Image Credit: HPD.
On April 3, 2024, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the New York City Housing Development Corporation, elected officials and project partners celebrated the opening of 35 Commercial Street, a new affordable residential development that is part of Greenpoint Landing in Brooklyn. Greenpoint Landing is a 22-acre site along the East River waterfront that is being master-planned and developed by Park Tower Group, and is expected to have 5,500 total residential units once completed.
The 22-story building at 35 Commercial Street has 374 permanently affordable units, 57 of which have been reserved for formerly homeless applicants. Residents in these supportive units will have access to ongoing social services with nonprofit organization, Breaking Ground, and will receive assistance with furnishing their units. The affordable units are available at rates between 30 to 110 percent area median income, with the rents for studios starting at just over $400 per month. The building is affordable through the Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability Program.
The building features almost 11,000 square feet of outdoor space, a fitness center, community lounge, Wi-Fi for all residents, a laundry room, bicycle parking, and an indoor and outdoor children’s play area. The building also features 7,600 square feet of retail space and aesthetically matches the industrial look of the neighborhood. The all-electric building was designed by Handel Architects. The design/build firm Alive Structures designed the connected private landscaped courtyards.
35 Commercial Street is the tenth residential building to have opened within Greenpoint Landing. Previously, 300 permanently affordable apartments were completed across three buildings in 2015. A 40-story tower at 16 Dupont Street is anticipated to be completed next year. Five of the current buildings are at 30 percent income-targeted through the Affordable New York Housing Program.
Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer stated, “I’m thrilled to celebrate the addition of nearly 400 new affordable homes in Greenpoint. 35 Commercial Street, and the larger Greenpoint Landing development, are providing thousands of environmentally-conscious opportunities for families, including formerly homeless households, to call Greenpoint home. I’m grateful for the partnerships that have driven this project forward; particularly at a time when the housing vacancy rate is so low, it’s critical to work together to create more affordable homes for New Yorkers across all neighborhoods in New York City.”
Council Member Lincoln Restler stated, “With hundreds of new permanently affordable homes – including apartments for formerly homeless New Yorkers – 35 Commercial Street is a model development. Too many Greenpointers have been displaced or are severely rent burdened. 35 Commercial Street will help more working class families afford to call Greenpoint home.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the Editor of CityLand and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)