112 affordable apartments in East New York, from $331/month

A housing lottery launched this month for 112 affordable apartments at a new complex in the Spring Creek section of East New York. The building at 881 Erskine Street sits within The Fountains development, a mixed-use project of six buildings that will ultimately bring more than 1,100 affordable homes to the area. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 40, and 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $331/month studios to $1,472/month three-bedroom apartments.

At 881 Erskine, residents of the building have access to on-site laundry, bike storage, parking, a community center, and shared outdoor space. The site is located near the new Shirley Chisholm State Park and sits across from the Gateway Plaza Mall. Transit options include the Q8, B13, B83, and B84 buses, with J, Z, A, C, L trains Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway and Pitkins Avenue all far enough to require a bus ride to get there.

This building is being constructed through the city’s Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program of the state’s Homes and Community Renewal.

911 Erskine Street; Photo credit: Gerri Hernandez

The Fountains project, which broke ground in 2017 and is being developed by Arker Companies, includes three phases of development. Formerly owned by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the property was part of the state-run Brooklyn Developmental Center, which closed in 2015.

In October, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the completion of phase one, which includes two completed buildings, at 911 Erskine Street and 11629 Seaview Avenue, for a total of 332 affordable apartments.

“We have made an unprecedented commitment to address the lack of affordable housing in every corner of New York, but especially in Brooklyn, where the financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been severe,” Cuomo said in a statement earlier this year. “Our aggressive approach to building new developments like The Fountains will provide high-quality, energy-efficient homes and supportive services to those who need them most as we continue to come back from this crisis.”

Qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the affordable units until January 27, 2021. Preference for 50 percent of the units will be given to residents of Brooklyn Community Board 5. Complete details on how to apply are available here. Questions regarding this offer must be referred to NYC’s Housing Connect department by dialing 311.

If you don’t qualify for the housing lotteries mentioned, visit CityRealty.com’s no-fee rentals page for other apartment deals in the city.

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