Proposed 86-Unit Bed-Stuy Affordable Housing Plan Moves Forward

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN — A proposed 86-unit “true” affordable housing development moved one step closer to construction in Bed-Stuy, though without full support from its community board.

Plans for Dekalb Commons moved to Borough President Eric Adams’ office this week for review, said Henry Butler, district manager for Community Board 3.

The entire project will build two seven-story buildings on city-owned property along Dekalb Avenue and a four-story building on Fulton Street. Butler said the Dekalb buildings will affordable housing to people who earn between 40 and 80 percent the area’s median income.

“This is a real, true affordable housing project for Bedford-Stuyvesant,” Butler said.

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and St. Nicks Alliance, a nonprofit, are developing the project. They began the city approval process last year, which brought them in front of Community Board 3 this week.

A community board committee gave a thumbs up to the project, but the full board did not, Butler said.

“No one gave a reason as to why,” he said.

The full board’s lack of approval likely won’t impact the project — their non-binding vote is essentially a formality. From here, it will go to the borough president’s office, then the city planning committee and council for review.

Project plans call for two seven-story buildings, one with 45 units at 648-654 Dekalb Ave. and the other across the street at 633-639 Dekalb Ave. with 37 units, the Brooklyn Paper reported. A four-story building at 1187 Fulton St. with apartments and ground floor commercial space will also be built and help finance cheaper units in the Dekalb buildings, it reported.

Many other so-called “affordable housing” projects actually price out many neighborhood residents who don’t make anywhere near the area’s median income. Butler said Dekalb Commons will be “100 percent” affordable because its income range is more in line with the neighborhood.