As affordable housing continues to grow, more projects are looking to diversify their footprint by adding mixed-use components, community areas, and more. We've highlighted several developments in the past that offer support beyond affordability, feature a historic connection to the area, and utilize mixed-use benefits to get the project off the ground.
These three projects are no different, as affordable housing continues to require extensive pre-planning and dedication to be funded, developed, and filled. In fact, each of the projects below are mixed-use, opening up possibilities for businesses to enter in on the ground floor.
Here are three recent projects with affordable housing in mind.
203 Newport Street
Brooklyn, N.Y.
203 Newport Street in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., is a first-of-its-kind development in New York City. These affordable housing units are co-located with light manufacturing workshops—a mixed-use model that has never been done in New York.
The 180,000-sf development includes 174 affordable and supportive housing units, with 87 units dedicated to previously homeless individuals, and 35 for seniors and veterans.
The units are split among two residential buildings flanked by a 14,000-sf courtyard, and set above a podium that houses 40,000 sf of light manufacturing workshop space. The manufacturing space is designed as low-cost incubator spaces for local start-up companies.
On the Building Team:
Owner/Developer: The Bridge, Mega Development, and Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center
Architect/Architect of record: Think! Architecture and Design
Interior Designer: Think! Architecture and Design, with furniture specified by Interior Resources
Structural Eng: Engineering Group Associates
Civil Eng: Bohler Engineering NY
MEP Eng: Skyline Engineering
Landscape Designer: Todd Rader + Amy Crews
General Contractor: Mega Contracting Group
Betances Family Apartments
Bronx, N.Y.
Betances Family Apartments in the Bronx’s Mott Haven neighborhood brings 101 affordable housing units to New York. It is a 15-story, 109,000-sf development that includes 70 units for low- to moderate-income families and 30 units for previously homeless individuals.
The affordable housing community features a children's playroom, bike storage, a second floor community room, and a rooftop terrace. On-site supportive services are available, including case management, benefits counseling, and links to community mental health, dental, and substance use services.
On the ground floor, 10,000 sf is set aside for commercial use, creating opportunities for local businesses.
On the Building Team:
Owner/Developer: The Bridge, Lemle & Wolff, and Alembic Community Development
Architect/Architect of record: Think! Architecture and Design
Interior Designer: Think! Architecture and Design
Structural Eng: Cuono Engineering
Civil Eng: Bohler Engineering
MEP Eng: Skyline Engineering
General contractor: Lemle & Wolff Construction Corp
Slabtown Square
Portland, Ore.
Slabtown Square is a seven-story mixed-use community with 200 apartment units—40 of which are designated as affordable for households earning up to 80% of the area's median income.
In addition to its 220,000 sf of housing, the development features underground parking, 11,500 sf of retail space, and a 16,000-sf public square in the Slabtown neighborhood of Northwest Portland, Ore. Located at 2070 NW Quimby Street, the building is next door to the site of a future public park by Portland Parks and Recreation.
Amenities include a rooftop terrace with fire pits, a clubroom with a professional-grade kitchen, fitness centers, a library, game room, screening room, and an activity space. The project earned a Two Green Globes rating from the Green Building Initiative in the Multifamily for New Construction category.
On the Building Team:
Owner/Developer: Guardian Real Estate Services
Architect/Architect of record: LRS Architects
Interior Designer: Trello Interiors
Structural Eng: IMEG
Civil Eng: Humber Design Group
Mechanical and Electrical Eng: MKE & Associates, Inc.
Plumbing Eng: Tapani Plumbing, Inc.
Landscaping: PLACE Studio
General contractor: LMC Construction
RELATED:
Related Stories
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 27, 2023
Number of U.S. adaptive reuse projects jumps to 122,000 from 77,000
The number of adaptive reuse projects in the pipeline grew to a record 122,000 in 2023 from 77,000 registered last year, according to RentCafe’s annual Adaptive Reuse Report. Of the 122,000 apartments currently undergoing conversion, 45,000 are the result of office repurposing, representing 37% of the total, followed by hotels (23% of future projects).
Multifamily Housing | Jul 25, 2023
San Francisco seeks proposals for adaptive reuse of underutilized downtown office buildings
The City of San Francisco released a Request For Interest to identify office building conversions that city officials could help expedite with zoning changes, regulatory measures, and financial incentives.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 13, 2023
Walkable neighborhoods encourage stronger sense of community
Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to interact with their neighbors and have a stronger sense of community than people who live in car-dependent communities, according to a report by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.
Affordable Housing | Jul 12, 2023
Navigating homelessness with modular building solutions
San Francisco-based architect Chuck Bloszies, FAIA, SE, LEED AP, discusses his firm's designs for Navigation Centers, temporary housing for the homeless in northern California.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 11, 2023
Converting downtown office into multifamily residential: Let’s stop and think about this
Is the office-to-residential conversion really what’s best for our downtowns from a cultural, urban, economic perspective? Or is this silver bullet really a poison pill?
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 10, 2023
California updates building code for adaptive reuse of office, retail structures for housing
The California Building Standards Commission recently voted to make it easier to convert commercial properties to residential use. The commission adopted provisions of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) that allow developers more flexibility for adaptive reuse of retail and office structures.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 29, 2023
5 ways to rethink the future of multifamily development and design
The Gensler Research Institute’s investigation into the residential experience indicates a need for fresh perspectives on residential design and development, challenging norms, and raising the bar.
Affordable Housing | Jun 27, 2023
Racial bias concerns prompt lawmakers to ask HUD to ban biometric surveillance, including facial recognition
Two members of the U.S. House of Representative have asked the Department of Housing and Urban Development to end the use of biometric technology, including facial recognition, for surveillance purposes in public housing.
Apartments | Jun 27, 2023
Average U.S. apartment rent reached all-time high in May, at $1,716
Multifamily rents continued to increase through the first half of 2023, despite challenges for the sector and continuing economic uncertainty. But job growth has remained robust and new households keep forming, creating apartment demand and ongoing rent growth. The average U.S. apartment rent reached an all-time high of $1,716 in May.
Urban Planning | Jun 15, 2023
Arizona limits housing projects in Phoenix area over groundwater supply concerns
Arizona will no longer grant certifications for new residential developments in Phoenix, it’s largest city, due to concerns over groundwater supply. The announcement indicates that the Phoenix area, currently the nation’s fastest-growing region in terms of population growth, will not be able to sustain its rapid growth because of limited freshwater resources.
