On Dec. 5, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction on Clarkson Estates in Flatbush, Brooklyn, as part of the state's Vital Brooklyn Initiative, which works to address social, economic, and health disparities in central Brooklyn. The nine-story, all-electric, Passive House development will provide 328 affordable apartments, including 164 supportive units for formerly homeless households, and will also have 30,000 square feet of space for community programming such as a food pantry, workforce training, and a violence prevention program.
“Clarkson Estates continues our progress expanding access to essential services and quality affordable housing for Central Brooklyn’s historically underserved neighborhoods,” Governor Hochul said. “Through the Vital Brooklyn Initiative, we are improving the health and quality of life of Central Brooklyn's residents while complementing our statewide efforts to address the housing shortage and build a more equitable New York for all.”
In the last five years, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has created or preserved 7,500 affordable homes in Brooklyn. Clarkson Estates continues this effort and is also part of Governor Hochul's $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, and to electrify 50,000 of those homes.