Brooklyn Borough President

60 AFFORDABLE HOMES COMING TO RED HOOK

Photograph by Kathryn Kirk

In photo (form left to right): Borough President Marty Markowitz, Fifth Avenue Committee Executive Director Michelle de la Uz, and City Council Member Sara Gonzalez at the Red Hook Homes site.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the community-development organization Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC), Council Member Sara Gonzalez, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Shaun Donovan, and New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal Assistant Commissioner Deborah Boatright at a groundbreaking for Red Hook Homes, 60 new co-op apartments to be built for low- and middle-income Brooklynites. All of the units will be for sale.

The innovatively financed project involves 11 funding partners, including six banks. Borough President Markowitz allocated $360,000 to the project.

“Nothing fills Brooklynites with more pride for living in the greatest city in America than home ownership, which is why Red Hook Homes is a cause for celebration,” said Borough President Markowitz. “This is a perfect example of government, the private sector, and our local communities working together to preserve the economic diversity that defines Brooklyn.”

The Fifth Avenue Committee has also formed a Red Hook Advisory Council to incorporate the voices of local residents into the project’s vision and design. Red Hook Homes will feature primarily 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, and will feature a children’s playground and a garden. The top floor terraces will have spectacular harbor views. The homes will be located across the street from PS 15.

Also present at the groundbreaking were FAC Board of Directors Chair Dany Cunningham, FAC Executive Director Michelle de la Uz, Housing Partnership Development Corp. President/CEO Daniel Martin, Independence Community Bank President Alan Fishman, Independence Community Foundation Executive Director Marilyn Gelber, Citibank Community Development Market Director for the New York Metro Area Marc Jahr, M&T Bank Vice President Steve Flax, and Red Hook Advisory Council members Judith Dailey and Lou Sones.