Home For Formerly Homeless NYers Could Rise On Empty Bed-Stuy Lot

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN — Bed-Stuy is one step closer to getting new homes for formerly homeless New Yorkers after City Council approved plans for a new Myrtle Avenue development, city records show.

City Council approved plans on Oct. 17 for a nine-story, 59-unit building on a city-owned lot at Myrtle and Nostrand avenues, according to New York City Planning records.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development is seeking permission to build 59 studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, half of which would be reserved for formerly homeless families.

Rents would be set at 30, 40, and 50 percent of the area median income, according to the proposal.

This requires designating the vacant lot at 776-780 Myrtle Ave. as an Urban Development Action Area and an Urban Development Action Area Project, records show.

"Incentives are needed in order to induce the correction of these substandard, insanitary, and blighting conditions," HPD wrote in its application. "The project activities would protect and promote health and safety and would promote sound growth and development."

HPD plans call for a 42,000-square-foot building with about 39,000 square feet of residential space and 3,100 square feet of retail space, records show. There would also be space reserved for social services in the basement.

The new building, set to rise across the street from NYCHA's Marcy Houses, will include a green roof, bike parking, a community room, laundry room and a back yard, according to the proposal.

Brooklyn Community Board 3 approved plans and the Brooklyn Borough President issued his recommendation to support the project after public hearings in May, records show. City Planning Commission Public Hearing voted to support the project after a hearing in July.

The proposal headed to the Mayor's office for final approval.