Lebechi East Will Bring 95 Affordable Homes and Community Health Services Hub to Brownsville
Development Addresses Social, Economic and Health Disparities in Central Brooklyn and Furthers Governor’s Commitment to Making Housing More Affordable
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction on Lebechi East, a new 95-unit housing development in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn that will provide affordable, supportive apartments and an on-site community health facility for residents and the public. The development will replace a vacant police precinct with modern, sustainable housing and offer health and wellness resources that address chronic social, economic, and health disparities in the surrounding community. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved nearly 3,000 affordable homes in Brooklyn. Lebechi East continues this effort and is part of Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.
“Creating more affordable housing and expanding access to supportive services are central to making New York more affordable and more livable for all,” Governor Hochul said. “Our investment in Lebechi East will help deliver much-needed modern, high-quality apartments to Brooklyn and ensure more New Yorkers have access to critical health and wellness resources.”
Lebechi East, developed by Xenolith Partners, LLC in partnership with Family Services Network of New York, Inc. (FSNNY) and Galaxy GC Group, will provide homes to households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. The development will include a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, 57 of which will be supportive apartments for eligible individuals, including those experiencing homelessness. The development will offer 11 units to accommodate residents with mobility impairments and five apartments for residents with sensory disabilities.
On-site support services will be provided by FSNNY and include individualized case management, counseling, education, job-readiness training, legal services and other individual and family support. Operating expenses for the supportive apartments will be subsidized through an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award administered by the New York State Department of Health.
The 11-story building will include a community room, roof terrace, fitness space, play area, and landscaped outdoor areas. The project is designed to meet Passive House and Enterprise Green Communities 2020 standards, incorporating all-electric systems and energy-efficient features, including heat-pump water heaters, LED lighting and Energy Star appliances.
The building will include a nearly 6,000 square foot ground-floor community health care facility also operated by FSNNY that will offer primary and preventive health and wellness services to residents and the surrounding community.
In addition, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) facilitated the transfer of 38,000 square feet of development rights and 6,200 square feet of underutilized land adjacent to its Howard Houses campus to help make this project possible. This is the first instance of NYCHA utilizing the Transfer of Assistance flexible tool from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that at least eight units will be set aside for existing NYCHA residents at Howard Houses.
State financing for Lebechi East includes Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits from HCR that are expected to generate approximately $24 million in equity and $13 million in subsidy. The development also benefits from $522,000 in Clean Energy Initiative funding, a partnership between HCR and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development is providing $18 million through its Supportive Housing Loan Program.
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