Sliver of promised Williamsburg affordable housing is finished

Out of the 1,345 affordable homes that the city vowed to develop on municipal land in North Brooklyn following the 2005 rezoning, only 19 have been finished, DNAinfo reported. The reason, city officials told the publication, is that the city ran into unexpected roadblocks. But local residents are calling foul.

“Some sites have presented unique challenges that we are committed to working through with the community and local leaders,” a Department of Housing Preservation and Development spokesperson told DNAinfo.

A total of 722 promised units on city-owned land are in predevelopment, according to the spokesperson.

The city also promised 1,563 affordable housing units on private waterfront sites, as well as 640 homes in existing properties away from the water. Nearly 800 of these have been developed, and 134 are in construction.

Both residents and leaders claim that the slow arrival of affordable housing has priced thousands of residents out of the neighborhood, where prices are soaring. And the new high-rise projects, such as the Domino Sugar plant conversion (which has an affordable housing component), are strengthening the advocates’ push for the promised homes.

“They’ll change the culture of this neighborhood,” Brooklyn Community Board 1 Chairman Chris Olechowski told DNAinfo.

The city claims it will still develop the promised units.

“Efforts continue to facilitate affordable housing,” the HPD spokesperson told the news site. [DNAinfo] —Zachary Kussin