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On the corner of Columbia and Lorraine Street, the latest and largest affordable housing development in Red Hook is taking shape, yet little is known about it, according to residents we spoke with in the area.
“All we know is that they put up that building and took away our bus stop on the corner,” said Luz, a Red Hook West resident.
Many others, who didn’t want to be named, said they knew it was affordable housing but questioned whether people in Red Hook could actually afford it.
“I don’t think that’s for us,” said one Red Hook West resident, noting that she didn’t believe public housing residents such as herself would be able to live in the 100% affordable building.
A QR code posted on the scaffolding outside the building leads to the Housing Connect NYC website, a resource for applying for affordable housing. None of the 14 residencies listed on the Brooklyn page of the website features the Columbia Street development.
The building, financed by the city’s Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development, is not ready to be advertised or opened for applications, according to a department spokesperson. The spokesperson didn’t specify a date for when this would happen. The developer for the site, Joel Braver of Express Builders, couldn’t be reached for comment at press time.
Braver is also behind the construction of 46 Cook Street in Bushwick, currently a home care facility, and a 10-story condo building in SoHo, among other properties across the city.
The developer principal for this site, Yechiel Landau, was charged last year with bribery in a scheme involving Eric Adams’ former chief of staff, Ingrid Lewis Martin. The indictment alleges pressure being placed on HPD to advance the approval of 498 Columbia.
When asked whether the department issued any repercussions for this and how it handles such instances, we were told by a spokesperson that HPD follows strict protocols for its review process, which were followed in the case of its deal with the Columbia Street development, which includes vetting development partners to ensure they’re fit to do business with the city of New York.
Furthermore, the spokesperson mentioned that HPD won’t delay needed affordable housing because of one person’s actions, after a deal has already been finalized. Instead, if issues arise (such as an indictment involving a beneficial owner), HPD will modify the deal or require adjustments to remove the implicated person(s) while ensuring the project moves forward. The spokesperson added that the department is looking into additional repercussions, including any future work with the developer.
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