At a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, the New York Department of Housing Preservation and Housing Development Corporation announced the grand opening of the Chestnut Commons Apartments, a new affordable and permanent supportive housing development in East New York.
Located at 110 Dinsmore Place, the project was developed by Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC), and consists of 275 permanently affordable homes. The apartments, which include studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, are reserved for households earning between 20 and 80 percent of the area median income level. Additionally, 55 apartments are reserved for formerly homeless households.
Dattner Architects designed Chestnut Commons, which stands 15 stories in height.
"One of the first developments stemming from the East New York Neighborhood Plan, Chestnut Commons will provide affordable housing for formerly homeless and low-income households," reads a narrative from the firm's website. "Community-centric in both design and development, the project integrates a satellite Community College campus, a food manufacturing incubator that will provide job training, and a credit union."
At street level, the building includes the new Cypress Hills East New York Community, which will offer programming by CHLDC and CUNY Kingsborough Community College. The project also includes affordable retail space for local small businesses.
“Chestnut Commons combines all the aspects of healthy living – with homes for the lowest-income New Yorkers and those who formerly experienced homelessness, space for the community and small businesses, and sustainability best practices,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a news release. “This project delivers on priorities for the community in East New York, including, most importantly, hundreds of affordable homes. I was proud to support this project as borough president with half a million dollars, and I am excited to see it housing our neighbors as the mayor.”
- East New York (Urbanize NYC)