As the New York City Housing Authority struggles to develop its underutilized properties across the five boroughs, YIMBY revisited Prospect Plaza in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, where the city tore down an entire public housing project two years ago. Now, construction is wrapping up on the second phase of affordable rental buildings that replaced the 12- and 15-story towers.
Prospect Plaza’s first phase is nearly finished at 1765 Prospect Place
We last checked in at the site on Prospect Place between Howard and Saratoga avenues in July, when the first phase of the development was getting windows and facade panelling on the south side of the street. The buildings now look like they’ll be ready for residents soon. The four-story walk-ups and five-and-a-half-story elevator building will hold 148 apartments, according to the master plan designed by Dattner Architects.
Phase 2 of Prospect Plaza under construction at 1796 Prospect Place
Much of Phase 2 has also taken shape on the north side of Prospect Place. Walls are rising quickly for the largest building, which is a six-story brick structure at the corner of Howard Avenue. In the middle of the block, townhouse-style walkups and another sizable five-story building are getting their interiors. Ultimately, they’ll hold 111 units.
Townhouse-style walkups coming along on the north side of Prospect Place
The final piece of the project will come to a mostly vacant, block-long site bookended by Park Place, Sterling Place, and Howard and Saratoga avenues. A five story, 123-unit building with an interior courtyard and a supermarket will fill the eastern end. And Studio Gang Architects is designing a new three-story firehouse for the western side of the lot. A community center – currently sandwiched between two trash-strewn lots – will be redeveloped, and the complex will include a rooftop greenhouse.
1815 Sterling Place, rendering by Studio Gang Architects
The finished project will have 80 public housing units and 284 units for families who earn up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income, or $49,800 for a family of four.
Prospect Plaza — rendering by Dattner Architects
Blue Sea Development is building the development on behalf of NYCHA and HPD. Construction on Phase 1 is supposed to wrap by the end of the summer, and phase 2 is expected to finish by December 2016.
Update: You can apply for the latest affordable housing lottery to Prospect Plaza through June 15th. Head over to HPD’s Housing Connect to see the requirements and put in an application.
Prospect Plaza site overview — image by Dattner Architects
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I would like to be informon how I can apply for one of the town houses. I am a NYCHA resident as well as an employee, I would like to stay in my community where Ilived all my life as well as my son school
When did this area become Ocean Hill? According to another story Yimby did, 1600 Eastern Parkway is also Ocean Hill. Brownsville don’t sound too attractive to the people you’re trying to attract, huh?
I’m not trying to attract anyone, since I’m not the developer or a broker. What I can tell you about the neighborhood name is that this area was historically called Ocean Hill, starting in the late 19th century, and later “Ocean Hill-Brownsville” in the ’60s/’70s/’80s because it shares a community and school district with Brownsville.
Where can you apply for a application ? And why are developers not building more condos Or town homes?
I would like ? know how can I apply for a town home
I would like to 2 how can I apply I have housing already
The samething happened in Atlanta. They tore down the projects near the Black colleges. And provided nice buildings and townhomes. But you can still see mothers with 5 children going in them with no jobs. How long will they stay nice?
I will like to have an apartment
I WAS A RESIDENCE AT 1765 PROSPECT PLAZA APT 2A, MY QUESTION IS WHEN I WILL BE CALL FOR AN INTERVEIW, I SEND MY APPLICATION. THANK YOu
Hi interested in trying to move into one of those new homes how can I apply for it
My father William B.Lyons was a past resident at 430 saratoga ave apt 2c , and file an application for phase ll . He has not receive any notice in regards to his interview. He was number 2on the list….could someone please give me a call or send me an e-mail.