce development, as well as health and wellness resources to the surrounding community.”
By: Dylan Shusterman (Dylan is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2025.)