Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Bedford-Union Armory developer files plans for eight-story rental

The developer filed plans for a 15-story rental building in March this year

The developer behind the revamp of Crown Heights's Bedford-Union Armory has now filed plans for the second residential building that will be located within the complex. The Brooklyn Paper reports that BFC Partners is moving forward with an eight-story, 60-unit building that will rise on President Street, between Bedford and Rogers Avenues.

This filing follows the one in March this year for a 15-story residential building. Those plans haven't yet been approved by the city's Department of Buildings, but a spokesperson for the developer told the Brooklyn Paper that the development team was refining that proposal and would submit new plans for it soon.

Despite strong opposition from Crown Heights residents over the use of public land for a partly market-rate development, the redevelopment of the Bedford-Union Armory was approved by the City Council last year. That was only after the developer agreed to scrap the condo component of the project entirely. Instead the city and BFC Partners agreed to create 400 rentals, 250 of which would be affordable apartments (below 60 percent of the area median income).

At this new building on President Street, all apartments will be affordable units and will be marketed to families and individuals making between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. The building will also have 25 apartments set aside for the formerly homeless. Plans for the eight-story building also call for an in-patient medical facility on the ground floor, and recreation space in the basement along with space for 35 bicycles.

Despite the development moving forward on paper, the city's Economic Development Corporation and the BFC Partners are in the midst of a lawsuit filed by the Legal Aid Society against the project. A verdict in favor of the Legal Aid Society (a ruling is expected in the next few weeks) could bring the Bedford-Union Armory redevelopment to a halt.

Overall the Bedford-Union Armory plan will also create an affordable recreational center with a swimming pool, basketball courts, and space for other sports; and affordable office space.

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