The Ocean Avenue News - oceanavenuenews.comThough “only” a borough, Brooklyn boosters like to point out that it is, from a population standpoint, America’s third largest city, with more than 2.7 million residents and growing.
So, it should come as no surprise that Brooklyn, like big cities across the state and nation, is on the front lines of the affordable housing shortage. Borough-wide, it has just about 1 million available units and 320,000 rent-burdened households are feeling the pressure of the housing crunch.
The best and most obvious approach to solving the acute shortage of affordable housing is to build more housing. Following a presidential election that is certain to change federal housing and tax policies, it is critical that we redouble our efforts at the state level to incentivize development and remove obstacles that currently make New York one of the most expensive places to build.
This must be a collaborative effort that includes all stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Affordable housing developers across the city are doing their part, finding creative ways to repurpose existing structures, converting offices, hospitals, and churches into residential spaces. These adaptive developments are proof that – with a little imagination – we can create new housing opportunities even in spaces once thought to be beyond the reach of housing developers.
Across New York City – including right here in Brooklyn – there are long-vacant industrial sites that offer an untapped market to address both the housing and economic needs of our communities. Many of these formerly industrial buildings are sitting idle, just waiting to be repurposed into housing and mixed-use developments that can again contribute to the local economy.
For an example of how this can work, look no further than the Bridge Rockaway project. Co-developed by The Bridge and Mega Development in Brownsville, Brooklyn, the $118 million project reimagined an old chocolate syrup factory into a groundbreaking mixed-use facility that combines 174 affordable housing units with 39,000 square feet of light industrial space.
Above the industrial workspaces, which house light manufacturing businesses, rise two residential towers for low- and moderate-income residents, including 87 units set aside for veterans, seniors, and formerly homeless individuals.
This type of mixed-use development represents the kind of forward-thinking solutions to the affordable housing crisis that we will need more of in the coming year – particularly at a time when Brooklyn’s median asking rent has risen three times higher than the citywide average.
The Bridge Rockaway development was recently recognized as The Downstate Project of the Year by the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH). The organization annually honors the top advocates, partners, and developers dedicated to catalyzing innovative solutions to expand housing affordability.
The type of innovation displayed by the Bridge Rockaway project is a model we should look to replicate in all five boroughs. New York City is ripe for this kind of development. Recent reports indicate that the city has 95 million square feet of vacant office space – enough to fill 30 Empire State Buildings – while the amount of industrial real estate inventory in the New York metropolitan area has increased to a staggering 887 million square feet, with vacancy rates growing every year.
Reimagining that space to drive the creation of affordable housing where possible can help solve multiple of our communities’ problems at once—creating affordable homes and jobs, while breathing new life into once-neglected areas. City zoning rules and regulations and state policies need to be updated with this in mind.
As we continue to search for solutions to New York’s housing crisis, we should look to the success of Bridge Rockaway—proving to all of us that with the right vision, we can continue to create sustainable communities where affordable housing and local economic growth go hand in hand.
Jolie Milstein is president and CEO of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing.
The UJA Federation of New York (UJA) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 20 to celebrate the opening of the Brooklyn Hub, a one-stop social service center in Borough Park.
The modern, two-story center at 1271 60th St. is UJA’s second Hub in New York City, following the opening of the Queens Hub in 2020.
The 13,600-square-foot Brooklyn Hub serves an area with one of the highest Jewish poverty rates in the city. According to UJA, 36% of Jewish households in Brooklyn live at or near the poverty line, and nearly 50% of Jewish households in the Hub’s immediate neighborhoods earn less than $50,000 annually. The broader population in these neighborhoods faces similar financial challenges, with 54% of households classified as poor or near-poor, and 27% living below the poverty line.
Operated by UJA’s partner, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), the Brooklyn Hub is expected to serve 6,000 people in its first year. Services are available to New Yorkers of all religious and cultural backgrounds and include screening for government benefits, emergency cash assistance, legal and financial counseling through the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), and career readiness programs. Specialized services are also provided for vulnerable populations, including domestic violence survivors, Holocaust survivors, and Ukrainian refugees.
The Hub’s offerings are multilingual, with free and confidential services available in English, Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew, and other languages. The facility includes a state-of-the-art 2,000-square-foot digital food pantry, where clients can order food online to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences. All food provided is certified kosher.
UJA President Linda Mirels addressed a crowd of UJA members, donors, partners, and local elected officials gathered in the Hub’s second-floor conference room. Mirels reflected on the organization’s centennial and its renewed focus on combating poverty.
“We have remained steadfast in the face of much adversity — from rising anti-Semitism to the war in Israel, the crisis in Ukraine, and the global pandemic,” Mirels said. “Even during crisis after crisis, UJA has never wavered in our commitment to our core mission to care for those most in need in our community.”
Joseph Allerhand, co-president of Met Council, emphasized the Hub’s dual focus on meeting immediate needs and breaking the cycle of poverty.
“If all you’re doing is constantly supplying and not breaking the cycle, that’s not enough,” Allerhand said. “This building is going to do a tremendous amount: computer training [and] vocational [training] to help people break the cycle of poverty.”
UJA CEO Eric Goldstein highlighted the importance of fostering dignity in assistance programs. Referring to the digital food pantry, he said, “The whole strategy behind the digital choice food pantries is the idea of choice, the dignity of choice. The incredible thing is, not one meal, not one package is remotely like the other.”
Goldstein also addressed the rising tide of anti-Semitism and the war in Israel, noting the need to build resilient Jewish communities. “Part of fighting anti-Semitism is building strong, vibrant Jewish communities where people feel proudly and publicly Jewish,” he said.
David Greenfield, CEO and executive director of Met Council, praised the partnership between Met Council and UJA. “Thanks to the partnership with UJA Federation, we serve over 325,000 New Yorkers in need,” Greenfield said.
He introduced Met Council client Mr. Sonnenfeld, a Brooklyn small business owner who received assistance after being diagnosed with cancer.
“It was a painful time, not just because of my illness but because of the uncertainty about my family’s future,” Sonnenfeld said. Met Council helped him pay rent and apply for benefits, enabling him to focus on his recovery.
“The Brooklyn Hub represents hope,” Sonnenfeld said. “It’s a place where people in our community will find the help they need, the kind of help that comes with compassion, respect, and understanding.”
Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council, who attended the event, lauded the Hub’s potential impact. “The combination of these two great organizations is going to be awesome for this community. The type of services that they’re going to provide are going to be game changers,” Council said.
THE DEATH OF A WOMAN WHO WAS RUN OVER IN EAST NEW YORK on Wednesday, Nov. 20, is now the subject of an investigation.
The post NY Attorney General opens probe on death of woman lying in Brooklyn roadway appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
Today, we honor Police Officer Anthony Mosomillo, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. At a special street renaming ceremony, we ensure his bravery, dedication, and legacy live on in our hearts and community. Forever grateful. #Hero #NeverForgotten pic.twitter.com/u56gaLCNYb
— NYPD Brooklyn South (@NYPDBklynSouth) November 22, 2024
Thursday was the 60th anniversary of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island, which had a huge impact on Bay Ridge.
The post Verrazzano Bridge celebrates 50th anniversary appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
SINGLE LANE CLOSURES will be in effect overnights on the Hamilton Avenue Bridge over the Gowanus Canal through Dec. 27.
The post Expect overnight single-lane closures on Hamilton Ave. Bridge appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.