Project Description
The proposal involves a request by the project sponsor, The Arker Companies, for construction financing (the Proposed Action) through HPDs Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) program to facilitate the construction of a new building consisting of senior affordable housing units and community facility uses (the Proposed Project) located at 40 Debevoise Street (Block 3127, Lot 17 the Project Site) in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, Community District 1. The privately-owned Project Site is located on the south side of Debevoise Street between Graham Avenue and Humboldt Street. The Site is currently in use as a private parking lot. It has an area of 10,000 square feet (sf) with 100 feet of frontage on Debevoise Street. Under the Proposed Action, the existing parking lot would be redeveloped with a new eight-story building containing approximately 64 dwelling units for seniors that will be designated as Affordable Independent Residences for Seniors (AIRS) and one unit set aside for the superintendent for a total of 65 units. In addition to the dwelling units, the Proposed Project would provide approximately 423 gross square feet (gsf) of community facility space and approximately 6,603 gsf of retail space. The building cellar would contain mechanical space, bicycle storage space, a laundry room, and a recreation room for building residents. The ground floor would contain a residential lobby, a small community facility space, and a commercial space with a loading bay. The second through eighth floors would contain dwelling units. No parking spaces would be provided. The Proposed Project would total approximately 55,158 gsf in floor area. According to the Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS), the Proposed Project would be constructed in a single phase and is expected to be completed and operational by 2020. The Proposed Project would be developed pursuant to the regulations of the C4-3 zoning district regulations. The Project Site is located within a C4-3 zoning district that permits residential, commercial, and community facility uses. The residential use is equivalent the R6 zoning district, which permits residential development up to a FAR of 3.9 and community facility use to a FAR of 4.8. Absent the Proposed Action, it is expected that the current conditions would remain. Lastly, in addition to construction financing from HPDs SARA program, the Proposed Development may utilize funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program and Project-Based Section 8 Vouchers.